Weekend Warriors: Ron becomes a music judge in the Adelaide City region of South Australia

Wednesday night at The Gov Hotel and in the front bar, the Weekend Warriors are doing their bit for the local music scene, providing a P.A. system and other musical equipment for anyone who'd like to strut their stuff in front of a pub audience.

For the Tonkin family who run this legendary hotel on Port Road - the Weekend Warriors Program fits perfectly with the pub's ethos.

Richard Tonkin, "The Gov": "You get people out sitting around with each other, playing together. It creates a whole community vibrancy to the music."

Tonight Richard Tonkin will join the Warriors as they play their part in uncovering new talent. "Open Mic Night" means anyone can get up and play. An impromptu jam session allows experienced musos and mentors to assess and promote the talents of newcomers.

Those who join a jam session could very well be "old hands" who like to fire up the Gibson or Fender guitar - while others might be closet vocalists - sick of singing into the shampoo bottle in the shower and finally prepared to shower their talents on a supportive and forgiving audience.

Georgie Lee, Weekend Warriors: "They select people in music genres, ability, levels and so forth and they pair them into groups that they think might work. They take them through four weeks of rehearsals after which they get up on stage at The Gov and perform for their family and friends and other people who come along."

Meanwhile in a back street in suburban Welland, a bunch of musos who only met in March make their way into the Dream Theatre rehearsal rooms. Here they pursue their dreams, having been brought together under the guidance of the Weekend Warriors program.

The Weekend Warriors program is all about having fun playing or singing in a band. The program provides much of the gear, the coaches and the first few concert gigs. You provide the talent and the enthusiasm.

If you want to step from singing in the shower to centre stage then contact the Weekend Warriors. Open Mic Night is held at the Gov every Wednesday night from 7pm.

Weekend Warriors "Open Mic Night"
Wednesdays 7pm
The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel
Port Road

Published 23rd August 2009