BAYSWATER Mayor Barry McKenna may face his toughest interview yet when a group of broadcasters aged 8-14 grills him on stage as part of the Evening in the Park event.
Multicultural radio station 6EBA FM Radio’s Percy Kalino will bring band Smooth Sound as well as a group of broadcasting students to cover the Bayswater event, two groups of talented youngsters he mentors from diverse cultural backgrounds.
The Young Voice On Air radio program started in 2015 as a Christmas show and the regular slot has grown from there, with children taking turns preparing topics and interviews.
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READ NOWMr Kalino said the group’s first experience covering an event was the Awesome Arts Festival.
“I let them loose. They had their recording equipment, they were stopping people, asking them questions, it was really cool to see them do that,” he said.
“At the Bayswater event they are going to be interviewing the Mayor of Bayswater live on stage.
“They had an interview with Minister Terry Redman… I thought they would be nervous, but even the minister was surprised because they were really taking him on.”
The Rockingham-based band Smooth Sound will also entertain the Bayswater crowd, 10 performers who have an impressive range of jazz, rock and ballads under their belt.
Zimbabwe-born Mr Kalino said he started performing very young and felt that often young people were not given opportunities until they reached a certain age.
“I always wanted to give the kids that chance. I had a three-year-old boy drummer; the mother tried to get the boy drumming lessons, but as soon as she says three years, they say said no,” he said.
“They brought that boy to me… we showed him one or two things and he picked it up so fast.
“For me, I’ll give them a chance regardless of their age.”
The City of Bayswater and Awesome Arts event will also feature food vans, books, face painting and Awesome Arts ‘activations’ Postcards to Seniors, a Better Beginnings Books-to-Go Cubby, Tree Projections and animal workshops.
Evening in the Park will be held at Bert Wright Park and Bayswater Library Friday, March 24 from 6pm.