Our Work  

In June 2021 Regional Sounds became incorporated and our founding board was established. In August we applied for our first large grant through Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, which was successful and ensured we would have funding to deliver our key project ‘Engaged Communities - Community Songwriting Project’ in 2022.

We rolled out a soft launch at the Battle of the Bands local industry event and undertook our first project shortly after in September-December 2021. Partnering with WAM to deliver 4 free songwriting workshops, we engaged with local bands and artists to deliver these and create soft launch in community.

At this point we had also been lobbying the City of Greater Geraldton & the Mayor Shane Van Styn to secure our home base at 246 Marine Terrace, which successfully allowed us to secure our venue for an initial 5 month pilot period.

We moved into the new premises in January 2022, and launched officially as an organisation and in the venue on 25th January 2022, with support from the Mayoral Discretionary Fund. Premium music equipment was moved and housed to Regional Sounds, thanks to a funding partnership developed with Funtavia and MLA Lara Dalton in early 2021.

At the start of 2022, we commenced The Engaged Communities Project, which delivered a suite of activities to the music community and wider community over 12 months.

Workshops and events included a diverse range of attendees, with some targeting the existing music community and some catering to individuals that have little previous musical experience.

Workshops and events targeting the music community included Muso Mixers to increase community engagement, networking and collaboration, creating a safe and welcoming space and enhanced platform for artists to share original works with our Artist Showcases, Songwriting Sessions and Nerves Night open mic and skill-building opportunities with our Songwriting Workshops and Visiting Artist masterclasses.

As a result, we saw more culturally diverse voices, stories and experiences emerge from our region within the community creative space. This was achieved by creating a safe and accessible space for artists to up skill, create more works and perform these works in an originals-friendly space, which has previously been lacking in the Mid West, as well as providing access songwriting, wellbeing and music programs in a free and supported environment.

The Engaged Communities Project gave us the ability to partner with local organisations and work with targeted community groups.

We developed ongoing offerings: Songwriting and Wellbeing with the Shine program for young women aged 12-16, Songwriting and Guitar lessons with the Desert Rose First Nations women's empowerment program and our 6 week Youth Songwriting and Self-Expression programs co-facilitated with Jar Of Arts.

We partnered with local organisations already working with these target groups well, who have fostered safe and supportive relationships with their participants. This, combined with the expertise of facilitators to work with diverse groups and trauma-informed facilitation skills, created a safe space for participants to open up and be vulnerable enough to try new things and create.

The project sees us using music as the catalyst for healing, personal growth and supporting more diversity, inclusivity and positive social impact in our region.

School Holiday Workshops were also delivered in Geraldton, the Shire of Mingenew, and the Shire of Morawa. A theme that kept coming out in feedbacks for all of these youth programs was how inclusive and welcome participants felt.

During this time we also developed new partnerships and delivered a number of community events featuring quality live original music and an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere for the community to enjoy

We delivered our inaugural large-scale community music event Tree Sets in February 2022. This community music event brought community members together to enjoy an original live music event set on the deck area next to Regional Sounds building under the Moreton Bay fig and iconic 50c swing. A ticketed event, this event showcased one touring band- Moth Street Artists- and two local support acts, Sam B and Julian Webb, and was widely supported by the community.

In June 2022 we partnered with the WA Department of Health’s Local Drug Action Group to deliver and pilot an alcohol free live music show - Tea & Tunes, which was held at the Railway Platform Hub and featured listing band The Witchy Djypsies and local support James Softly.

For two years running, Regional Sounds has programmed the Live & Local Stage- a Regional Sounds branded live original music stage with Shore Leave Festival. This event showcases the quality and diversity of Geraldton’s emerging original music scene with a whole afternoon and evening of local artists and bands playing a variety of genres. 

Across the 2022 & 2023 Live and Local Stages, 17 original acts have performed their works, spanning a wide range of genres- from country, blues, alternative rock, funk, punk and more. This event has attracted a huge attendance and level of community support.

In May 2022 we partnered with Funtavia Inc to deliver a large scale art experience called The Art House Experience. For this project we took a deep dive into a world of creativity to explore live music, performing art and sensory visual  displays with this unique arts immersion event. 

Created and produced by Regional Sounds this special experience celebrated collaboration and diversity in the  local creative industries. An inter-arts show, The Art House Experience featured installation art, two videography works, one dancer, two solo instrumentalists, one singer-songwriter, one experimental recording artist and a brass section from the Geraldton City Band to bring the space to life. With guided tours taking place through the arts space, one of Geraldton's most iconic locations was transformed over two nights. 

In November we partnered with OUTMidwest to hold a Pride JAMboree event during Pride month. This was was a great way to engage and connect with the LGBTIQ+ community, and showcase some of the great musicians within this community.

These are intimate shows that feature singer-songwriters, who perform a set of their original works and spend time telling the stories and inspiration behind them.

So far we have held a number of performances featuring local songwriters with our Songwriter Sessions series. We have also hosted Intimate Performances with touring artists- most recently being Nathan Caveleri and featured local artists and bands with our Artist Showcase series.