Our Squids on Show Youth Voice Project has been hitting all the right notes lately! Two of our members, Ace and Baxter, are part of this year’s project and have been busy turning their ideas into real-life music experiences. 

At the pitch event in August, they shared their concept for Squids on Show, a project all about giving young musicians both front-of-stage and backstage experiences. They’ve been learning not just how to perform, but also the technical side of music. Before taking the stage with their band, the Barefooted Strays, they were mentored by the sound tech crew, getting hands-on experience behind the scenes. 

Baxter also wowed the crowd with a solo gig at the Spring into Sanctuary Point Fair on Saturday, 18th October, showing off his creativity and confidence. Then, over the weekend, Ace and Baxter performed a fabulous set with the Barefooted Strays at the Vincentia Matters & Vincentia Connections ‘Festival of Music and Arts’. It was also wonderful to see another Vincentia High student performing at the festival, adding to the celebration of local young talent. 

Photos by Leanne Windsor

Looking ahead, Baxter and Ace are gearing up to assist with The Country Club St Georges Basin‘s Superheroes Family Fun Day on Saturday, 15th November. Their band will be performing live, and they’ll also be helping with the sound on the day – another exciting opportunity to put their skills into practice and support the community.

 

A huge thank you to Community Connect and Vincentia Matters for hosting the festival and including our youth, helping them take another step toward realising their project goals. And thank you to our amazing community for listening, supporting, and helping make things happen!  

The Squids on Show project continues to be a fantastic opportunity for young people to explore performance, gain technical skills, and find their voice – both on and off the stage. Stay tuned for more updates as our talented musicians keep shining!