Kiama will be part of The Regional Sessions when it returns early next year, giving songwriters and musicians across five locations the opportunity to connect with their local community and learn from top Australian music creators.

Run by music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS, with support from the NSW Government through Sound NSW, the one-day events bring keynote speakers, workshops, panel discussions, live performances and networking opportunities to beginner, emerging and mid-career songwriters, producers and composers in each area.

A local MusicNSW representative will also be at each session to connect and provide support to artists and people working in music across regional NSW.

Kiama will host the third event of the series on Monday, 16 February. There will also be sessions held at Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre (9 February), Broken Hill Civic Centre on 12 February, the Glasshouse at Port Macquarie on 18 February and Lennox Head Cultural Centre on 21 February.

Speakers and mentors already confirmed to attend include Agum, Anna Laverty, Bec Sandridge, Casey Barnes, GLVES, Joel Ma, Kevin Mitchell (Jebediah/Bob Evans) and Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip).

Tickets are $40 with limited $30 early bird tickets on sale now until 23 January.

The price includes the fully catered day and post-event networking, and spots are limited to just 50 attendees per location.

“The Regional Sessions provide a fantastic opportunity for local music creators to come together in their own town to form connections and gain valuable skills from leading songwriters, composers and producers," APRA AMCOS director of creative programs Chris O’Neill said.

"We’re really proud of the program and thrilled to be delivering the program again in regional NSW."

Emily Collins, Head of Sound NSW, added: “Sound NSW is proud to support The Regional Sessions as they return across the state, creating vital opportunities for regional songwriters to learn, connect and grow within their own communities.

"Investing in programs like this helps ensure that talent from every corner of NSW has access to the mentors, networks and industry pathways they need to thrive.”

The Regional Sessions was introduced in NSW in 2021 as a way to support and reconnect local music creators following the pandemic.

It has since run in Victoria in 2022, Western Australia in 2023 and NSW earlier this year.

Previous mentors have included Ben Lee, Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Jem Cassar-Daley, KLP, Mo’Ju and Oscar Dawson. Several have gone on to create new music with past attendees including Ben Lee with Rainbow Sally and Loren Ryan with Tim Levinson (Urthboy).

For further information and tickets, visit apraamcos.com.au/regionalsessionsnsw.