Nando’s Chicken Shop Sessions sets out to support emerging music artists

July 25, 2024

Sandy Hood

The first in a new series that aims to give emerging artists a platform to perform and music fans the opportunity to enjoy new artists has been launched in Melbourne.

Held last Saturday, the Nando’s Chicken Shop Sessions launched at the Nando’s store on Fitzroy’s Smith Street to an invitation only crowd of 70 guests.

Nando’s has a long history of supporting artists across the music industry, both internationally and locally, and Nando’s Chicken Shop Sessions come at crucial time for Australian artists with a dwindling number of live venues and the cancellation of festivals, including Splendour in the Grass and Groovin’ The Moo.

With figures released by the Australian Live Music Business Council predicting that at least 79,000 jobs and $23.6 billion in revenue have been wiped from the Australian performing arts economy post Covid, Australasian Leisure Management correspondent Sandy Hood reports “it is amazing then that a corporation such as Nando’s would step into the breach to help those effected (particularly artists and performers) whom so readily depend on the festival circuit to survive.”

Sandy’s review of the first of the Nando’s Chicken Shop Sessions follows:

It was with great anticipation that we headed to our rendezvous point to be transported to the very first Nando’s Chicken Shop Sessions in Melbourne - coincidentally on the same day that the cancelled Splendour in the Grass music festival was to begin.

With DJ Nina Las Vegas laying down the beats, singer songwriters Ishan and Chaii and New Zealand siblings Coterie providing the live music, this was going to be a real juxtaposition of musical styles.

Nando's was generously providing the food and drink and a top-secret intimate location as well as providing financial support to the artists.

Nando's had obviously gone all out for this promotion. An extremely well organised support crew awaited our arrival and with the issue of wrist bands, we were on our bus and ready to go.

The level of excitement was palpable with film crews and event staff ensuring that the vibe was positive and for those who wanted them, beverages were in abundant supply.

Our courier was on the microphone quickly and away we went.

Think Sharrabang, secret flights or The Beatles Magical Mystery tour and you’ll get the idea.

The major message was that the company “had traditionally nourished performing artists with chicken. But now with the downturn in performance opportunities, Nando's has come up with a plan that will help artists who traditionally rely on the festival circuit, to earn a living as well as get exposure for their brand.”

At the venue, the vibe immediately amped up, with DJ Nina Las Vegas welcomed us all and the food and drink served.

Nando’s backing music
With the music thumping, I sort out Nando's Chief Marketing Officer Darren Hampton, asked him what was the motivation behind the event.

Hampton advised “Nando's brand has always had a very youthful spirit in terms of our staff and our customer base and the likes.

“One thing that is undeniable is the fact that music festivals and music venues within the current economic times have had a pretty hard time. The news that music festivals in particular have been closed down or stopped as a result of money, has effected both our customer base, us as a young brand and of course our staff.

“We’ve always been synonymous with the creative and the arts as well as good chicken and after all, music is very indisposed to the brand, so we have an appreciation of bringing people together with the arts.

“So there was an opportunity to do exactly that at a time when it sounded like it was needed.”

Hampton added “we are by no means in a position to solve the problem and that’s not our intention here, our intention is to simply acknowledge the fact that people would have had a really

good weekend this weekend at splendour, it’s been cancelled and so that didn’t play out, so it’s a little bit of respite from bad news.

“I think bringing really good food and the arts together is really our intention.”

Hampton went on to say “I don’t think that a lot of people know the depth of Nando's involvement within the creative space. So if that opens people’s eyes to the depth of what Nando's is about, that can only be a good thing.”

Performances
For the evening, it had been agreed that each performer would play four songs from their repertoire and first up Ishan took to the stage.

With a multitude of influences and surrounded by many different languages and cultures whilst

growing up, his music is a pop-folk style that belies his youth. Often found busking in the streets of Melbourne, his tight melodic set was an excellent introduction to the crowd

of his extreme talent both musically and lyrically. It was obvious that the crowd loved him.

During the break I had a quick opportunity to talk with him.

I asked him how he felt about Nando's offering him this opportunity to perform, particularly when performance opportunities are becoming less and, in some ways, the Australian live music scene is in a bit of a crisis.

Ishan advised “I think it’s really encouraging when corporations support not only music, but indie music, grass roots music here in Melbourne.

“You know It’s really exciting to have this so well run and I really enjoyed my set.”

And I think the crowd agreed.

After some more solid deck work from DJ Nina Las Vegas it was Chaii’s turn to take to the stage.

Immigrating to New Zealand from Iran in 2003, musically Chaii is still very much intrigued and influenced by her Persian roots.

With some of her songs performed in Farsi and backed by complex rhythms and melodies, she immediately engaged the crowd with her eclectic sound, rapid fire raps and Persian infused melodies. When speaking with her after her well received set, she lamented the demise of live performance opportunities.

Speaking to Chaii, she commented “I think it’s really sad that we have lost some the festivals

this year, but I believe it’s a break before they all come back stronger than ever.

“During this period I think it’s amazing that Nando's create these spaces where we can go and hear live music and party and it’s obviously great for the artists and I’m really grateful that I could come and play.”

Nina Las Vegas had read the room very well and when Coterie hit the stage with their blend of Pacific reggae, indie rock and pop/funk, the crowd were right in the zone.

The Perth-based brothers, who originally hail from the North Island of New Zealand delivered a set of up beat groove with a fantastic tribute to Bob Marley and the Wailers with their version of ‘Could you be Loved’.

The dance space was full and everyone was getting into it.

To quote from the movie Almost Famous “it was all about the music man”

At the end of the gig, the place was buzzing.

As I mentioned to Tom Blackburn, Nando's Head of Brand and Marketing, it felt great to hear live music and see people happy.

Blackburn agreed, noting “the Chicken Shop Sessions are all about giving emerging artists the opportunity to take centre stage in the wake of major festival cancelations and

the mass closure of live music venues. It’s also about giving young people the opportunity to experience live music that they are increasingly priced out of.”

Many of the punters were organising themselves to hit other venues and continue the feel good vibes.

Speaking to some of the Nando's representatives, you could tell this had been a successful gig and they were very happy to be a part of it.

Heading out into the bitterly cold Melbourne winter’s night,

it was encouraging to see that Nando's had taken up the baton for some of the emerging and indie artists who at present are doing it tough. I also hope that people do begin to realise that Nando's is more than just a restaurant chain and that they are playing a part in keeping the Australian music scene alive.

Images (from top): Coterie on stage at the inaugural the Nando’s Chicken Shop Sessions; DJ Nina Las Vegas, Chaii, Ishan and Sandy Hood (at right) with Georgia Hood ...

About the author

Sandy Hood

Sandy Hood is a contributor to Australasian Leisure Management.

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