Details
Date: October 2024
Location: Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco and Sweetwater Music Hall, Mill Valley, USA
Fund: Quick Response Grants – Regional Arts Fund
Grant amount: $3,000
Why was this project supported? Enabled southwest Victorian musician Nigel Wearne to expand his presence in the US market, build professional networks and secure future performance opportunities
What part of this project was funded? The grant contributed to travel and associated costs
Project
From Woodford (population 4,000) to a San Francisco festival with 500,000 attendees!
In October 2024, southwest Victorian musician Nigel Wearne flew to the US to perform at the world-renowned Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass is the largest festival of its kind in the world. Each year more than half a million music lovers descend on Golden Gate Park from around the world to attend this iconic free event. In its 24-year history only a handful of Australian artists have had the opportunity to play this festival.
Nigel performed on the Horseshoe Hill Stage; a boutique and immensely respected stage at the festival that showcases up-and-coming talent. Nigel was one of only 10 artists invited to perform on this stage in 2024!
Nigel successfully received a Quick Response Grant from the Regional Arts Fund to help fund this opportunity. This is federal government funding managed by Regional Arts Victoria, open every month for short-notice opportunities just like this.
Performing live in front of thousands of Americana music fans on an international stage helped Nigel build his visibility in the US market and generate future performance opportunities crucial to his career growth.
