Talent launched

By Kelly Yates
Peter Dowler from Adlib Entertainment and River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith are joining forces to encourage Casey council to support the low-cost concerts which would assist performers with fund-raising and exposure opportunities.
Mr Dowler told the News he could see two Launch Pad concerts being held a year, with the support of Casey council.
“My daughter Tara was lucky enough to host one of the recent concerts this year and we raised $1000 from the event,” he said.
“It’s great for these young stars to reap the benefits of the exposure.”
Mr Dowler said there would be certain criteria that the young performers would have to meet before holding a concert.
“We’d be looking for musical acts that have already shown they can get out there into industry and work for themselves,” he said.
“The concerts will be a way for the artists to promote themselves and follow their dreams.”
Cr Smith said the only cost to the council would be booking out the Cranbourne Community Theatre.
Casey could also be dubbed an entertainment mecca with Cr Smith suggesting that the municipality hold a major music festival similar to Werribee’s Weerama Festival which attracts about 60,000 people.
He said the concept stemmed from the success of the Casey Cares concert which was held in April.
“The crew who organised Casey Cares want to do it again and one of the volunteers came up and said we should hold a festival where the whole city comes out to celebrate,” Cr Smith said.
“We could put on several events throughout the municipality, like a concert in Doveton and then a craft market in Berwick.”
Cr Smith said meetings would be held with relevant officers, councillors and interested volunteers in relation to the proposal of the music festival and the Launch Pad concerts.
The council officers will report back to council with the results of the meetings.