THE HACKKETS WORKSHOP

A ROOTS & ROCK BAND

Hailing from Westside Melbourne, The Hackkets are a band made up of members with and without disability, and are part of the JOLT Arts community. Having been incubated by Footscray Arts Centre for 25 years, The Hackkets originally focused on covers, immersing themselves in universal classic hits that win over even the most hardened in-car sing-along scrooge. Since 2011, they have channelled their love of such classics into their own songs.

Singers Victoria Rockchick (keys/vox), Stuart Flenley (guitar/vox) and Peter Tolhurst (guitar/vox) bring three distinctly different approaches to the songs they co-write in the band. Stuart merges his twin heroes Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra with a sense of humour that invariably breaks through, while Victoria has crafted her own Rock Chick persona through which she projects a rebel without a cause for the smart-phone generation. Rounding out the band is drummer Andrew Paganella who has been keeping the band in time since 1999. Of the drums, Andrew says, ‘I chose drums because I want to get somewhere to make the crowd jump out. Once I switched to drums, I stayed.’ The Hackkets is facilitated by legendary musician/singer/songwriter Suzannah Espie.

Gigging for over two decades, The Hackkets have performed extensively throughout Melbourne and beyond: Adelaide Fringe Festival; Seddon Festival; Maribyrnong Inclusive Recognition Awards (MIRA); Murrindindi Festival; White Night Geelong and more.

Where:

Footscray Community Arts, 45 Moreland St Footscray 3011