SCU students brings Birds of Tokyo to Ballina

A Birds of Tokyo concert will be held in Ballina next week, thanks to the efforts of Southern Cross University student Max Quinn who finished in the top three in the national Optus Sound Scribe competition.

Birds of Tokyo will be performing at the Seagulls Football Club in Ballina on Friday, November 19 at 6pm. There is a very short lead time going into this event so there will be no tickets made available for sale. However people wanting to go along can visit Southern Cross University on facebook www.facebook.com/southerncrossuniversity to find out how to enter our competition to win tickets – or they can listen out for competitions being run by local media organisations.

Max, who is a Southern Cross University Bachelor of Arts student said it was a wonderful feeling to have been able to bring the high profile band to the region.

For the competition, all of the finalists produced a blog about local music in their area and the music industry in general, complete with things like reviews and interviews.

“I won't lie. It's wonderful to know that the months of effort that I've put into this blog, as well as the months of effort that the community put in to support it, are about to come to fruition,” Max said.

“It's been creatively draining, persistently stressful, a ceaseless source of worry and the most fun I've had in a long time. The best part about it is that it doesn't feel like work. At the end of the day, I had a place where I could go to talk music to a bunch of people who were genuinely interested.

“It's a language I speak all day, every day anyway, so it felt like a sensible and practical way to avoid chewing my girlfriend's ear off about the prospective merits of Weezer releasing a 'B-Sides and Rarities' compilation.”

Max said his involvement in the competition had helped him focus his career path. “I know where I want to go now, and I really didn't before. Music journalism has always been on the table for me, but it's risen to prominence over the last few months for obvious reasons. I guess my career as a casual footwear model will have to wait!

“I do want to thank all of the people who have supported me because their support has been unwavering. That's all that needs to be said - absolutely, wholeheartedly, unquestionably supportive. For so many people to rally behind this blog and behind my writing is humbling. I'd just like to take this chance to say thank you again to everyone who voted.”

Southern Cross University will be giving away 125 double passes to the concert via our facebook page. To enter students will be asked to email in 25 words or less what it is they like about going to Southern Cross University. Competition closes Tuesday, November 16 at 5pm. Winners will be announced on the facebook page on Thursday November 18. Visit www.facebook.com/southerncrossuniversity for competition details.

Please note: As this is a special one off event there will be no tickets sold on the night or prior to the event. The only way to access the concert will be via competitions being run through Southern Cross University and local media outlets.

Photo: Max Quinn finished in the top three in the national Optus Sound Scribe competition.