Busking in joy of final

Published in the Warrnambool Standard 29th Sept. 2017

HISTORY was made at Reardon Theatre in Port Fairy last Friday with an act from Moyne making it through to a state final. Four-piece band Tiosav Joy won the regional final of The Push Start FReeZA Battle of the Bands competition. The band had qualified for the final after winning the Moyne heat of the event. Moyne Shire Council Youth Development Officer Geraldine Edar said it was the first time in the 15-year history of the event that the regional finalist has come from Moyne. “It is just so exciting, I can’t believe it,” Ms Edar said. “To have a Moyne band going to the state final is just such great news, I can’t wait.” Ms Edar said the state final will be held at the St Kilda Festival on February 11. Tiosav Joy will represent the Barwon South West area in the final, competing against other regional final winners from across Victoria. Ms Edar said a good crowd attended the regional final in Port Fairy with many expressing interest in supporting Tiosav Joy at the state final. “Given how big this is for Moyne, I am considering taking a bus down to the St Kilda Festival to support the guys,” Ms Edar said. “Last Friday was a great night so there is a lot of interest in supporting the great young acts we have.” Tiosav Joy is made up of Nicola McKenzie (Mailors Flat), Chloe Mutsaers Warrnambool), Patrick Brady and Joseph Brady (Koroit). It has been a big year for the band, playing on youth stages at the Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Koroit Irish Festival while also playing at leading Warrnambool live music venues The Loft and Highline. Chloe Mutsaers said the band was thrilled with its win in the regional final. “It’s awesome to make the state final and to get the chance to play at the St Kilda Festival,” Mutsaers said. “We were really happy with how we sounded the other night, we had a new song we played for the first time and that went down well. It’s a bit more upbeat so are keen to write a few more like that.” Mutsaers said the band played all original songs at the regional final and hoped to expand their catalogue ahead of the state final.