16 October 2019

Synth Surfers to create a wave of music at Murrah this Saturday

| Ian Campbell
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One of the video projection made by the Bermi Create & Make crew for Parklight Bega and the Festival of Open Minds in September. Photo: David Rogers Photography for About Regional.

One of the video projections made by the Bermi Create & Make crew for Parklight Bega and the Festival of Open Minds in September. Photo: David Rogers Photography for About Regional.

Fresh from their huge success with Parklight Bega and the Festival of Open Minds last month, the Bermi Create & Make Crew are collaborating on another colourful community event.

This Saturday (October 19), fanatics, beginners and everyone in between will gather at the Murrah Hall for Synth Surfers – the Bega Valley’s very first synth festival.

See, hear and try cutting edge music technology, talk directly to synth manufacturers and musicians and synth your day into the night with a special after-dark performance, called ‘Oscillations’ that will feature interstate and local musicians as well as modified toy instruments and a trumpet!

Library Programs and Partnerships Officer, Scott Baker, says Bega Vally Shire Council is providing locals access to a metropolitan-style event, combining technology and creativity, as well as supporting the development of local skills through the Bermi Create & Make Crew project.

“This means that locals will have the skills, experience and networks to run their own successful events. It’s about capacity building for our future as a destination and liveable place,” he says.

“Synthesisers have featured in bands since the 1960s and they’re having a revival using basic ingredients called electronic waveforms.

“People coming along will be surprised at the broad applications of synthesisers today which are pushing the boundaries of what music is.”

One of the amazing instrument set-ups you will see at Synth Surfers festival. Photo: Supplied.

One of the amazing instrument set-ups you will see at Synth Surfers festival. Photo: Supplied.

The Crew consists of ten young people who are completing nationally credited TAFE units which are embedded holistically into the project.

“Parklight and now the Synth Surfers event are learning milestones for this group of young people and I wholeheartedly congratulate the broader community for coming out and supporting them,” Mr Baker says.

“Synth Surfers will give the Crew experience in running a quality professional and comprehensive, ticketed event, which will further develop their employability skills in project and event management, promotion, workshop facilitation, artist liaison and graphic design.”

Workshops are a key element of Synth Surfers and are designed so that complete beginners will learn side by side with more experienced users, who will be able to expand their skills under the guidance of specialist facilitators.

Aimed at ages eight years and up, the workshops will include – getting started with a limited budget, controlling your lasers from a synthesiser, building your own synthesiser, Ableton Live, and using free modular synthesiser software VCV Rack.

Detailed program information and tickets are available via Eventbrite. Bookings are essential for workshops and you must buy at least a day ticket.

Refreshments and catering will be available during the entire event.

Synth Surfers is supported by the Bega Valley Synth Club, Bega Valley Shire Library, 2Pi Software and IntoIT.

The Bermi Create & Make crew is a Bega Valley Shire Library program funded through a Youth Opportunities Grant from NSW Family and Community Services.

For more information about the Synth Surfers festival and the Bermi Create & Make Crew talk to Scott Baker on 6499 2172.

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