You’d be forgiven for thinking the ‘Gordon Gypsies’ were a street gang pulled straight from a Charles Dickens novel.
However, they are actually a Moorabool quartet preparing for a live performance at the upcoming Hide and Seek Festival.
From noon to 2pm on November 3, the band will play at the Soup and Bowl Lunch – one of 56 events occurring across the municipality.
The group, which formed at the start of 2023, is made up of Charlie Farrell on tin whistle, Tom Hughes on guitar, Quilby Nelson on the bodhran (Irish drum) and Shafiah Nelson on violin.
Mr Farrell said they had a “big range” of music to choose from and that the genre played on the day would depend on “audience and venue.”
“We set up a setlist in advance based on what we expect from the time and location… but we can change it up based on whether people are engaging,” he said.
Despite their versatility, Mr Farrell said they already had something in mind: gypsy jazz, a technical and string instrument oriented style that originated in 1930s Paris.
The significance of the opportunity to play live music in front of a crowd is not lost on Mr Farrell, especially when live music venues have closed down.
“It’s really fantastic – we haven’t had many gigs in the winter months… a lot of live music venues have closed down,” he said.
“[Bacchus Marsh pub] Flanagans Border Inn used to have live music every Sunday and now they don’t have enough money to pay artists, so it’s good council is stepping in.”
The family friendly festival will run from November 1 – 10 and feature music, art, and food for free or at a low cost.
Eddie Russell
