ONE thing's for certain - the Attard kids are seriously quick learners.
In less than 12 months, Tom, 12, his brother Sean, 11, and sister Amelia, 7, have gone from not knowing how to play a musical instrument, to writing their own songs and gigging.
The development has been so rapid, in fact, that on March 3 the San Remo family band, known as The S.A Tees, will become the youngest act to ever perform at Lizotte's for their weekly Live N Local showcase.
The S.A Tees' two original songs, Little Alchemy and Middle Of The End were recorded at Damien Gerard studios at Gosford and have reached No.1 on community radio station Lake Macquarie FM's publicly-voted chart.
"Everyone says their original stuff has a Sgt Pepper sound," said their father John Attard, who helps out by playing guitar.
"When they were babies they'd go to bed watching The Beatles' Yellow Submarine, so every night they'd hear Eleanor Rigby and Strawberry Fields Forever and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds and things like that.
"So they're very big Beatles fans."
The S.A Tees also play the Morisset Showground Markets on Saturday and have previously performed at the Wyee Markets and Christian Youth Markets in Waratah.
BENNETT ROAD TRIP
IF you haven't already, jump onto your favourite streaming service and give the new single Beg Lie Steal Borrow from Newcastle's James Bennett a listen.
The Bob Dylan-esque folky Americana track was written during Bennett's numerous road trips around the east coast playing gigs and was produced by Gareth Hudson at Adamstown Heights' Hazy Cosmic Jive Studio.
It'll appear on Bennett's forthcoming fourth album Life and Life Only.
Naturally Bennett is preparing for another lengthy road trip through NSW and Queensland to promote Beg Lie Steal Borrow, which kicks off in Armidale on February 24.
Newcastle fans can catch James Bennett at Carrington's Criterion Hotel on March 27.
NEW SWEET VOICE
EMERGING Newcastle folk-pop artist Miller Roberts, aka Millie Robertson, will release her single Voice In My Head on February 19.
It'll be the first of six new songs Roberts will release across 2021.
Voice In My Head is driven by piano, warm folk harmonies and gentle programmed drums and explores mental health and the internal dialogue we all grapple with.
Last July Roberts released her debut EP Square One, which spawned the track Where We Stand, that has since attracted more than 33,000 streams on Spotify.
FRESH BEATS
NEWCASTLE livestream show Music People has prided itself on presenting talent not usually seen or heard in the mainstream.
Next Tuesday's episode might feature Music People's most intriguing artist to date when Sydney percussive act Junkyard Beats make their debut in Newcastle.
Junkyard Beats feature a mix of body percussion, fire drumming, junk percussion, pyrotechnics and hilarious skits.
Other acts scheduled to appear next Tuesday are Newcastle rapper Talaki, Dungog hard-rock band Osprey and Photos Of The Moon, the latest project from Newcastle folk artist Byren Sawell.
Tickets are available to watch Music People live at the Civic Theatre next Tuesday or you can livestream the show through the Newcastle Herald's Facebook.
COSMIC LINE-UP
THERE'S plenty of great music coming to Newcastle for the New Annual, including the Hazy Cosmic Jive's Artist Showcase, headlined by ethereal local artist Amy Vee.
Joining Vee at the Civic Playhouse for the February 12 showcase will be bluesman Buddy Knox, country-pop starlet Katie Jayne, indie-folk singer-songwriter Nick Saxon, indie-pop artist Daniel March and 2019 Passport To Airlie band competition winners Glovers Lane.
SPACEY JANE SNUB
PERTH band Spacey Jane are undoubtedly one of the most popular bands in Australia right now thanks to their song Booster Seat charting No.2 in triple j's Hottest 100.
Unfortunately Newcastle has missed out on their long-awaited album tour to support last year's debut Sunlight.
Spacey Jane were originally scheduled to play at a sold-out Small Ballroom last year and on February 21 before the gig was postponed due to COVID restrictions.
The Newcastle venue has since cancelled all live music for the foreseeable future.
If you wanna catch Spacey Jane you'll need to grab a ticket for one of the band's three Enmore Theatre shows in Sydney on April 17 and 18.
