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Celebrating music and inclusion, Headliners is a raw, candid and heartwarming five-part series premiering Tuesday 19 November at 8.00pm on ABC TV with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.
The series follows musician and fervent campaigner for inclusion, access and equality, Elly-May Barnes, as she leads the quest to create two bands made up entirely of musicians with disabilities. Joining Elly-May are revered musicians Tim Rogers (You Am I) and Ella Hooper (Killing Heidi) as the skillful band leaders who expertly mentor and guide the bands, along with her dad, Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes AO who offers inspiration and support.
Together, and in just seven weeks, they will transform a group of musicians who have never met before into two bands set to play on the main stage at one of Australia’s most iconic music festivals, Mundi Mundi Bash in Broken Hill. Delta Goodrem AM and Ben Gillies (Silverchair) also share their vast experience and offer sage advice on performing in front of large crowds during two special master classes.
As the bands prepare for the performance of a lifetime, the series offers an intimate look into the creative process, struggles and triumphs, highlighting that disability does not define talent.
Narrated by disability activist and Spicks and Specks host Adam Hills MBE, Headliners seeks to uncover extraordinary talent that has, until now, mostly been excluded from Australia’s mainstream music landscape. Almost 20% of Australians live with a disability – our largest minority group – but that community is grossly under-represented in the music industry…it’s time to change this.
Always free and Always entertaining, discover more enlightening and inspiring documentaries on ABC iview now.
Production Credit: Commissioned by the ABC, Headliners is an Endemol Shine Australia (A Banijay Entertainment Company) production. Major production investment from the ABC in association with Screen Australia. Financed with support from Screen NSW. Developed and produced in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Filmed and post produced in New South Wales. International sales by Banijay Rights. Developed with the assistance of Screen NSW. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW.
Director of Content, Endemol Shine Australia: Tara McWilliams. Executive Producer: Penny McWhirter. Series Producer: Kate Paul. Post Executive Producer: Kate Feely. ABC Head of Screen: Jen Collins. ABC Head of Factual: Susie Jones. ABC Commissioning Editor: Kalita Corrigan.
This production was created inclusively with people with disability.
For interviews or more information please contact:
Amy Reiha, ABC Publicist
reiha.amy@abc.net.au | 0404 026 039