“We spent the last two years watching a lot of Netflix and even sort of trying to enjoy live music from the TV or through Instagram Live, which was just an awful period. I hope that never comes back,” the All Our Exes Live in Texas vocalist said.
In efforts to bring musos and music fans back together again, the mandolin aficionado created a new format combining live music, interviews and stories you’re unlikely to hear anywhere else, to create Supergroup.
It’s coming to The Triffid in Brisbane on July 27 and 28, featuring a different lineup of Brisbane musicians on each night.
“Mostly it came from, there’s this beautiful tradition in folk and country music called `in the round’ sessions. It’s when songwriters will get in the circle and it’s very casual,” Mooney said.
“You sort of take turns to play a song and often the others will join in if they know the chords or can pick them up.
“It’s just such a lovely, communal way of playing and experiencing music.
“I always thought it would be really fun to branch that out and mix up the genres of the people who are playing. It’s very much a folk thing, but I thought, “Wouldn’t it be fun if you could have artists from all different musical backgrounds playing together?”
With her esteemed folk group All Our Exes Live in Texas deciding to take a break, the opportunity opened up for Mooney to bring her idea to reality.
“I’ve always really loved hosting things, and I don’t mind a chat, and have been doing a bit of radio and things like that. I thought wouldn’t it be kind of fun if we turned it into a variety show and I can interview each guest between the songs they play?,” she said.
“And it becomes almost reminiscent of those beautiful variety shows that were a big part of especially American TV in the 50s and ’60s, things like the Ed Sullivan Show or even like the Cher Show, or there was a period where different kind of show biz people would have a few nights of a variety show where they could pick a line and sort of host.
“The artists are playing together. I come out and introduce everyone, and then we’re all seated in the semi circle, including me and the house bands behind us, and each person takes a turn to play one of their songs and we join in with them.
“Between each song I interview everyone about their songwriting process, but also about fun, silly things like who was your favourite band when you were 13? And who would you do a duet with, if you could do a duet with anyone in the world? Just fun, lighthearted questions from these artists that you don’t normally get to see in that sort of a context.”
She loves highlighting the local artists that many people may not even realise are based in Brisbane.
“In Brisbane, we’ve got some great ones. We’ve got Sam Cromack from Ballpark Music, and we’ve got an artist called Saya Elizabeth, who’s beautiful,” she said.
“That’ll be one band. Then on the next night we’ve got Jeremy Neil and Evil Eddie from Butterfingers and Hope D. That’ll be another band. No two nights are the same because the artists are so different and the conversations go in all sorts of directions.”
Supergroup is not recorded, to encourage people to come and experience something that is truly unique every night because it is live, and cannot be repeated.
“This is kind of like live performance on steroids because there’s eight of us on the stage and it’s lots of different artists coming together and it’s quite interactive with the audience as well,” she said.
“Another fun thing is in each city, I’ve got a local set designer who’s going to decorate the stage and make it a visual feast as well. So kind of, again, inspired by those gorgeous TV variety shows, a bit of rattle dazzle,” she said.
“I think it’s pretty family friendly. In the past we’ve had all ages really from two to 82, thinking of my niece and my grandpa.
“I love that because I think I feel very passionately that we have just such an amazing breadth of music makers in Australia.
“There are so many wonderful songwriters. It feels like a nice showcase of that and Australian stories, because they’re all performing Australian stories too.
“It’s a beautiful showcase of what Australian music is at the moment.”
