Unbeknownst to many Canberrans, Marion Mahony Griffin (the artist behind Walter Burley Griffin’s plans) had a vision for performances in public places and a local duo is fulfilling her dream with “random acts of music”.
We’re not talking about organised shows at conventional outdoor stages. Rather, local band The Cashews are playing unconventional places at unexpected hours.
One half of The Cashews, Pete Lyon, said Marion Mahony Griffin had an artistic vision for what the lake and surrounds would be like and what the community of Canberra would be about.
“Performances in public places is a big part of what she is all about,” Pete said. “In a way I feel like every Canberran is obliged to follow that vision, we’re just doing our bit. It’s like ‘be the change you want to see’.”
The other half of The Cashews, Alison Procter, said she loved putting creativity in unexpected places for people to accidentally stumble upon.
“One of the original reasons we started the ‘guerrilla gig’ was in response to the use of text messaging as part of the [2005] Cronulla riots,” Alison said. “Text messaging at the time sparked this event, which was really negative. We liked the idea that you could be spontaneous and spark a gathering for positivity and for bringing people together that connects them and makes them feel good.”
So without any publicity (bar this story) or infrastructure, The Cashews let their fans know about impromptu gigs via social media, usually just hours beforehand. This Saturday, 13 April, they’re going mobile and cycling tunes along Canberra’s bike paths around Lake Burley Griffin – for Marion.
The self-proclaimed “acoustic nuts” will hitch a trailer to their bike, loaded with a portable PA system, a couple of guitars, piano accordion, and xylophone.
“It would be great to convince some roller derby players to come along on their rollerskates,” Alison said. “We want to see all of the wheels. I want to see representation from people who are wheelchair users, people who are scooter users, roller skates, and unicycles.”
Marion’s vision is the main driver, however, The Cashews are also coming down from the highs of playing at the National Folk Festival. Five days in a perfect world just isn’t enough for this pair.
“We’re trying to bring what was so beautiful and wonderful from that space back into the landscapes of Canberra and keep it going for a year,” Pete said. “The folk festival has that effect on the community. We’re taking the folk festival and bringing its spirit into our normal lives.” The duo describes their music as original indie-folk that’s quirky, catchy, melodious, and grounded with a lingering social conscience. Many of their songs are a loving tribute to their hometown, with lyrics about the Tuggeranong Parkway, Cotter River, and Sullivans Creek.
“I spoke to someone at the folk festival from Sydney who said ‘I didn’t think there was much going on but once I discovered the cycle-ways, I got it and I totally loved the place’,” Pete said. “If you don’t know them it probably limits your love of the place because that’s when you get by the creeks, into the back suburbs and little tree areas.”
Guerrilla gigs are staged in the warmer months at iconic Canberra landscapes, including underpasses, hilltops and lakesides.
“It’s a really great chance for people to come out,” Alison said. “And you don’t have to be in lycra.”
Do it for Marion.
The Cashews’ roving gig starts near the rusted sculpture known locally as “the knot” (where couples tie the knot but it’s actually called “Virginia”) in the NGA Sculpture Garden at 12.30pm on Saturday, 13 April. Find The Cashews on Facebook or www.acousticnuts.com
