Amy Meredith and CatCall are ready to rock the lives of Canberra's young carers.
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ARIA-nominated Amy Meredith singer Christian Lo Russo, was excited to get involved with FESTofALL - being a young carer is something he feels strongly about.
''They approached us, and I thought this is exactly what I should be doing,'' he says. ''A friend of mine, he was my best friend … when he was 19 he had a big accident and he fell off a cliff. He was unable walk, he can't talk, he's basically immobile.
''We still go over to his house and have little parties. We are also friends with his brother, who basically gave up his life to look after his younger brother.''
Young carers play a vital role in many people's life, and the federal government initiative FESTofALL is celebrating the effort these young people make in many lives, with Sydney's Luna Park becoming a hive of rock'n'roll activity.
Carers between the ages of five and 25 who perform caring duties without payment can check out festofall.com.au for eligibility, as a free bus will take young Canberrans to Luna Park for the day. Unlimited rides, hip-hop and beat boxing classes, hula-hooping and a spot of tennis will top it all off.
Amy Meredith are no strangers to the big stage. When Fly caught up with them, Lo Russo was still buzzing from their recent tour with pop icon Jessie J.
''It was something that we normally wouldn't assume we'd get offered and then we were like 'Yep, this sounds like a rad idea. She's such a superstar.' ''
One of the highlights of that tour for the band was watching the way Jessie J worked with her crew.
''She's such a diva. I remember being backstage and watching her sound check, or listening to her sound check and hearing her kind of tell the band, not in a rude way, what she wants and how it has to be. Basically taking the initiative in her creative place as an artist. And just going, 'You know, if you're going to sing off key, don't sing.' ''
Amy Meredith released their debut album Restless in 2010, though Sony Music. This contained single stellar single Lying, which reached an impressive No. 10 on the ARIA Singles Charts. With their clever melodic work creating an identifiable sound, lead Lo Russo says they have an unintentional pop sensibility.
''Music takes shape in so many different ways. The bands that the band and I listen to are like the Cure or the Shins, Phoenix, bands that we grew up listening to, a lot of '80s bands, Tears for Fears, INXS.''
This has helped shape the band's sound, but when they get together for a writing session, they never quite know how things are going to roll.
''When you sit down and write a song, that's what it comes out like. So there is no doubt that we have a strong pop sensibility about us, unintentionally.''
There is another FESTofALL event organised to take place at Questacon here in Canberra if you can't take the day to get to Sydney, so see the website for all the details.
Amy Meredith
WITH: CatCall
WHEN: June 24
WHERE: Luna Park
TICKETS: Free for
eligible punters
■ Arne Sjostedt is a music writer, former drummer and avid tunes fan