A Wingham High student had the opportunity to perform on the Akoostik stage last weekend when singer Jake Davey called her up for a duet.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Georgia Hudson, who performs as Hudson Rose, has been learning with Jake for more than a year.
Initially Georgia began to learn just the guitar from Jake but soon her vocal talents shone through and Jake has since been mentoring Georgia with her singing and songwriting too.
A couple of weeks before the Wingham Akoostik Festival Georgia penned a song called ‘Summer Nights.’
Jake encouraged Georgia to perform the song at the Wingham festival during his set on Sunday morning.
“I think I’m definitely learning from the best,” Georgia said.
The experience rocked her world.
“It was amazing,” she admits.
“I can’t believe I played on the same stage as Kasey Chambers.”
Playing on the Sunday of the festival, the day after Kasey, meant the crowd was smaller than it had been the previous evening.
However the crowd was bigger than Georgia had expected.
“I was surprised and thought ‘wow this is awesome.’”
Jake, who performs regularly in Newcastle, was full of praise for his student.
“She did a great job,” he said.
“She’s fantastic and very passionate about what she does.”
The pair have entered the song into the 2017 ACMF National Songwriting Competition.
The National Songwriting Competition is a nationwide initiative for students designed to encourage creativity and self-expression through songwriting.
“We’ll see how it goes,” said Georgia.
Competing in Eisteddfods since she was eight years old, Georgia is no stranger to the stage. She has also performed at Carols by Candlelight in Taree and last year starred in the Wingham High School musical Snow White and the Seven Singers.
But the Akoostik stage is quite different and for most local singers it is a dream to perform on the same stage as some of the country’s biggest acts.
“I’ve gone to Akoostik for a lot of years,” said Georgia.
“I’d like to do it next year.”
In the meantime, Georgia has just booked accommodation in Tamworth and will busk in the streets during the 2018 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The same streets where some of Australia’s biggest stars were discovered.