The Seed Project and a protest to free Palestine: A night in Southbank

Missing the half-hourly free City Hopper by a margin of just seconds is one of the worst mistakes you can make as far as Brisbane Public transport is concerned but fortunately tonight I has the option to walk the few kilometers to my destination, even if I was sporting my decreasingly sturdy heeled boots.

 
The walk, while wet, wasn't entirely fruitless, giving me the opportunity not only to snap this photo of our gorgeous city skyline, but also to check out some of the Brisbane apps I had downloaded to review for you. As I walked I pondered the fortune that I had to be able to walk from my almost river-front home, along a decorated boardwalk, to the cultural centre of the city without concern for my safety, although I would not be swayed to repeat my chances again later on in the evening.


 The Protest
It is no great secret that one of my fascinations with this city is the vast amount of cultural and political energy. By chance, as a journalism student from UQ and I rounded our way to QPAC (Queensland Performing Arts Centre) to check out the free Seed Project that was to be the main stop for the evening we noticed a heavy police presence. Curious as we are we followed the line of police to the edge of the Victoria Bridge where we were met with a riot of more than a hundred, chanting and singing at the top of their lungs or through megaphones. Through the city sounds the exact words of the synchronised chant were hard to make out but there message was clear. The protesters had gathered to show their support for Palestine, presumably sparked after the latest lines of conflict which have been heavily present in the news.

The Seed Project 
After the protest made its way around the corner, through to the centre streets of Southbank, the crowd who had gathered dissipated, returning to their drinks and the music that had been continuing in the background all the while. At this point we joined them, turning for the first time to see the beautifully relaxed green that held the Seed Project. The grassed courtyard-like area was filled with just enough reclining beach chairs and a few large straw matts that seated the couple of dozen who had braved the wet evening in favor of an evening of free music. Overhead, strings of fairy lights added to the mystic yet laid back atmosphere. The night showcased three local music talents beginning with Lily Budiasa, Maximo and closing with Timber Bones.

Maximo at The Seed Project 2014

The project, aiming to showcase some of the regions best unearthed artists is now in its second year. The nights headlining act, Timber Bones, were also playing for the second year and you wouldn't believe it from their sound or incredible following but the band have only been playing together for since their first gig at the Seed Project last year. Timber Bones guitarist Kendall Nesci explained in an interview after the show that the band began playing together after lead vocalist, Luke Pauley began getting gigs that he wasn't able to play on his own.