Q&A: Gympie Music Muster’s Program Director Jeff Chandler
The first lineup for the 35th Gympie Music Muster was announced this morning with John Williamson, Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson among 120 artists set to take over Amamoor Creek State Forestthis August.
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Gympie Muster’s program director is Jeff Chandler, who has over 30 years music industry experience. As an artist manager for 28 of those years – for acts including Sara Storer, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Drew McAlister and Shane Nicholson – he’s aware of country music’s highs and lows in Australia.
In the Q&A below, Chandler chats about his plans for the 35th anniversary event, why staying true to sub-genres ensures the festival’s appeal, and how artists are combatting traditional media’s indifference to country music.
Do you have anything special planned for the 35th anniversary?
There are a number of one-off musical performances, themed shows and special productionsplannedfor the 35thanniversary. Some will be totally unique to the Muster while others, such as the always popular Muster Poets and the Songwriters Sessions, will showcasesomeof the best bush poets and singer, songwriters in Australia.
As Australia’s largest charity festival, what’s the key to maintaining its status and keeping its appeal fresh?
Never loosing sight of the ethos and involving the patrons and the community are key to theongoingsuccess and maintaining status of theMuster. It’s important to continue to engage with the community groups such a service clubs, sportingassociations, schoolcommitteesand local businessesas thisensures that the event stays true to it’s roots yet meets the evolving needs of the community at large. Intermsof programming, countrymusic,especiallythe Australian form, is core while the manysub-genressuch as bluegrass, alternative folk, roots, Americana, blues and rockabilly are always included to provide real variety. The Muster has a long history of supporting emerging talent with itsTalentSearch competition as well as showcases andotheropportunities whereartists can shine.
The country music community in Australia may be thriving, but its festivals feature many of the same local artists. Are any of the announced acts Gympie Muster first-timers?
Yes the top line of most country music festivals is definitely drawing from the same,relativelysmall pool, however it’s the new andemergingartists who I like to offer a platform to. Some of this year’s firsttimers from the first artistannouncement include Fanny Lumsden, Grizzlee Train, Hurricane Fall and Dale Duncan. They are the headliners of the future.
The Muster has a cultural importance that many newer festivals are yet to earn. What plans are in place to nurture and celebrate its value?
The Muster’s value can be measured in so many ways – its economicimpacton theGympieregionand Queensland as a state, the funds that it raises foritsnominated charity and the money it pays to community groups (to provide the various services such as cleaning, gatesecurity, running the bars, stalls etc).However the value of theeventto its patrons is beyond measuring in that it provides an annual pilgrimage wherefriendsand families come together to share in thecamaraderie,music and escape that the Muster’s unique location can give. The 35thanniversary will provide an opportunity to highlight this year’s catchphrase‘Mates, Music and Making a Difference’
There’s an emphasis on making a difference this year. In what way?
We plan to make adifferenceto the lives of the variouscommunity groups as well as ournominatedcharityrecipient which willbeannounced soon. It is hoped that the spotlight on our 35th celebrations will impact on our ability to give more back than ever before.
What’s your view on how the country music community is being serviced in Australia?
I have worked as an artist managerspecialisingin country music for some 28 years and have seen theindustry go through some amazing highs and some not so welcome lows; however with the emergence of some incredible talentacrosstheAustralia overthepast fewyears theindustryjust needs to position itself to take advantage of theincrediblevariety of mediaplatformsavailable these days.
Traditionalmediahas never been thatsupportiveof country music inAustraliadespitethe fact that many of the artistsinvolvedhave sold large volumes of music both live and recorded. Intheabsenceof this support, many youngartistsare increasingly ramping up their strategies using social media and a variety of digital platforms. And events like the Muster provide a realopportunityfor emergingartiststo be discovered by anaudienceas well as the media and musicindustry.
Is there anything you haven’t been able to do with the Muster that you hope to achieve in future years?
Due to the not for profit and charitynatureof the Muster, we operatewitha very modest talent budget and an army of volunteers so presenting some of the bigger international names is beyond our reach. It would be great to one day be able to have the funds topresentacontemporary major name artist on the main stage.