CQCM alumni head 'Home' for debut album launch

Acoustic music trio Folks Like Us are set to launch their debut album next weekend (Sunday, 6 June) at CQUniversity's Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM) where they met as classical music students over a decade ago.

The Bachelor of Music graduates, Brendan Smith, Kathleen Campbell and Sarah Rozekrans will perform their appropriately named album Home in the foyer of the Mackay venue.

"Having our launch in the CQCM foyer is very fitting. We all met there. We all spent many hours working on the start of our musical pathways there," Ms Rozekrans said.

"As the title suggests, our album is inspired by what 'home' means to us – a sense of belonging. This is very much what we feel at CQCM as it is a place of many lifelong friendships in music."

With an interesting mix of styles and instruments (viola, piano, guitar, tin whistle, bodhran, vibraslap and three-part harmonies), Folks Like Us were fortunate to call on the talents of other CQCM graduates to add drums (Tim McClelland) and trumpet (Matthew Johnston) to some of the tracks on the album.

Ms Rozekrans explained they tried to keep the album as local as possible.

"It has been described as a mix of honest storytelling, nostalgia and positivity.

"We recorded with Sugar Town Music. It was mixed and mastered by James Newhouse from Lamb Chop Studio who has worked with Aussie artists The Waifs, John Butler and SanCisco," she said.

Mackay City Strings (conducted by Brendan Smith) and Songbirds (featuring Kathleen Campbell) will be the supporting acts, with performances starting from 2:30pm.

"There will be a cash bar open and cabaret seating audience members can have a relaxing afternoon of live music.

"We will also have hard copies of the album will be available at a reduced price of $20 afterwards so people can enjoy the music at home."

The album Home was partially funded by The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Mackay Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland

For more information on the trio and the launch, you can find them on Facebook @FolksLikeUs or on www.folkslikeus.com.au.