Music on the beach

For two decades, the annual Bondi Blitz music festival has helped empower and develop local talent, offering live performances from some of the best up-and-coming and established youth music acts.

A highlight of National Youth Week 2010, Bondi Blitz begins at 11am, April 10 on Bondi Beach. Part of the WAYS Bondi Live Youth Music Project (BLYMP), Bondi Blitz is a drug-and alcohol-free event for all ages.

The line up includes popular local acts including Chemical Transport, Kid Mac and Town Hall Steps. Previous Bondi Blitz performers have included Kid Confucius, something With Numbers and ex-WAYS band, Heroes For Hire. High profile bands such as Grinspoon have also taken part in the past, attracting huge crowds.

One of the six annual WAYS music events, Bondi Blitz is the only live concert held at Bondi Beach. “It’s a great venue and a unique setting for live music,” says event organiser Stuart Barber. “Around 2000 people attended last year.”

Celebrating 30 years of community service this year, WAYS is an important youth service for the local area. It has grown from a small group of concerned citizens operating out of a terrace house in Bondi Junction to the largest community-based not-for-profit organisation for youth in NSW.

But losing the specialist youth employment service Federal Government funding last year has led to a reluctant downsizing of both staff and services.
“It’s been a real blow,” Barber says.

Despite this setback, WAYS is continuing its many successful community programs and services. These include a range of recreational and support services for young people, education and training projects, live youth music through the BLYMP program, as well as GP and general and sexual health services.

Barber encourages the community to get involved with WAYS, praising the time and expertise community volunteers bring to its programs. “The volunteers who help at live music events and bring other specialist components to different programs are people we couldn’t afford to hire, and we’re very grateful to them,” he says. “We appreciate all our volunteers who lend support to our projects and services.”

To volunteer with WAYS, call 9365 2500 or visit www.ways.org.au.

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BY ALEXANDRA ROACH