By Alesha Capone
FOR one young Werribee band, winning the chance to play at a major music festival feels like putting on a new pair of socks – after going on a long backpacking trip.
The Granston Display trio, made up of James Mooney, Jimmy Mathieson and Shags Murphy, won the western metropolitan finals of the FreeZA Battle of the Bands last year.
Their prize was the opportunity to star in the Push Over music festival’s FReeZA Push Start Grand Final, alongside nine other Victorian bands, at the Abbotsford Convent during March this year.
Mr Murphy, the group’s drummer, said the band was excited after winning the Battle of the Bands in December.
“It was the same feeling you get when you put on a fresh pair of socks after backpacking for six months, except more game plan is involved,” he said.
“It was our goal to play a festival this year so we like to think we’re on the target.”
Mr Murphy said the band hoped to play “as many songs as we can get away with” at Push Over but were more likely to appear on the stage for around 20-25 minutes.
“A lot of our friends and co-workers will be coming along to support us. If not, we hope they don’t expect any cool birthday presents this year,” he said.
“Our families are pretty excited. Over-the-top, joyful mothers and reserved, yet proud fathers.”
In a busy 2012 for Granston Display, they will also appear at the Sounds Loud Festival, staged by Moonee Valley FReeZA committee, in April.
In addition, the jazz funk blues roots fusion trio will soon record their first EP.
“We’re starting production of our first EP. We plan to do majority of the production ourselves,” Mr Murphy said.
Granston Display will also open for the musician Leek at Yah Yahs on 2 February and at Revolver on 5 February.