DOING blockies is a rite of passage for youngsters in most regional towns when they get their driving licence.
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Singer-songwriter Darren Hanlon learnt it’s a ritual upheld in many communities, including Manilla where the wildlife is in on the act too.
Hanlon has a curious connection to the quaint New England community and now he’s gotten behind its bid to host Triple J’s One Night Stand concert.
Manilla’s One Night Stand bid
Happening upon the town years ago looking for accommodation during a the country music festival, Hanlon found himself, in Manilla and, quickly besotted with the beautiful town on the banks of the Namoi.
While he was tasked with working on songs for his LP Fingertips and Mountaintops, he ended-up penning a new piece, immortalising the town in his song, Manilla, NSW.
“It had the right mix of excitement and boredom,” he told The Leader of Manilla.
That nexus materialised on Manilla Street in the early hours of one morning when the singer was taking a stroll.
“I went for a walk and I heard a noise coming from behind me,” he said.
It was a kangaroo bounding up the main street.
It motored past Hanlon and took a turn at the next intersection, as if in the midst of a blockie.
With great op-shops, friendly people and “corellas going nuts” above his caravan at the Rivergums caravan park, he said it was a productive place.
The Gympie-based artist backed Manilla’s bid to host One Night Stand and jokingly said he’d be happy to take on a role as ambassador for the gig.
He said it would be great for the kids and the town.
It would give people an excuse to go to Manilla and make them more likely to return later-on, he said.
Australia was blessed to have a national youth broadcaster in Triple J, compared to other countries, he said, because it had the ability to reach people in regional and remote parts of the nation.
A number of towns are vying for the right to host the gig in 2018, including Orange, Cootamundra, Shoalhaven and Singleton.
The winning town, and artists billed for the free concert, will be named next month.