Amped Up Youth Music Initiative

03/09/2026

🎸 Amped Up Youth Music Initiative HAS BEEN A LITTLE QUIET… BUT OUR KIDS CERTAINLY HAVEN’T! 🎸

You might have noticed we’ve been a bit quiet since the Great Barrier Reef Festival ...
Our team have been busy out and about doing what we do in our communities , including Tash and Aunty Barb swapping the stage for the Safe Space / Chill Out Zone at Rhythm and the Reef Music Festival last weekend where we saw Founder open the festival 🤙🎊🎶

But THIS weekend?

Holy moly… our Amped Up kids are EVERYWHERE! 🔥

And THIS is what it’s all about.

These young musicians started out being given a stage, a microphone and an opportunity to build their confidence…

Now they’re being BOOKED.

🎶 FRIDAY NIGHT ... AIRLIE BEACH

Category 5 are coming in fast on the stage at Magnums Hotel in Airlie Beach!

Yep. Our Category 5 crew are stepping out and doing their thing at one of Airlie’s iconic live music venues.

🎶 FRIDAY NIGHT ... BOWEN

Meanwhile, head north up the highway because the Don river dash 2026 is happening…

And guess who are the guest artists Friday night?!

🔥 Aftershock - the band 🔥

How cool is THAT?!

🎶 SATURDAY NIGHT.... MACKAY

Then we head back down the highway to Mackay where if and when will be getting the party started at the Mount Pleasant Tavern Birthday Party!

From Airlie…
to Bowen…
to Mackay…

Amped Up young artists are out there doing what we always hoped they would do.

Getting gigs.
Building experience.
Growing confidence.
Creating connections.
Earning opportunities.
And becoming part of our region’s live music scene.

This is why Amped Up Youth Music Initiative exists.

We can give young people a stage ... but what happens NEXT is where the magic really begins.

And there is something every single one of YOU can do to help keep that happening:

SUPPORT THE VENUES AND EVENTS THAT SUPPORT OUR KIDS.

Book the table.

Buy the meal.

Grab your drinks.

Bring your mates.

Get on the dance floor.

Cheer ridiculously loudly.

And when you see one of these young artists up there doing their thing, remember, every crowd they play to helps build the confidence and experience for the next opportunity.

Because when venues back young musicians, we need to back those venues.

That is how we build a thriving live music community.

That is how we create pathways.

And THAT is how we show young people that their talent has somewhere to go.

🎸 Music is Medicine.
🎸 Opportunity changes lives.
🎸 And our kids are only just getting started.

Go get ’em Category 5, Aftershock and If and When!

The entire Amped Up family is ridiculously proud of you. 🤘💗

Big love Aunty Barb 🎶🤙🎊

29/08/2026

If you have youngsters 5-25 or even yourself interested in learning an instrument in Mackay get in touch with Josh from Swoonsound

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https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19fX46qwYf/?mibextid=wwXIfr

26/08/2026

You won't wanna miss this!

We are so excited for these lads to get this opportunity 🤙

You've seen them light up our stages a few times now , now they get to light up the main stage at Rhythm and the Reef 🤙🎊🎶👌

You can catch our very own Aunty Barb and Tash manning the Chill Out Zone along with Sharon from Shazzas Gig Guide, providing festival goers a safe space to chill and unwind if needing support 🪷🌸🎶✨️

Mackay’s own Founder are ready to light up the Main Stage 🎸🔥

The four-piece indie band will be kicking things off from 1:30pm with an unmissable set to get the festival energy started.

Get down early. You won’t want to miss this one!

16/08/2026

Founder have graced our stages a few times now and seeing them continually growing is why we exist.

They are now getting regular paid gigs and opportunities and certainly ones to keep an eye on... they are going places!

They closed out the Mackay Heats of Passport To Airlie on the weekend.

They rocked the River of Life Festival , Great Barrier Reef Festival , next week are at Flametree Gathering and after that at Rhythm and the Reef this year you will find them on our stage at Airlie Beach Festival Of Music ... 🎶

They do epic covers and have a growing list of originals. You can find them on Spotify too

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2aqXZzrbmxFEBb8yLyngeB?si=TfoaQj1pScO8LaZN4SfcXA&utm_source=copy-link&sci=spotify%3Acard-config%3A5XrNBvIQt3h90Zqze6jKng

15/08/2026

Massive appreciation to Mackay Blues Club for including some of our bands at the first Mackay Blues Festival.

if and when and Jam N' Butter - Teen Rock Band did so well and I've continually heard great feedback. So proud of you all.

It has been an incredible weekend so far!

So much talent in one location over the weekend. 🎶🎸🎊🤙

15/08/2026

Jam N' Butter - Teen Rock Band

Mackay Blues Club

15/08/2026

Jam N' Butter - Teen Rock Band opening for Day 2 of Blues Fest Mackay Blues Club

This moved me so much this song!

So proud of them all!

🎶🎸🎊

14/08/2026

The legendary Zed Charles in the zone and inspiring the next generation at the Mackay Blues Club Blues Fest being held over this weekend at Seabreeze Hotel.

Zed and his band have been a headliner on our Amped Up Youth Music Initiative stage in Bowen before and are a massive supporter of us!

Excited for Saturday event now, kicking off at 11am with one of our regulars Jam N' Butter - Teen Rock Band...

There is 2 stages tomorrow operating and will be an epic day and night of live Blues music.

Come and say hi!

14/08/2026

What a way to open the Mackay Blues Club Bluesfest at Seabreeze Hotel 🎶🎊🐬

if and when just totally stole the stage!

So proud!