On Friday, 7 November, five musical guests will grace the halls of the Healesville Uniting Church at 7pm.
Friday’s shenanigans are a part of the Writers and Rhythm event series that seeks to facilitate community connection and provide a forum for local artists to showcase their material, sometimes for the first time ever.
With musical performances, delicate prose and a chef cooked supper, the upcoming Writers and Rhythm event caters to all kinds of accessibility needs.
The five musicians featured in 7 November’s Writers and Rhythm are Yarra Valley locals Carla McCormick, Robbie Greig, Laurie Webb, AJ Leonard and Jenny Rowlands.
Running since 1992, Writers and Rhythm began when a Healesville librarian wanted to create a forum for a group of local writers who met at the Healesville Library to showcase their work.
With singers soon being introduced to the mix, Writers and Rhythm was born.
From the first Writers and Rhythm event being held at the Gateway Festival in Healesville, the event has grown in popularity ever since and has showcased many artists from across the Yarra Valley.
Over the years, proceeds from Writers and Rhythm have gone towards community groups, including the Healesville Interchurch Community Care Incorporated (HICCI), and Healesville Fire Brigade to name a few.
This year, excess proceeds will go towards the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Run exclusively by volunteers, ranging from sound and lighting technicians, to graphic designers, chefs, and MCs, tickets to the upcoming Writers and Rhythm event cost $20 per head, and include a chef prepared supper.
Lucky door prizes include a free pass to the next Writers and Rhythm event.
Healesville local and Coordinator of Writers and Rhythm Catherine Nolan said, “My hopes for the Writers and Rhythm concert on Friday is to perform and be celebrated and to create a beautiful, welcoming space for people from all walks of life to feel welcomed.”
“We have all abilities, access and facilities and provide a delicious chef-prepared supper,” she said.
Catherine’s role as coordinator of Writers and Rhythm involves engaging the musicians and writers, booking the dates and liaising with venues.
“I also advertise the events and my husband designs the posters and operates the lights,” Catherine said.
A community-led and facilitated event, Writers and Rhythm is in its 33rd year.
Catherine said, “What I love about Writers and Rhythm is that it is centrally located, so it is very easy for people to access from public transport and is walking distance for many locals.”
“I love the attentive listening audience who are so very respectful to the performers and I love the delicious supper and hearing the beautiful music,” Catherine said.
“I love that the whole event is run by volunteers who are passionate about music, creativity and our community.”
Stressing the importance of providing a space for musicians and poets to perform, Catherine also emphasised the benefits of creating a warm and welcoming place for community to gather and share their passions.
Catherine said, “Writers and rhythm is incredibly important because there are very few venues for musicians and poets to perform these days. It is especially hard to find venues with attentive, respectful audiences and where the performers are paid well.”
Writers and Rhythm is important, as it represents a true community event where people who are passionate about supporting local musicians, come together, volunteering their skills, abilities and time, to create a warm welcoming space for both new and long time local residents to enjoy,” she said.
“It is always a great, very affordable night out in our own beautiful little town of Healesville.”
Writers and Rhythm will be held at the Healesville Uniting Church 286 Maroondah Highway Healesville.
