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Optus has announced the finalists of the inaugural Optus Sound Scribe program, an initiative to find the best young music reporter in regional Australia. Three finalists drawn by public vote have won an incredible one-off FREE major gig for their town and community with ARIA Award Winners, Birds of Tokyo, taking place later this month.

Winners, Max Quinn from Ballina, Jake Schatz from Bendigo and Jeremy Stevens from Leeton, won the majority vote via www.optussoundscribe.com.au, positioning them ahead of the forty aspiring music lovers competing to secure the gig for their town and a dream career opportunity. The Scribes have been tirelessly interviewing artists, creating a music blog and reporting on their local music scene for the last three months to drum up public votes.

Optus Sound Scribe judge and TV and radio personality, Andrew Günsberg said “Nothing makes me want to do my job better than knowing that a younger, hungrier person is coming up behind me ready to give it go. It’s rare that a major band like this would be able to perform in regional towns, and it’s great that Optus is opening up doors for regional audiences where it might otherwise be challenging to get a foot in.”

The Optus Sound Scribe program was launched in July this year to help regional music fans aged 16 to 24 years to pursue a career in music journalism. Drawing in thousands of public votes and with nearly 2300 music blogs posted across regional Australia from Quorrobolong to Rockhampton, the final Scribes have worked hard to be recognised amongst local, state and national audiences.

The three finalists will host the major act in their hometowns and go on to compete for the ultimate prize of a junior journalist internship at a major national music magazine. The overall winner, the Optus Sound Scribe of the Year, selected by a music industry panel, will also win a trip to Los Angeles visiting some of the hot music spots of the famed celebrity city.

Optus Country General Manager, Anthony Shiner said the Optus Sound Scribe program highlighted Optus’ commitment to regional communities across Australia.  “We’re really proud of our Sound Scribes and are honoured to be able to support young music enthusiasts from regional Australia who are looking for a career head start. It’s great that their communities can also be part of all the fun.”

Birds Of Tokyo’s drummer Adam Weston said “We’ve been happy to support such a great community initiative and be a part of this event, especially to be able to play shows in these regional towns for the very first time.”

GIG LISTINGS INFORMATION

NSW

19^th Nov – Ballina, Seagulls NRL Club, Kingsford Smith Park

24^th Nov – Leeton, Roxy Theatre, 114 Pine Ave

VIC DATES:

• 28^th Nov – Bendigo, Civic Gardens, Farmers Lane

Doors: 6PM

Price/ Admission: FREE/ All ages (Registration only)

Tickets: For more information and to register for FREE tickets go towww.optussoundscribe.com.au

LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR ALL EVENTS.

ENTRY TO THE GIGS WILL BE REFUSED WITHOUT A TICKET.

Our new video ‘Wild At Heart’ has arrived!

Filmed in a remote NSW location, it was an icy day.

We hope you like it.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OcpSOUYjlE[/youtube]

Just a quick reminder that it’s the last week to vote for your Optus Sound Scribe for the chance to have us perform in your hometown! Visit www.optussoundscribe.com.au and vote now for your local scribe!

In a unique partnership, Optus are bringing Birds of Tokyo to three regional towns at the end of November as part of the Optus Sound Scribe program that gives budding music enthusiasts in regional Australia the opportunity to pursue a career in music journalism.

Over the past two months forty Optus Sound Scribes located in various towns across regional Australia have been working tirelessly to produce a music blog reporting about their town’s local music scene and securing votes from their community. Ultimately on the 31st October the top 3 Scribes with the highest number of votes on their music blog will win a free concert in their town from Birds Of Tokyo.
Your local Optus Sound Scribe is urging your community to support their bid to bring Birds of Tokyo to your town for this one night only free concert for the community.

Drummer for Birds of Tokyo Adam Weston said “we’re all really looking forward to what these shows have in store for us as well as the regional punters of Australia. We are also excited that the three locations will be chosen based on how much the local community gets behind these talented scribes.”

For the chance to have Birds of Tokyo perform in your town go to www.optussoundscribe.com.au and vote for your local Optus Sound Scribe. Remember you can vote once per day so log on and make your vote count.