Joel Bow’s Heading North production to premiere Graeme Connors musical

Mackay producer Joel Bow to debut his new Graeme Connors inspired production Heading North at the Mackay Festival of Arts.

Australian country music icon and Mackay’s Graeme Connors lyrics and music will be transformed in a new production Heading North, by Joel Bow. Picture: Contributed

The tale of two families with a shared passion for life, love and the sea will be put to the sounds of iconic Mackay musician Graeme Connors in an original production, Heading North.

The production, created by Joel Bow with an original script by SK Munt, will make its world premiere at the Mackay Festival of Arts on Friday, July 9.

The one-hour taster performance is billed as one that will transport the audience to the tropical north “where friendships are formed memories are created”.

“I am blessed that Graeme Connors and the Mackay Festival of Arts have embraced this incredibly special project,” Bow said.

“Although we have a long way to go before this is a two-act musical, a snapshot of the musical will be performed by 10 magnificent local artists to give you a taste of what is indeed coming.”

Graeme Connors’ North was the early inspiration for Joel Bow’s Heading North production.

Heading North is directed by Cheryl Peppin, with musical director Kathleen Campbell on board and Sarah Rozekrans on piano.

Bow said he was first introduced to Graeme Connors more than two decades ago when his parents took him to the original North concert in 1988.

“It was incredible,” he said.

“Fast forward 30 years and I was lucky to be in a packed house for the 30th anniversary concert of North and when Graeme mentioned that he would love his songs to be in a musical one day.

“Then the iconic opening of GC’s A Little Further North Each Year played and the concept to Heading North appeared.

“I asked my good friend and local author SK Munt to jump on board to craft a script and after some fun editing, we have come up with a fantastic snapshot of a working musical in progress.”

Mackay artist Joel Bow.

Heading North will make its premiere at the MECC Lynette Denny Space on Friday, July 9, with performances on Saturday and Sunday.

See themecc.com.au for details and tickets.