Canberra punches above its weight where producing award-winning artists and bands are concerned, with numerous ARIA nominations and nine ARIA wins from artists hailing from Canberra in the last five years alone.

Is there something about Canberra, despite being considered a small regional destination on the ‘big music’ map, and with a frequently lamented lack of enough live music venues, that helps our emerging artists defy the odds?

There must be, as bands like Hands Like Houses, Genesis Owusu, SAFIA, Peking Duk, Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers and more, continue to leave their Canberran footprints all over the world.

It seems we may have been a little remiss to consider being ‘smaller’ than our capital city siblings a disadvantage, when it may actually be a crucial ingredient of their success.

Canberra is a place that fosters friendships and community in a way that is harder in bigger, more sprawling places.

Recently, I settled into a front row seat at Smith’s Alternative in Alinga Street for a Friday night set.

Once an iconic bookstore, this intimate seated live performance venue of 11 years has forged an iconic and enduringly successful status of its own, and is a place where talent of all genres finds a safe place to express itself.

I had been invited by someone’s Mum, Kylie, in an email championing the passion, courage and resilience of her 18-year-old son Jono, who lost his dad almost two years ago, and the collective talent of he and his childhood friends Ryder, Gordon and Riley.

Their band, Encore, were set to perform their third ever gig at Smith’s.

It was an easy decision to be there. On many levels.

There was a lot about Encore’s friendship story that resonated with me.

I am also a great fan of a Mum who champions their kids.

To achieve success in the music industry in Australia, or anywhere, is no small feat.

You need at least a few things working for you from the get-go.

Musicians need a passion for their craft, a commitment to hard work, good music, places to perform, an audience, and a way to let others know about it.

Canberra Weekly is happy to do our bit on that last front.

But what is becoming evident is that long-term friendships and belonging to a community committed to lifting you up are also intangible assets that can be powerful in both creating something quite unique and holding a band together.

Jono Nicholas (guitar and vocals), Ryder Darling (guitar and vocals), Gordon Lange (bass) and Riley Element (drums) have been friends for 12 years. Jono, Ryder and Gordon live on the same street in Queanbeyan.

“We all met in Kindergarten,” says Jono.

The band were emphatic in their unanimous response that being friends is a huge advantage to their music and performance, referring to their ability to collaborate and “…just know… without the traditional on-stage cues that others might use …what is happening next”, as Jono explains.

Do they argue?

Ryder says that whilst they might “argue”, he agrees with Jono who says, “It’s more like brother/sister stuff where we try to get on each other’s nerves on purpose … but nobody hangs on to anything.”

Of performing at Smith’s, the band says they are “eternally grateful” for the support.

“I think Smith’s is important for us … it’s helped us build good relationships with the community in Canberra as an entry way into the music scene,” says Jono.

Co-Owner of Smith’s, Nigel McRae is intentional in his choice to give new bands a space to perform.

“If you’re going to be a live band you’ve got to have practice, live rehearsal in front of an audience and somewhere to get over your nerves and learn all the other stuff about being a musician besides just writing and playing songs.

Also vital are  “…the stagecraft, how to communicate with an audience, structure a set, build into your set opportunities to mention your merchandise, learn how to promote yourself, how to behave professionally, how to do a soundcheck quickly and play a good set and get off, and interact with other musicians and venue owners,” he says.

Anna Ryan from Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers says, “Having a small venue that emerging bands can use as a stepping stone into live performances is so important!

“We owe a lot to the venues and Canberra music scene that were so supportive of us in the beginning of our career and glad to see they are still showing support to emerging artists.”

On top of the support of venues like Smith’s and the Canberra community, the evidence for my hunch on the extra power of friendships is compelling.

The members of Teen Jesus (Anna Ryan, Scarlett McKahey, Jaida Stephenson and Neve van Boxsel) are childhood friends and all went to the same school. Adam Hyde and Reuben Styles from Peking Duk were childhood friends and high school students in Canberra, as well as all three members of SAFIA (Ben Woolner, Michael Bell and Harry Sayers). The core members of Hands Like Houses were also close with Trenton Woodley and Joel Tyrrell, best friends since they were seven years old, and most of the original lineup grew up together, playing in Canberra’s local music scene and earlier bands.

Encore, whose musical influences include Oasis, and who would love to be “…the biggest band ever”, appear to be in good company and following a tried-and-true Canberra blueprint for success, including, from my front-row seat, playing some great music.

Admirably, Jono also says their goal is “About making music for everyone and anyone to listen to … and watch us play and be inspired to do it themselves.”

ARIA award-winning Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have just taken off on yet another international tour of the UK and Europe.

At one of their performances with Pearl Jam late in 2024, Eddie Vedder interrupted their set with a prepared speech praising the band, in which he said, “This is proof that great friends make great music.”

Jono, Ryder, Gordon and Riley, like other bands, will have their work cut out for them, but they have their talent, friendships, families and the unique brand of Canberra support that seems to be a recipe for success.

I know this for a fact.

A little over ten years ago, just like Kylie, I sat and watched Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers play their first gig at Smith’s.

And none of their rightly proud mums had to ask me to come and watch them.

I was one.