INTERNATIONALLY-recognised indie-folk artist Kim Churchill will headline episode two of Newcastle's new livestream music show on Tuesday.
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Music People's first episode debuted on September 14 and has been viewed more than 13,000 times through the Herald's Facebook page.
Securing Churchill - a one-time Bar Beach resident - is a coup for the fledgling show, which aims to shine the spotlight on the wealth and diversity of musical talent in Newcastle and the Hunter.
Episode one featured performances from Hunter Valley's William Crighton, ex-Newcastle folk-rock songwriter Megan Core, Indigenous artists The Illume Girls and Sydney's Brazilian musician Animal Ventura.
WATCH: Episode one of Music People
Joining Churchill next Tuesday will be Central Coast Americana couple Eagle & The Wolf.
The other two acts are yet to be confirmed but are expected to be Newcastle acts.
"We're really keen to get people with a national profile on the show because that's going to expose our local music scene to a national audience," Music People host and producer Matt Field says.
"That's why it was important we found someone. Kim has a really loyal local following, he's a beautiful songwriter."
Field says he was ecstatic with how the first episode looked and sounded out of Tighes Hill's Sawtooth Studios.
"It captured the spirit of exactly what we're trying to capture, which is real community camaraderie," he says.
"Musicians supporting each other. Audiences supporting musicians. There was a feeling in the air at Sawtooth on the night which was really beautiful and I'm really stoked with that.
"There were a couple of technical areas we needed to pay attention to which we have addressed. That's OK, it's baby steps and it was to be expected that we'd have one or two things we'd need to work on from a technical point of view."
Field jokes he's safe from copping too much grief from his four-year-old Sage, after the father-of-two said he didn't have a daughter while interviewing The Illume Girls in episode one.
"It was a combination of nervousness, the apprehension of being the first episode," he laughs. "A combination of things that made me momentarily forget I have a daughter.
"Fortunately she doesn't have a device and there's no way she'll be watching that show for at least the next 10 years because she's only four. So I'm in the clear for at least the next decade."
The first episode also caught the attention of managing director of Alloggio hotel and former Tourism Hunter chairman Will Creedon.
The Newcastle East hotel has become an official partner of Music People and will accommodate artists through the remaining 11 episodes and host future after parties.
You can stream Music People through the Newcastle Herald Facebook page from 8pm on Tuesday.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
