Charismatic Bellingen-raised singer/songwriter Jack Carty steps up as the patron for Bello Winter Music festival
The patron is someone who represents the cornerstones of the festival – community, collaboration, discovery and great music, and that’s just what Carty is.
‘I think Bellingen is an incredibly beautiful place. It has lots of really interesting people who have done a lot of travelling. Bellingen has the best of both worlds. A river. An ocean (nearby). A small-town community and a whole bunch of cosmopolitan ideas. It’s good to see big artists coming through town. The more you travel the more you realise that a place like Bellingen is pretty special.’
Carty’s role at the festival includes mentoring aspiring young musicians.
‘I have done a bit of mentoring in the past and I am always blown away by how talented the young musicians are. They have an enthusiasm that is contagious.’
Not that Carty is that old himself but, at 29, Carty feels like he is finally finding his musical feet.
‘For me, what I wanted to do as a musician and where I wanted to pitch was a matter of working it out. In the beginning I didn’t know a lot about playing music, or how to do it long term. Now I feel like the hard work has been showing some signs of paying off; it feels like it feels like I am gaining ground.’
And no wonder. Just last year, among many other things, Carty released his album Home State and saw it go to #36 on the ARIA Albums Chart and #1 on the AIR 100% independent Album Chart. His talent for melody, wit and a gorgeous turn of phrase won him a much-coveted biannual APRA Professional Development Award; saw him play Spain’s famous Primavera Sound Festival and tour nationally with Josh Pyke.
‘It was mind blowing,’ says Carty. ‘I had a tour of Europe already planned and then I got an email saying that I had a spot at Spain’s Primavera Sound Festival where Radiohead were playing!’
Passionate about the beautiful craft of songwriting, Carty talks about the hundreds of ideas that buzz in his head every day.
‘I record them as they come to me,’ he says. ‘My phone has hundreds of 30-second ideas; if they are more complex I email them to myself!’
A passionate collaborator with Bello Winter Music sees Carty joined onstage by close friend and composer Gus Gardiner (Papa vs Pretty) and The Satellite Strings (featuring members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra) to premiere work from a forthcoming collaborative album.
Applications are now open for Bello Winter Music Youth Mentorship Program for artists aged under 19. Applications on the website.
Bello Winter Music – Held throughout the township of Bellingen, NSW. Thursday 6 till Sunday 9 July.
Tickets now on sale! Tickets and camping information are available now at bellowintermusic.com.
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