HOMEGROWN songstress Felicity Groom has a special – and highly unusual – place in inner-city Perth to pen music.
She revealed her “hilarious ideas spot” as the bathroom at the Loftus Recreation Centre.
“It has a real vibe,” Groom said.
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READ NOW“It’s this kind of blue-green cold, but cool, place – a couple of songs have been written in that bathroom.
“After I’ve gone to the gym my brain works a little better and I’ve been listening to music while working out so I feel inspired and then after popping into change rooms with great acoustics ideas are born.”
With several albums to her name – the next coming later in the year – and a solid Perth following, the indie-pop artist and mum-of-two is a favourite with locals.
Her success, however, kicked off in London, in 2004, just days after she arrived on holiday.
“It happened so easily. I was literally in a pub in Streatham and ordering drinks and this guy said, ‘What do you do?’ and I said, ‘I’m a musician’ and he said, ‘I’m a promoter – tell you what, I’ll give you your first gig’,” Groom said.
“And I said: ‘You haven’t heard me. What if I’m sh*t?’ and he said, ‘I’ll just pull you off early’.
“After that he booked me gigs all around London.”
Two years later, she returned to Perth to form a band and cement her homegrown roots.
“The Perth music scene is incredible. There are opportunities for people here because there are pubs to play in and therefore musicians have jobs and then because the competition is great and people know their calibre has to be top game there is a huge wave of amazing young people coming through,” Groom said.
This month, Groom helps celebrate her beloved suburb of North Perth – home to favourite haunts, Rosemount Hotel and Hobart Deli, with a performance at 6006 in the Park.
She performs alongside fellow Perth musicians, Tired Lion, Rick Steele Band and Spacey Jane.
The North Perth Local event also features face painting, petting zoo, pop-up bar and food trucks.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: 6006 in the Park
When: January 28
Where: Woodville Reserve, North Perth