Tuesday 1 March was one of The Beanies’ biggest days ever in the six years they’ve been together.

The children’s music group have performed countless live shows, released a handful of albums, and produced an award-winning podcast that’s had over one million listens. Then, earlier this week they added TV to their resume when eight animated song and dance video clips began airing on ABC Kids.

The Beanies’ Mim Rizvi, Laura Dawson and ‘music wizard’ James Court all hail from Canberra, while fourth member, Michael Yore, is from Newcastle.

The eight clips feature some of The Beanies’ most popular songs and is a bit different to typical ABC Kids content: “It’s for kids who are a bit silly,” Mim said.

Laura said the opportunity came about “mainly through sheer determination”.

“It has been a goal of the group since our inception, so we just kept knocking on doors until we found the right one. We have had the support of ABC Music since 2020 who helped us get a foot in the door,” she said.

The Beanies’ ABC series had been in the works for around a year before airing. All set to record mid-2021, Sydney’s lockdown created an air of uncertainty around how they would proceed, with the team even considering relocating to Canberra to record the series.

“Then just after we confirmed all of our quarantine arrangements, the ACT went into lockdown,” Mim said.

Ultimately, the songs were recorded over three days in Sydney in the middle of the lockdown, which provided respite for the whole team and a chance to catch up in person.

‘Covid led to us getting on TV’

Prior to Covid, live performing had always been both The Beanies primary creative outlet and source of revenue.

Minimal gig opportunities over the past two years have taken a large financial toll on the group, but they’ve also had their share of silver linings.

“To look at it positively, Covid was what led to us getting on TV,” Mim said.

Long before 2020, The Beanies had already developed several digital offerings, like their award-winning podcast series and YouTube clips.

But even that level of digital experience couldn’t prepare them for live online kids shows, of which they’re seasoned veterans now.

In mid-2020, they even travelled to Canberra to perform on the Canberra Theatre stage for an empty house as part of the venue’s Facebook live series.

“It’s just so quiet,” Mim smiled. “You’ll ask them what their favourite colour is and then have to reply as if you’ve heard them all call out to you.”

They were able to hone their improv skills doing gigs where fans could message in requests.

“We got some crazy ones!” Laura said.

“In one show we got asked to do a cartwheel, and none of us know how to do a cartwheel,” Mim smiled, “so Michael came up with something on the spot where he did a summersault and kicked his legs up off screen.”

Now with some more certainty around domestic travel, The Beanies are looking to hit the road over 2022-23, with at least 20 gigs booked in already, including a Canberra show being finalised for August.

While The Beanies were established in Sydney in 2016, Mim, Laura, and James all knew each other through growing up in Canberra’s local theatre scene.

With such strong local ties, The Beanies love performing before home crowds, regularly playing the Canberra Theatre, The Q, and Floriade every year.

Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.