Headliners
Almost 20% of Australians live with a disability – our largest minority group – but that community make up only 7% of practicing musicians. A celebration of music and inclusion, this raw and unflinching series seeks to uncover extraordinary talent that has, until now, mostly been excluded from Australia’s mainstream music landscape. A musician and fervent campaigner for inclusion, access and equality, Elly-May Barnes, with support and inspiration from her dad, Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes, wants to challenge stereotypes and exclusion. Along with some other Australian music royalty they will find and assemble two bands made up entirely of musicians living with disability and transform them from a group of strangers to must see acts on the main stage at a sellout iconic live music event in just 7 weeks.
Production credit: Commissioned by the ABC, Headliners is an Endemol Shine Australia (A Banijay Entertainment Company) production. Major production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Developed and produced in association with the ABC. Filmed and post produced in New South Wales. International sales by Banijay Rights.
Developed with the assistance of Screen NSW. Post production supported by the NSW Government.
Director of Content, Endemol Shine Australia, Tara McWilliams. Executive Producer: Penny McWhirter. Series Producer: Kate Paul. Post Executive Producer: Kate Feely. ABC Head of Screen Jen Collins. ABC Head of Factual Susie Jones. ABC Commissioning Editor Kalita Corrigan.
Update from Screen Australia
In this series for the ABC, Elly-May Barnes with the support of her rock legend dad Jimmy Barnes, leads a quest to create two bands of musicians living with a disability – simultaneously exposing the lack of visibility, access and inclusivity for some of Australia’s talented musicians and performers. The series is from producer Kate Paul (Am I Perfect?) and executive producer Penny McWhirter (RPA, Life on the Outside). It has received major production investment from the ABC, with support from Screen NSW. Banijay Rights is managing international sales.
C21 reports Headliners will be one of three Australian programs featuring on Banijay’s slate at Mipcom in Cannes later this month.
The show will debut on ABC TV on Tuesday, November 19 at 8pm, with all episodes dropped on iView on the same day, according to an interview article with Elly-May in The Sunday Telegraph today.
The show’s format
The five-part series from the producers behind the much-loved Old People’s Home seasons, follows two bands of disabled musicians curated by Barnes with mentors Tim Rogers and Ella Hooper.
In just seven weeks, they help transform these strangers into stage slayers at the Mundi Mundi Bash in Broken Hill (in August this year).
Barnes enlisted some superstar coaches during the series with the musicians suitably starstruck by sessions with her dad, Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies and Delta Goodrem.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/television/ellymay-barnes-champions-equality-for-disabled-artists-in-new-tv-series/news-story/fe2e024dcf0edc3a688e09d68bdf089b
Episode 1
Tuesday 19 November 8.00pm
Musician & campaigner for inclusion Elly-May Barnes, & rockstars Ella Hooper, Tim Rogers & Jimmy Barnes AO, transform a group of musicians who have never met before into two bands set to play at an Australian music festival.
Celebrating music and inclusion, the series follows musician and fervent campaigner for inclusion, access and equality, Elly-May Barnes, as she leads the quest to create two bands made up entirely of musicians with disabilities. Joining Elly-May are revered musicians Tim Rogers (You Am I) and Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) as the skillful band leaders who expertly mentor and guide the bands, along with Elly-May’s dad, Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes AO who offers inspiration and support.
Together, and in just seven weeks, they will transform a group of musicians who have never met before into two bands set to play on the main stage at one of Australia’s most iconic music festivals, Mundi Mundi Bash in Broken Hill. Delta Goodrem AM and Ben Gillies (Silverchair) also share their vast experience and offer sage advice on performing in front of large crowds during two special master classes.
As the bands prepare for the performance of a lifetime, the series offers an intimate look into the creative process, struggles and triumphs, highlighting that disability does not define talent.
Narrated by disability activist and Spicks and Specks host Adam Hills MBE, Headliners seeks to uncover extraordinary talent that has, until now, mostly been excluded from Australia’s mainstream music landscape. Almost 20% of Australians live with a disability – our largest minority group – but that community is grossly under-represented in the music industry…it’s time to change this.
Episode 2
Tuesday 26 November 8.00pm
Elly-May Barnes & band leaders Tim Rogers & Ella Hooper form the two bands. With rehearsals underway, Elly-May calls on her dad Jimmy Barnes AO to return to the fold & see how the bands are progressing since the auditions.
After a big day of auditions, Elly-May and the rock star band leaders Tim Rogers and Ella Hooper have the difficult task of finalising the two bands of musicians with disability and choosing who they will take to the festival. Once their decisions are made, Elly-May makes the lifechanging calls to nine musicians. With just seven weeks until the Mundi Mundi Bash performance, both bands meet their leaders Tim and Ella, as well as their fellow band members for day one of rehearsals.
In one band, James the drummer enters the rehearsal space for the first time, where he’s joined by bass player Sarah, along with Mikky on guitar and lead singer and guitarist, Aimee. In the other band of hand-picked musicians is Hayden on drums, Nathan the rapper, Prairie on bass, Sonnet the vocalist and Kayleb on lead guitar.
The songs they will rehearse and sing at Mundi Mundi Bash are also revealed. Ella’s band have Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with your Best Shot” as well as “Don’t Dream it’s Over” by Crowded House, and Tim’s band will perform “The Real Thing” by Johnny Young and Divinyls’ “Boys in Town”.
With rehearsals underway, Elly-May calls on her dad Jimmy Barnes AO to return to the fold and see how the bands are progressing since the auditions.
Episode 3
Tuesday 3 December 8.00pm
As the two bands try to navigate their creative differences and learn to gel as a band, Elly-May Barnes organises a practice live gig, before setting up a masterclass with legendary Silverchair drummer Ben Gillies.
With the Mundi Mundi festival just three weeks away, Elly-May has decided to send both bands to a local bowling club, for their very first live gig – as a crucial stepping stone to Mundi.
Off the back of the gig, Ben Gillies, legendary drummer from the multi-ARIA award winning rock band Silverchair, has been brought in for a Masterclass, to assist in lifting the bands to the next level. Ella is hoping Ben can help her band with their confidence and approach as his insights from his illustrious career are going to be invaluable.
After watching a clip of yesterday’s gig, Ben feels the band needs to be pushed more because right now they could be any other pub band. Ben shows James that he can still lean into his metal background and encourages the others to step out of their comfort zone instead of playing it safe. Ella’s band are feeling inspired and united, getting better with each and every practice.
Over in the rehearsal space with Tim’s group, he hopes the unresolved creative differences can be settled with a bit of guidance from Ben. He validates Prairie’s concerns, telling her that what she feels is totally normal – but also, the band needs to find a path where they’re all happy, confident and excited. With a newfound perspective and motivation, Tim’s band feels like they are now all on the same page.
Episode 4
Tuesday 10 December 8.00pm
Elly-May Barnes has upped the ante and organised a gig at the fully accessible Red Rattler in Sydney’s Inner West. She then calls in Australian pop icon Delta Goodrem for a special workshop with the bands.
With two weeks until the Mundi Mundi festival, Elly-May Barnes has upped the ante, organising a gig at the fully accessible Red Rattler in Sydney’s Inner West. There is a lot riding on this – Elly-May has asked along Poppy Reid, renowned critic and Editor in Chief of Rolling Stone*, to watch. She’ll know if the bands are good enough for Mundi Mundi.
To add to the pressure, Ella Hooper’s band arrives minus their bass player, Sarah, who is unwell. While Ella combs her contacts to find a replacement bass player, Tim’s band look forward to their performance. Both groups also reveal their band names – Tim’s is Together With Strangers, and Ella’s is Sync Or Swim.
As the doors open for a sold-out crowd of discerning music lovers, the pressure builds backstage. Prairie feels very under rehearsed, but Mikky is the positivity the bands need, reassuring her to laugh off any mistakes – “just have fun.”
Following the gig and Poppy’s feedback, Elly-May has called in some star power: multi-ARIA award winning pop icon, Delta Goodrem. During the meeting with Sync Or Swim, Delta works to bring up their energy, encouraging shy guitarist Mikky to come out of his shell and reveal his rockstar potential. For the workshop with Together With Strangers, Delta encourages them to give each other the space to shine. Rapper Nathan moves to centre stage during his solo, and everyone is connecting during their parts.
*Poppy Reid is no longer the Editor in Chief of Rolling Stone Magazine.
Saw my recording of the first episode this afternoon.
It was nice to see the musicians showcasing their arts, but it was sad that Elly-May had to go home halfway through the auditions because her spasm flared up. (Jimmy Barnes said in the show that his daughter had COVID two weeks earlier which affected her body) I do wonder why Elly-May had only organised one day of auditions.
Also noticed that blind singer Lara Narkle, who competed on The Voice Australia in 2017 and featured in an AAMI commercial in late 2023, also auditioned for a spot in the band.
Episode 5
Tuesday 17 December 8.00pm
The bands arrive in Broken Hill for the iconic Mundi Mundi Bash. Full of nerves and excitement with what they’re about to do, these performers will put it all on the line to challenge the barriers in society for people with disability.
With their Mundi Mundi performance just a day away, both bands arrive in Adelaide for the 500km bus trip to Broken Hill. Everyone is in good spirits during the road trip, reflecting on their time together. For Prairie, who has struggled to connect with both the music and her band mates, time on the road makes her realise how far they’ve come together. And for Mikky, who is among the 1 in 40 Australians with autism, this journey has opened a new world of opportunity that’s helped him find a new level of confidence.
The bands arrive in Broken Hill, getting a taste of outback country life. This is Kayleb’s first time travelling alone and while he’s sad his family can’t be there; he has a newfound independence. At their accommodation, the reality of tomorrow’s events is setting in. Nerves are starting to build, with Sonnet and Nathan reflecting on the daunting task ahead.
The performers wake up to get ready for the big day, where trepidation eclipses excitement. They have full access to the accessible Mundi Mundi Bash green room, settling in as crowds begin to build in front of the massive stage. A stage that has a purpose-built ramp for accessibility! Emotions are running high – Aimee is almost overwhelmed with what they’re about to do, and Kayleb is so happy to be here, it’s a dream come true.
Sync or Swim are up first and moments into the performance, Mikky is facing technical issues with the amp that threaten to derail his performance! Next up is Together With Strangers. It’s a special moment for both bands, with a journey they’ll remember for life. Each band member is leaving the experience with immense pride at how far they’ve come. They came together for something huge, and for some hopeful change in the future.
Rehearsals for the two bands took place at the former Callan Park Hospital buildings in Lilyfield in inner west Sydney.
Saw the finale tonight. Both bands delivered exceptional performances, despite an issue with Mikky’s amp. Pleased to hear that they have been invited back to Mundi Mundi Bash next year.
I reckon the scarcity of accessible coaches was the reason both bands and their carers had to fly from Sydney to Adelaide before boarding their coach to Broken Hill, when a more direct trip from Sydney to Broken Hill is available.
Found a couple of Instagram posts from band members following the finale.
Aimee:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDn9ftbSbfz/?igsh=YjYyNTh5NWN3aG5h
Sonnet:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDrCZb3Jv6Y/?igsh=YnM3bnhieDB5anRv
Mikky:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDs14hizuop/?igsh=ZWFsZWxlbWdlYzE3
I admit I haven’t seen this, but it is also less than half the drive from Adelaide than it is from Sydney. Much quicker even including the flight.
Sync or Swim will perform at Australia Day Live concert at the forecourt of Sydney Opera House on January 26.
Aimee will also perform at Tamworth Country Music Festival this month, according to her Instagram post.
https://www.instagram.com/aimeehannan/p/DEtcX9GyjQ1/
