Jen Cloher, Courtney Barnett & More Join Merri Creek Conservation Campaign

Local musicians Jen Cloher and Courtney Barnett are joining forces with a group of their musical mates to take part in a Pozible campaign started by Friends Of Merri Creek aimed at saving the endangered grasslands, home to the similarly under-threat Blue Banded Bee.

Along with Milk! Records label-mate Fraser A. Gorman, The Orbweavers and Steph Hughes, Cloher and Barnett have assembled the group known as The Blue Banded Bee Band to perform a one-off show at Northcote Social Club this December. You've got to help out to rock out, though — tickets to the gig are included as reward incentives for the newly launched conservation campaign, which runs throughout August.

The Blue Banded Bee is crucial to the eco-diversity of the Merri Creek grasslands, being responsible for 'buzz pollination' of many of the area's wildflowers by essentially headbanging furiously — hence the nickname of "the rockin' bee". Unfortunately, the little guys can't travel particularly big distances, meaning the ever-widening gap between wildflower growth areas (because humans have eradicated a majority of what once existed in the vicinity) has made the entire process harder for both bee and plant alike, which is not good for anyone.

Thus, Friends Of Merri Creek — with whom Cloher took up earlier this year after more than a decade of enjoying Merri Creek's natural resources — are banding together to reconnect the now-disparate wildflower patches by planting and establishing replacement growth to help the Blue Banded Bee make its journeys a little easier and continue to pollinate the area's distinct and diverse ecosystem for years to come.

"Having lived in the northern suburbs for the past 15 years, I've come to appreciate the Merri Creek as a green space to treasure," Cloher said of the initiative in a statement. "It's a shared backyard for cyclists, dog owners, sports enthusiasts and all sorts of community groups.

"I'd often see the Friends Of Merri Creek out collecting rubbish or planting trees, and so I made the decision to join this year and become an active member. It's been a great antidote for what can sometimes feel like a sad and difficult time for the planet. It feels good to be doing something and learning about what's just outside my front door."

A donation of $35 is required to secure a shot at a ticket to the Blue Banded Bee Band's matinee performance in Melbourne on Saturday 3 December, but there are a stack of rewards for contributions of any size including T-shirts, artworks, naming rights and more. See Pozible for more information.