Six young performers from Taree have been selected to perform at this year's Made Deadly showcase, which will be live streamed from Pluto Entertainment on November 11.
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Made Deadly is a Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance initiative run in partnership with music development organisation, Grow the Music.
Held in 2018 and 2019, the event will be delivered differently this year due to COVID.
The live stream will showcase Made Deadly finalists from the previous two Saltwater Freshwater Festivals, and this time include special guest appearances by young performers from the Taree area.
It was made possible with funding from the NSW Government through Create NSW, with the live streamed event held in partnership with Grow the Music, Pluto Entertainment and Purfleet Taree Local Aboriginal Land Council.
Organisers ran an open-mic session for Aboriginal youth from Taree and Chatham High Schools and selected finalists to perform.
They are Khai Gahan, Ethan Long, Elijah Lawler, Tyler William, Nakaya Dumas and Lakesha Glass.
These young performers will be mentored by Mick Saunders and Jacob Ridgeway and Grow the Music in readiness for their performance.
The Saltwater Freshwater Festival, of which the Made Deadly event was a feature highlight, won't be going ahead in January.
"It's too tricky to put on a large festival right now," said Jane Tavener, acting general manager of the Saltwater Freshwater Arts Alliance.
Between 5000 and 15,000 attend the festival each year.
"We also need six to 12 months to pull it together. It's a big event and needs a lot of community consultation, coordination, headliners and sponsorship. It's too uncertain."
Jane said the organisers are excited about the live stream, especially the potential for performers to be seen by people in other places.
"It would have been better to perform in front of a live audience but it's better to perform and they'll be able to reach a wider audience.
"With our partners we opened up the stage for young performers from Taree and Chatham High Schools, with 14 young people taking part and a final six selected to perform at the live streamed event. There are many great young people out there. This is an opportunity to boost their confidence and get some mentoring along the way."
Made Deadly performers for 2020 are Jacob Ridgeway, Mick Saunders, Jess Hickey, Rob Canning, The Saunders Sisters, Nigel Kennedy, Hope Saunders, Riley and Kelsi, Tareik Hart, Kauri Munro Greentree, Luca Saunders, Joan McDonald, Jay Davis, Richie Jarrett.
The event will be live streamed by Pluto Entertainment at https://www.facebook.com/swfw.arts