| The Sweethearts Foundation Inc. | |
| Formation | 1989; 35 years ago (1989) |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College |
| Founder | Ross Lipson |
| Website | http://sweethearts.com.au |
Sweethearts is a school music group founded in Geelong, Australia in 1989 who play new soul – a fusion of styles based around classic soul and Motown. They have an international following and have played concerts at several large music festivals.
History
The Sweethearts began at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College under the direction of Ross Lipson, initially as a social band for teachers and students in Years 10-12 of high school. Lipson was a science and instrumental teacher at the school, who with colleagues from the music department, decided to form a group to play jazz standards and soul music. Word of mouth spread and they began to book gigs.
The Sweethearts Foundation was formed in 2000 as a not-for-profit organisation to support the Sweethearts program and band. In 2005, Lipson and his colleague Rick McLean transformed the group into a two-year Certificate IV course in music after being given professional development time by the Education Department. It was said to be the highest industry-based qualification offered by any Australian school in 2013. A separate Sweethearts Music Academy was formed in 2012 to provide mentoring and training for musicians aged 8-13.
Sweethearts were the subject of a 2013 multi-part documentary Heart and Soul on the Australian ABC3 television network. Filmed over almost two years, the documentary followed the girls touring internationally while managing their school work. A second series of Heart and Soul featuring The Sweethearts was produced in 2015 and was nominated for a 2015 International Kid’s Emmy.
The group have performed at the Queenscliff Music Festival, Porretta Soul Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Jazz à Vienne, and have had air play on Australia's national radio network Triple J with their song "Secret".
The Sweethearts Foundation also founded Sweetfest, a musical festival held in Geelong celebrating female musicians. The free annual festival began in 2018 and returned in 2022 after not being held for two years.
In 2014 Lipson died of cancer. The Sweethearts Foundation and Queenscliff Music Festival founded the Ross Lipson Award in his honour to recognise excellence in local female musicians. The current music director is Michael Fitzgerald.
Discography
- Red in Your Eyes (2012)
- Bar Roma (2013)
- Heart and Soul (2015)
- Four Leaf Clover (2016)
- Don't Feel Yourself (2019)
References
- ^ Pilcher, Tiffany (20 March 2013). "Swinging soul sweethearts". Surf Coast Times. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- TBNN - Youth News Sport and Entertainment. "The Sweethearts". TBNN. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ Ryan, Denise (27 February 2012). "School band savours sweet success". The Age. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Oliver, Kylie (12 May 2021). "Sweet music returns to Geelong streets". Surf Coast Times. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- "Heart&Soul (2013– )". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- "Heart And Soul : ABC TV". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- Knox, David (25 August 2015). "Returning: Heart & Soul". TV Tonight. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- "25 Years of Sweethearts Soul Music". Forte Magazine. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- Andrew Mathieson (14 May 2010). "Song could unearth Sweethearts". Geelong Independent. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- "Geelong's free festival Sweetfest is on this weekend with a fierce all-female lineup". Forte Magazine. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- Hui, Jin (28 February 2022). "Sweetfest to take over Central Geelong". Geelong Independent. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- Lannen, Danny (11 December 2014). "Sweethearts mourn leader's passing". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- Thompson, Jim Darby, Bill Lipson, Mark Pullin and Sandy (25 February 2015). "Teacher gave taste for adventure to landmark music initiative". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Hui, Jin (1 December 2016). "Year finishes on a high note". Ocean Grove Voice. Retrieved 2 May 2022.