Mary Mihelakos is an Australian music promoter and journalist. In 2020, she was inducted into the Music Victoria hall of fame.[1]
Career
editMihelakos began working as a volunteer for Melbourne radio station 3RRR when she was 14, helping with administration, compiling gig guides, and meeting band managers.[2][3] Through these connections she began booking bands for the Punters Club at 17, before moving to the nearby Evelyn Hotel.[4][5][6] She studied media and journalism at Swinburne University of Technology and during her first year became manager for The Earthmen.[2]
Beginning in 1995, Mihelakos was editor of Melbourne's music street press title Beat Magazine, after previously contributing writing to them as a student.[2]
In 2003, Mihelakos and Glenn Dickie started the Aussie BBQ showcase of Australian music at South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas.[3] Their initiative paved the way for Sounds Australia who have continued promoting Australian music at events such as SXSW.[7] Mihelakos licensing the Aussie BBQ brand to Sounds Australia, and handed the event to them in 2013.[8][5]
After leaving Beat in 2005, between 2009 and 2016 she wrote 'Sticky Carpet', a music column in The Age newspaper, focusing on Melbourne's live music scene.[9]
Beginning in 2013, Mihelakos founded and produced the annual music festival Leaps and Bounds for City of Yarra.[10][2]
In 2020, she was inducted into the Music Victoria's hall of fame alongside blues singer Chris Wilson for the 15th Annual Music Victoria Awards.[1]
Between 2021 and 2024, she was music booker for the Brunswick Ballroom.[11] The venue was reopened in 2021 with the Ballroom Blitz, a three-day music festival created by Mihelakos and venue director Will Ewing.[12]
Awards
editMusic Victoria Awards
editThe Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music Victoria Awards of 2020[1] | Mary Mihelakos | Hall of Fame | inductee |
References
edit- ^ a b c Eliezer, Christie (2020-10-08). "Mary Mihelakos, Chris Wilson set for Music Victoria hall of fame". The Music Network. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ a b c d Woods, Cat (2020-10-19). "How Booking Maven Mary Mihelakos Became Melbourne Rock Royalty". Audiofemme. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ a b "Mary Mihelakos (The Aussie BBQ / Columnist for The Age / Band Booker)". Face The Music. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ Chrisfield, Bryget (2021-06-30). "A trip down memory lane: Mary Mihelakos walks us through the iconic Fitzroyalty lineup". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ a b "Archives: Maps: Mary Mihelakos On Being Inducted Into Music Victoria's Hall of Fame — Triple R 102.7FM, Melbourne Independent Radio". 3RRR. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Mihelakos, Mary (2021-03-04). "Stuck On The 90s". Sound As Ever. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Freedman, Max (2019-06-21). "How Sounds Australia Is Paving Global Paths for Australian Artists". Billboard. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Thomaidou, Zoe (2020-11-10). "The 'sheltered Greek girl' who became a Melbourne rock scene stalwart". NEOS KOSMOS. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ "Mary Mihelakos". Australian Music Vault. 2020. Retrieved 2022-05-08.
- ^ "The Leaps and Bounds Music Festival". PBS FM. 2018-07-31. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ "The Brunswick Ballroom has arrived | News". AussieTheatre.com. 2021-03-04. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
- ^ Hynes, Caitlin (2021-06-07). "It's a Ballroom Blitz: A new three-day music festival is going down in Melbourne". Beat Magazine. Retrieved 2022-05-09.