The Territory Labor Government is giving two local musical talents the opportunity of the lifetime, performing on the Territory's biggest stage - BASSINTHEGRASS.
Mr Chrisy Mertas and Elephant Town have taken out the Territory Artists Competition, and will perform at the Territory's largest music festival which drew crowds of over 14,000 people in 2023.
The two up and coming Territory talents will join a line-up featuring international super star Macklemore, The Jungle Giants and some of Australia's biggest musical acts.
Mr Chrisy Mertas hail from Nhulunbuy and are an alternative Surf- Punk band made up of four people who are known in the Arnhem Land music scene for their energetic attitude and heavy surf punk infused sound, mixing the community environment with the beautiful ocean surroundings.
Joining them, Elephant town are a young Darwin based band with four members, with their most recent singles 'Henry's Song' and 'Dancing Through the Rain' racking up thousands streams.
The Territory Artist competition which enables two local talents to take on the big stage every year was judged by from Music NT, Standing Room Only and Northern Territory Major Events Company (NTMEC).
Applicants were judged on quality, genre, capability, development, experience and ability to perform, and the winners showed they had plenty to offer fans at BASSINTHEGRASS.
To support the amazing local talent here in the Territory final release tickets are still on sale, head to www.bassinthegrass.com.au [http://www.bassinthegrass.com.au/]
Quotes attributed to Minister for Major Events, Brent Potter:
"The Territory Labor Government wants to help up and coming musicians make it in one of the world's toughest industries.
"BASSINTHEGRASS is a must-do music festival for Territory artists, musicians and music lovers . Last years festival generated over $13 million for the Territory economy in 2023.
"The Territory Artists Competition helps our home-grown talent to perform on a big stage and be music exposed to industry leaders. As with every year, the applications received showed there is no shortage of musical talent in the NT."
Quotes from Mr Chrisy Mertas frontman Matt McLean:
"It means the absolute world for us we are a small emerging band and BASSINTHEGRASS is a festival I've been attending ever since I was a kid and we're stoked.
"We've been a band in Arnhem Land for about two years now. We really hope that it leads to some exposure, we're a live band and our dream is to be on festival circuits and to get out to a greater audience. We're hoping this opens up some opportunities for some live shows.
"I think it's an amazing thing for Territory artists. It's an amazing incentive for people to get their stuff together and give it a crack."
Quotes from Elephant Town frontman Pedro Sanches Luiz:
"I was so excited, I was not expecting it but I just gave the band members a call, we're pretty shocked and very keen for the opportunity.
"We all love BASS so much and go every year and it's pretty surreal to be on stage and we're keen to have the opportunity to perform on stage and see what it's like, and play our music."
Northern Territory Government
