Eve Jeffery
For twenty years a local musical icon has been busking at the Lismore Car Boot market. Much of the community have passed by his open guitar case and in that time, many have also dropped in a few coins. Now it’s payback time.
A residents of Lismore for 22 years, Luke Vassella says that the recent flood was the worst he had ever seen in the town, with the best response of community spirit and unity. It was this generosity amongst the locals that inspired him to write three songs which he has recorded as a fundraiser for victims of the flood.
‘I was overwhelmed to witness the scale of the flood and inspired by the way my community came together’, he says. ‘I wrote these songs fairly quickly and was able to record them almost immediately.’
The EP Something Good, was released yesterday and profits from the sale of the CD will help Lismore residents affected by the flood.
The CD was recorded at Southern Cross University’s recently refurbished sound studio, the studio time kindly donated by Professor Barbara Rugendyke and SCU.
This is the 10th CD release for Vassella who says the sessions were filmed by mate Sam Kostevc. ‘My talented friend has documented the studio process with three video clips of the songs which have received thousands of views online.’
Luke also played at last Sunday’s Flood Volunteers Thank-You event at City Hall. He says the stats and data heard on the day were very sobering. ‘Lismore Council’s GM Gary Murphy said that Cyclone Debbie has caused almost $1 Billion in insurance claims along east coast. The Catholic Church has replaced almost 1,000 mattresses worth approximately $400,000.’
‘The cover of the CD shows a photo of a friend’s waterlogged piano sitting in the garden.’ says Luke. ‘It seemed to capture something of the loss and devastation brought by the flood, yet at the same time convey a strange beauty.’
Luke will celebrate the launch of the CD at the Car Boot market on Sunday June 4. Copies are available for just $5 on the day and are also currently available at Centrechurch Bookstore and Music Bazaar, Lismore.
Profits from the sale of the CD will be forwarded to Centrechurch Flood Relief Fund to help Lismore residents affected by the flood.
For online download information visit: www.lukevassella.com and the video clips can be viewed at: www.facebook.com/lukevassella.
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