By Tyler Wright
Cockatoo resident and music activist José Garcia recently held one of his last music gigs as he prepares to leave the Dandenong Ranges for a subtropical island in Queensland.
While he will miss the hills, he said his new home is “like Cockatoo, but on an Island.”
José has lived in the Dandenong Ranges for about six years after moving from Cranbourne and believes the area appeals to creatives.
“I threw myself into it,” José said.
“I got involved with things like… Make Music Day in the first year that Australia really got into it about three or four years ago… I run music at the local RSL every week. I run jam sessions every month,” he said.
“I play at three different venues within 200 metres of my house which is pretty awesome.”
For José, music is about inclusivity and bringing people together – something he said there’s not much of these days especially throughout the pandemic.
And the ‘Jammalong’ sessions he has helped run in Melbourne each month aim to do just that.
“People can meet together… and just play music,” he said.
“I think everybody should have an opportunity to – even if they’re not the best singer, or not the best guitarist or ukelele player, I think that everybody should have a place.”
As a former soldier and Ambassador for ‘Guitars For Vets,’ who provide free guitar lessons to ex service men and women, José believes music should be accessible for everyone in the community.
“It should be like it used to be where people could sing together after dinner and gather around a piano,” he said.
His contribution to the Dandenong Ranges and the larger area of Melbourne has not gone astray, with hills residents sharing their love and support through social media as they look forward to him returning to Melbourne to perform.
“I’ll be spending at least a month or two on the road every year,” José said.
“I have logos on my van. and I’ll be starting up Jammalong jam sessions throughout Australia.
“What I try to do is teach people, including people very new to music, how to jam.”
