Odd Bods

From the team who transformed a local convent into a thriving open-air cinema earlier in the year comes The Good Hustle Music Salon, six intimate nights showcasing Melbourne's contemporary musical talent. Set in a 19th century former industrial school at Abbotsford Convent, the event will feature performances from artists including Lost Animal, Geoffrey O'Connor, Worlds End Press, Collarbones, Harmony, Teeth & Tongue and Public Opinion Afro Orchestra. Co-organiser and partner in the Shadow Electric outdoor cinema, which utilises the same venue, David Chestwig says his team wanted to choose unique bands to match the uniqueness of the space. “We wanted to create a series of double header events, a program that was special and diverse. We're not a full-time music venue so we wanted to pack as much good music into this limited season [as possible]. We chose a lot of bands that we're personally into or felt that had an affinity with the overall event. We aimed to be reflective of the best fresh talent from across different scenes and sounds.”

A one of a kind idea, Chestwig admits it has been a truly collaborative effort to get it off the ground. ”The concept has been around for a while, but the nuts and bolts have all come together in the last three months. We also have had a lot of infrastructure in place for our open-air cinema that runs at the convent in the summer months. Almost everyone at Shadow Electric has a fair bit of experience working on music events. Combine this experience with a great space and a swag of people, bands and organisations that have really gotten on board in a major way and we appear to have our music salon!”

Launching the event will be Lost Animal, what originally started as a solo project for former St Helen's songwriter Jarrod Quarrell but soon became a duo, with the introduction of Shags Chamberlain (The Smallgoods, Pikelet, Brous) on bass. Occasionally collaborating live with other musicians, Good Hustle will see the Lost Animal line-up expanded with Luke Horton (Love Of Diagrams) on guitar and Joel Carey (Wolf & Cub) on congas and percussion. Quarrell reveals the set will largely draw from their critically acclaimed debut of last year, Ex Tropical. “I'm currently writing the new record,” he says. “Given that we use backing tracks, we pretty much have to record new tunes to be able to do them live. We were in the studio a month or so ago and Shags and I are gonna start demoing new songs soon. We are doing a new number, we've played a couple of times, it's called Do The Jerk.”

Up close and personal, capacity for the makeshift venue is strictly capped at 200, creating a truly intimate event. Quarrell, no stranger to performing in unconventional spaces, says it's the proximity to the audience that helps compound the atmosphere at such events. ”Just being close to each other,” he says of why he enjoys small events, referring to both bandmates and fans. “I wonder if the stage is on the floor?” he ponders. “I like playing at the same physical level as the audience.”

Local filmmakers Who By Fire will record songs from each performance, with the exclusive works to be distributed online via themusic.com.au. “The capacity is capped to optimise the space for punters, so the filming is a great way of sharing the experience beyond the actual event,” says Chestwig. But of course, nothing can match being there in person. “The Convent is a special place with a certain vibe that will make events there buzz,” he says with excitement.