BendiGLOW Youth Fest returned to the Peter Krenz Leisure Centre on 23rd September. Produced by YO Events, the City of Greater Bendigo’s FReeZA team.
This year’s BendiGLOW was bigger and better than we could have imagined and included a Battle of the Bands, sets by Cheap Skate and Bakers Eddy, UV circus activities, UV facepainting, skate workshops, mural painting, badge making, art activities, chill space, food trucks, youth service providers, and more!
Unlike last year, we enjoyed clear skies and warm sunshine which meant we could utilise the courtyard and outdoor space by the lake. The event was a huge success drawing more than 500 people – most of which were aged 12 – 25. For many of them it was their first live music event without parental supervision. Punters reported that “it was huge”, “the best day ever” and “had the potential to be as big as Groovin’ the Moo”, showing how much BendiGLOW has grown since last year. This growth is thanks to the ongoing support and love from Bendigo’s passionate, music loving young people and shows how important it is to have events like BendiGLOW for this group of people to connect, have fun and try new things.
A big draw card this year was Battle of the Bands where finalists No Gain, Bridie Lynas, Bleiery, Funky Monkeys, The Chans, Tarah Frawley, and Ryan McPartlane battled it out for some amazing prizes. Bleiery blasted into third place winning a $100 voucher from Muso’s Stuff. Judge Sherri Parry, local indie singer songwriter, commended their “brilliant” indie-folk music and “beautifully smooth vocals”. The runner up, No Gain’s “awesome” original rock sound won rehearsal studio time, donated by Yee Haa. Judge Sam Edmonds from Bendigo Records/Bendigo Vinyl commented on their “great rock vocals” and “song structure” called for “more originals please” demonstrating the great promise of this group.
The honour of first place went to Ryan McPartlane who won an amazing prize that included a professional one-song-demo recording session with Bendigo Records, including mixing, mastering, digital publishing and distribution with future royalties paid to the artist, a live gig which will be professionally recorded at Bendigo Vinyl’s soon-to-be new venue in Hargreaves Mall and a feature artist interview on Phoenix FM’s The Trove Show. Judge Colin Thompson, director of Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival commented on Ryan’s “Excellent” performance, calling him “talented and extremely polished”.
YO Events thanks local businesses and organisations for their support and contributions including Bendigo Vinyl, Bendigo Records, Yee Haa studios, Musos’s Stuff, The Trove Show, Mr Dimples, HipHopportunities, Skips Skate Shop, Trash Cult, Star Cinema, Boneless Barbershop, Thorne Harbour Country, headspace Bendigo, the KIT Van, Youthrive Vic, Bendigo Community Health Services, HipHopportunities, The Connected Circus, Power AV and Bendigo Blue Light.
The event was supported by the FReeZA program, Engage! program, and Victorian Youth Fest which are all Victorian Government initiatives. BendiGLOW is a safe and secure, and smoke, drug and alcohol free event for and created by the young people of Greater Bendigo.
If you're aged 12-25 and interested in getting involved and joining the YO Bendigo team, reach out via the Yo Bendigo social platforms or on the 'Contact Us' page - the more the merrier!