WHAT: Monica Weightman performs
WHEN: Saturday March 4 at 1.00pm
WHERE: Marsh Mezzanine Stage Level 1

Monica Weightman grew up in Townsville, influenced by her Islander father Ray but with the musical genes of her Scottish-English-Italian mother. Although she never really associated with the large Torres Strait Islander community in Townsville, she said she had more recently been seeking out more of the heritage that so clearly shaped her songs.

Weightman came to Melbourne in her 20s and studied jazz for a while before joining an all-girl trio. Monica Weightman walked away from beckoning fame and fortune, along the way writing songs with inmates from the Deer Park women’s prison. “It’s a journey of love: I don’t think you essentially get into it for the money,” she said.

When Weightman released her second CD, Lost Generation, she said it was equally important to give back to and learn from younger musicians and the disadvantaged members of the community.

“To know where you are from gives you a sense of pride and purpose, a sense of place in the world, I understand that now.” Nicknamed Monstar by her fans, Weightman will capture you with her strong lyrics, groove you with her catchy melodies and inspire and impress you with her guitar licks.