General News
11 September, 2023
Jamming together brings out the best in community
Every Friday night in Dunolly there’s a group of people doing great things with music. What started out as a small group of friends with a common interest in music and getting together, has morphed into the Goldfields Music Club, which runs an...
Every Friday night in Dunolly there’s a group of people doing great things with music.
What started out as a small group of friends with a common interest in music and getting together, has morphed into the Goldfields Music Club, which runs an open mic and jam session, attracting up to 45 people per week.
These are people who love music, and encourage anyone to come along and join them, whether you’re an established musician or know nothing about music.
“Anyone’s welcome,” Goldfields Music Club president Sue Hayman said.
“You don’t have to be a player or a singer, you can be a member of the public wanting to come along and listen.
“In fact, we need everyone, we need all those types.”
The club gathers at the Dunolly Golf Club each Friday, with doors opening at 6 pm.
If you want an open mic slot, there’s no reservations, it’s come along and put your name on the board.
“You could be a band wanting to test your stuff,” Sue said.
“We get people coming out of retirement.
“We get newbies. Newbies are always welcome.”
While the group officially became Goldfields Music Club Inc in March last year, it had been running informally for years before that.
“Pushing near to four years ago, there was a bunch of Dunolly musos who used to go to Pete’s Bistro on Broadway, every Friday,” Sue explained.
“At that point we were operating under the name of Dunolly Music Group. We were a group of friends.”
When Pete’s Bistro closed its doors, the group moved to Dunolly Golf Club.
Sue said it has turned out the group doesn’t just get more people involved in music, it has unintentionally brought out the best in the community.
“Collaboration between the different groups is really working well,” Sue said.
For example, each Friday night, Dunolly Golf Club provides volunteers to run the bar.
And when Dunolly flooded last year, and the club couldn’t access the golf club, the Welcome Stranger Cafe opened its doors to them.
“I reckon the town is punching above its weight a little bit, it’s great,” Sue said.
The club has started a new monthly event called Feature Fridays.
“We’re bringing in a band for a one hour set,” Sue said.
Feature Fridays evenings still have open mic slots available, but fewer than other weeks.
There’s no need to book if you want to go along to the club’s weekly Friday night mic and jam session, just turn up from 6pm.
“People are coming. They’re engaging. They’re making new friends,” Sue said.
“Musicians are networking as well. We’re finding people are sometimes forming bands. And that’s really good to see.”
Goldfields Music Club is run entirely by volunteers, and like most community organisations, is always keen to have more helping hands.
“A lot of people think you have to be on the organising committee to help, you don’t,” Sue said.
Volunteers are also needed to help the weekly Friday night mic and jam sessions run smoothly.
Entry is $5 with door prizes. A barbecue dinner is available at a small extra cost.
For more information, to volunteer, or discuss having your band play on Feature Friday, contact Sue Hayman on 0412 549 981. Or you can follow the group on Facebook.