Harry continued on with music from Led Zeppelin and Metallica, pretty much anything you would have heard at a mid-1980s Blue Light Disco, as part of the Dilmac-inspired street entertainment co-ordinated by the Kyabram Tomorrow and Chamber of Commerce organisations.
The Sacred Heart Primary School student, part of a 13-member Years 5 and 6 band supported by art teacher Matt Hooper, has had four years of tutoring through Dilmac’s Andrew Moore.
He has his own YouTube channel — Harry’s Guitar World — and is just at home on the keyboards and drums as the lead guitar.
The Evening Birds is the name of the Tatura school band, but Harry was solo on this occasion; strategically positioned across the road were parents Matt and Michelle, along with younger sister Bella.
They said Harry had made the YouTube channel instead of doing his school work during COVID-19 lockdown.
“It was hard on all the kids, learning from home. Music makes our kids happy, so we supported Harry with the idea,” Matt said.
Harry has appeared at school concerts, at Tatura’s carols by candlelight and can now add the CBD of Kyabram to his resume.
While there is no soundproof room at home, Harry spends two hours a day practising.
“When he isn’t playing the house feels a little empty, to tell the truth,” Matt said.
“We are just happy he has found a passion.”
According to his mother, Harry is more keen on a future in science, not that anyone who has seen his 50-plus YouTube videos would realise that.
He remains the most popular member of the family on camping trips, particularly with his grandparents who gather around to listen to his 1970s-90s covers of their favourite songs.
And as for Dire Straits, well it appears “Harry has made the scene”.
• Harper Raverty will play a Hungarian woman who is falsely accused of murdering her husband with an axe in the Shepparton production of Chicago.
Harper, 16, is another of the talented Dilmac artists who was providing shoppers with Saturday morning entertainment last weekend.
The Echuca performer has been with Dilmac for five years and will appear in the Initial Stages production of Chicago at Riverlinks Eastbank in Shepparton from January 20 to 22.
“Unfortunately she gets killed before the interval, but I get to sing as part of the ensemble after that,” Harper said.
Harper has performed with Echuca Moama Theatre Company as Sandy in Grease, as Tiffany in Back to the 80s and as Wednesday in an Addams family production.
• Zay Ryan is a 14-year-old St Augustine’s singing prodigy who has been part of the Dilmac pool of talent since he was just two years old.
His vocal teacher Liz Dillon has poured endless hours into his development and he showed all the benefits of that during his presentation in Kyabram’s Allan St on Saturday.
Singing competitions at Albury and Bendigo have given Zay the base from which he now draws for a range of appearances, including on the footpath in Kyabram where he sang a series of covers from some of the world’s greatest crooners.
