SPARK Ipswich 2021: Brisbane band FeelsClub to play at Waghorn to West in Central Hotel

FeelsClub is heading to the stage in Ipswich to perform as part of the SPARK Ipswich indie live music crawl.

FeelsClub will be playing at the Ipswich Central Hotel in the SPARK Ipswich Waghorn to West Indie music crawl on July 10.

Ipswich born and raised musicians are heading home to be a part of the city’s maiden indie live music crawl.

Four-piece band FeelsClub is among 16 artists playing at Waghorn to West during SPARK Ipswich.

Vocalist and keyboardist St Jonnie said it was exciting to be performing again after Covid wreaked havoc on the music industry.

“Always excited for a show,” St Jonnie said.

“Once upon a time way off yonder we used to gig multiple times a week.

“This is our third show this year.”

A tour in Japan was lined up for 2020 but fell victim to the pandemic.

Making the best of the situation, the band got stuck into writing music, sitting down together as friends.

FeelsClub will be playing at the Ipswich Central Hotel in the SPARK Ipswich Waghorn to West Indie music crawl on July 10.

“You’ve got to do something – if you can’t keep it on the stage, keep it on the page,” St Jonnie said.

“As much as we love playing live shows and as much as that drives us a lot of the time, we ultimately love music and everything it brings to our lives.”

The self-described “trash pop” band includes St Jonnie, Mika Campbell, Leith Jacobs and Maxwell Kennedy.

Creative sparks flew after they met growing up in Ipswich and, four years ago, formed FeelsClub.

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“It’s changed very much over the years as to how the process works,” St Jonnie said.

“But generally Leith, our bassist, or myself write most of the music and it is usually by bouncing ideas off each other online.”

Being together in the same room isn’t vital for the band to collaborate on ideas, despite Leith and St Jonnie living walking distance from one another.

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“If I have an idea or come up with half a song, I send the file off – the others sit down, have a look, process it,” St Jonnie said.

“We don’t really write in a room together or jam it out until it gets to the point where the song is almost done and we’re learning how to play.”

“Every once in a while we’ll change bits at that stage but we’re pretty in sync with doing it remotely.”

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St Jonnie said he and his fellow band members left Ipswich for more gigging opportunities.

“Back when we each started playing music 10 years ago, there weren’t any venues really,” he said.

“We had to move to Brisbane simply to get gigs and be a part of a bigger community.”

“The scene wasn’t what it is now – there were no events quite like the one we’re playing now.”

To catch them on stage, head to the Ipswich Central Hotel at 9.15pm on Saturday night.

Waghorn to West brings 16 artists to the stage and will unfold across four venues, including Circa 160, Goleby’s Basement, Ipswich Central Hotel and Studio 188.

Waghorn to West is part of SPARK Ipswich and is an 18+ event.

Click here to buy tickets.

Read more news by Ebony Graveurhere.