Written by Nicole Cornish
Hervey Bay locals and members of the band Harding’s House, Robbie Harding, Nicole Cornish and Shane Cornish, have been very busy since the reopening of venues and the uplift in the Australian independent music scene after coronavirus.
First featured in Alive Magazine back in 2021, prior to their gig as opening act for homegrown Australian, internationally renowned artists Bootleg Rascal, Harding’s House have been hard at work ever since.
A family affair, Nicole and Robbie are siblings who grew up playing guitar and singing together. Their harmonies are a standout feature of their act, as is the unique, edgy, and exciting percussion brought by Nicole’s husband Shane Cornish. Their songs are usually hard hitting, each one unique, exploring themes such as grief, empowerment, mental health, addiction and other deeply felt facts of life.
In the past several months, Harding’s House have landed gigs across the Fraser Coast with a focus on showcasing their original music. They have also been focused for the last year on writing and recording more original music from the heart.
After recording several demos in Nicole and Robbie’s parent’s home studio, the band have now commenced recording sessions in a professional Brisbane studio to prepare for their next single, then album release.
Playing in venues such as King’s Beach Tavern in Caloundra and Faith Night Club in Fortitude Valley, Harding’s House have picked up several new followers and connections. The band have now set their sights on organising events here in the Fraser Coast to showcase original music, including both local artists and those from the big smoke in their lineup!
“The Fraser Coast has a very active music scene, which is fabulous! But the reality is, not every musician wants to play cover gigs all the time, and not every music fan wants to hear that” says Nicole, who has taken on the role of formal band manager and spokesperson as Harding’s House gets busier with commitments both locally and further towards the state’s capital.
“With the recent growth of Hervey Bay, we want to bring more cool acts to town for the local community that we know and love, as well as make our mark as a band who creates positive opportunities and a supportive culture for local upcoming, original artists.”
The first event of this kind will be held on Saturday October 28th at the Neighbourhood Hive and will be headlined by Sunshine Coast indie-rock band Owls of Neptune, who are quickly cementing their names in the Queensland music scene.
When asked how they feel to be coming to Hervey Bay for their debut performance, Owls of Neptune had this to say: “Being asked to come to Hervey Bay to headline this show is a real treat for us. We met Harding‘s House at Passport to Airlie competition here in the Sunshine Coast and loved their music and the dedication they showed to travel for their music. We share the same commitment for our originals and we are super keen to travel to the beautiful Hervey Bay to showcase our material. We look forward to connecting with the locals and appreciate all the venues and people supporting live original music. It’s going to be a great night!”
Come Alive @ The Hive: Hervey Bay’s Indie-Rock Extravaganza will also showcase a local soloist to open the night, so there is sure to be something for everyone at this all-ages event.
This is a ticketed event costing $20 per person or $15 for concession. Children under 12 have free entry when attending with an adult.
Link to tickets can be found on the Facebook page: Come Alive @ The Hive: Hervey Bay’s Indie-Rock Extravaganza, an event by Harding’s House. It will be a very intimate night of original music, band merchandise giveaways and special guests. BYO drinks & snacks. Light meals available for purchase, more details to come.
Harding’s House are also excited to be making their Food and Groove debut on November 3rd 2023, and encourage all local music fans to show support for the growing local scene. You can keep up to date with all things Harding’s House by following them on Facebook, or getting in touch via hardingshousemusic.com