All posts by Todd Macalpine

Musician/Producer Todd Macalpine is the founder of Pandamonium Records and FNQ Music Press. He is responsible for staging well over 1000 all original music gigs from 1999 - 2008. When he is not working as production coordinator at Cairns Convention Centre you can find him playing solo shows under the name The Brown Note Theory.
Music Industry News

Local & Vocal

North Queensland’s best up-and-coming musicians have the chance to play at the region’s biggest young and emerging music event, Local & Vocal. 

Local & Vocal is an annual event at Tanks Arts Centre, aimed at showcasing the best young musicians aged 12-25, and provides a platform for emerging talent to learn all things music industry.

The event is about developing the skills of our region’s most promising up-and-coming talent to set them on a pathway to be successful in the music industry, whether they’re in a band, duo, solo singer-songwriters, rappers, strummers, drummers or even turntablists. 

Successful artists will not only receive a professional performer’s fee for playing a coveted Saturday night gig on the Tank 5 stage but will also get a full video recording of their performance.

In addition, they will have exclusive access to a full professional development day, including one-on-one time with stage technicians, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tanks, industry workshops, and stage rehearsals with full tech support.

Brisbane-based industry leaders, QMusic, will also be offering a music biz workshop during the day of Local & Vocal, available to both Local & Vocal performers and other emerging musicians.

Local & Vocal unlocks pathways to further opportunities, including the chance to feature at Cairns Festival’s Introducing… stage, as well as other paid local gigs.

Artists aged 12-25 who are producing original music can apply via the Tanks Arts Centre website. Submissions will be assessed by a panel of industry professionals.

Applications are open to North Queensland residents including the Cairns and surrounding regional areas.

Local & Vocal is hosted by Flame.Arts, an arts program by Cairns Regional Council’s Creative Life team which provides opportunities for young and emerging creatives, artists with a disability and First Nations artists.

© Copyright 2025 | NQ Music Press