Chelsea Manor members Ivan Heenan (left), Michael Collins and Bianca Hendy are very excited to be announcedas Unearthed winners for the Triple J One Night Stand set to take place in Lucindale next weekend.PHOTO: Supplied
JESSE NEILL
A FORMER Gawler musician will take to the Triple J One Night Stand stage at Lucindale next weekend, after her Mount Gambier-based punk band Chelsea Manor was announced as the Unearthed winners for 2019.
Vocalist and guitarist Bianca Hendy grew up in Gawler and said finding out the news had been “surreal” and completely unexpected.
“We probably didn’t even think we were in with a real shot but we saw that the One Night Stand was coming to Lucindale so it was worth a try,” she said.
“We whipped up a track in Michael’s dad’s lounge room as quickly as possible.
“We thought there were other bands that were more suited to the sound, but then we got the phone call and thought it was a joke.”
All three members of the band previously performed with others under a different arrangement as the ‘Skate Goats’.
When that ended in February, bassist Ivan Heenan, drummer Michael Collins and Bianca Hendy formed Chelsea Manor and released their debut single ‘Creaming Soda’ in early July.
Bianca admits the band wasn’t intending to release music until October and that their One Night Stand set will be their live debut.
“We played some local gigs as the Skate Goats, but it’s nothing in comparison to what we’re about to do,” she said.
“Anyone that’s played in a band knows something always goes wrong at the first show, so I’m slightly looking forward to that and slightly thinking it will at least be entertaining.
“To think that’s where we jump off from as our starting point is incredible and I honestly think we’ve peaked way too early.”
Chelsea Manor also released ‘Breathe’ to Triple J Unearthed on Monday, the first single off their upcoming EP, which they are hoping to finish after the One Night Stand.
The band will be joining headliners Hilltop Hoods, Meg Mac, Ocean Alley, and G Flip on Saturday September 14 at the Lucindale Oval for the free, all-ages event.
Triple J will be broadcasting highlights of the festival live on their radio station and on the TripleJ app from midday.
There will also be a two-hour special on ABC’s music show ‘Rage’ on Saturday, September 21 covering all the highlights of the festival.
