GRID Series: 2024 Showcase
16 April – 30 July 2025
Bunjil Place Outdoor Screen
Established in 2013, GRID Series is a national artist development programs which has created pathways for 65 artists to break into and achieve success in the Australian music industry, accessing the support they need to take their careers to the next level. The program collaborates with major arts festivals and cultural organisations, including previous collaborations with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Perth Festival, Sydney Festival, and Sydney Opera House.
“Through our holistic methodology, we aim to uncover the artistic gems that live under the radar in these communities,” said GRID Series Founder, Ariel Blum. “Our goal is to challenge norms, provide a platform for these artists to attain visibility, and empower them to fully realise their artistic ambitions. We deliver what we promise, creating a non-intimidating and fun professional environment that makes the journey of development enjoyable, while awakening dreams and building scenes that will shape the future of Australian music.”
GRID Series has a long history of supporting and amplifying talent from outer suburban areas. This is the fourth program to run in the City of Casey region, which has produced some of the country’s most exciting and diverse talent. These artists often face significant barriers to accessing industry networks and resources, and the programs are committed to listening, fostering creativity, and building means for these musicians to thrive on their terms.
Over the next three months 2024 GRID series artists Elaura, Tadiwa, Narrdine and Jag will be presented on the Bunjil Place Outdoor Screen, forming part of Casey’s Winter Arts Festival program.
Elaura, Photographer Natasha Librero (untitled), 2024
Elaura
Chilean-blooded and Australian-born ELAURA is a Neo-Soul and R&B artist blending catchy melodies, spoken word, and her mother tongue, Spanish, to create a sound that is both intimate and powerful. Growing up in the forested valleys of the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, her music is deeply rooted in storytelling, honoring the voices of those who came before her.
With over 40,000 Spotify streams, ELAURA’s artistry has captured industry attention, leading to a showcase with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in 2023. Her sound is often compared to Solange, Jorja Smith and Cleo Sol, fusing ethereal production with soulful vocals and deeply personal lyricism.
A true force on stage, ELAURA’s live performances are immersive, transformative, and not to be missed. Her debut EP set for release this year, is a fearless exploration of self-worth, resilience, and empowerment.
Tadiwa, Photographer Marrs Coiro (untitled), 2021
Tadiwa
TAĐ!WA's sound is a fusion of Gospel/R&B/Soul/Blues. He was born in Zimbabwe. Grew up listening to the greats Arethra Franklin Mahalia Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross just to name a few. He grew up singing in church, part of choir and eventually led him to the path of doing perfomances outside the church walls. His dream is to inspire and aspire to create music that heals, comforts and brings joy to the listener.
Narrdine, 2024
Narrdine
Singer/songwriter Narrdine is an Egyptian-Australian solo artist hailing from the South-East of Melbourne. An RnB, Soul Pop, Indie Rocker, she draws on her passions, emotions and experiences as the springboard for her practice. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Narrdine is an empowered feminist and singer, with a vast history in choral traditions.
Jag, Photographer Gold in Black Suit, (untitled), 2024
Jag
Jag is a raw, genre-bending musician from Melbourne. Incorporating elements of non-naturalistic theatre and poetry, she engages with audiences in a fearless and eager manner. The Artist In Question, her current outsider-soul project, is influenced by the oddities of Frank Zappa, Solange, and Arthur Brown. Using the piano, her voice and her alter-ego SSFN37<3 (Soul Sister 37), she revolutionises the standards of musical value to radicalise and defy society’s understanding of tradition. With an upcoming album featuring a 10-piece band due for release in 2025, Jag is showing audiences that she is an artist to look out for.
