Music glory for Narrabri’s Elsie Ford

Narrabri’s Elsie Ford claimed music glory in the 2020 North West Battle of the Bands Showcase winning the original song category.

Seventeen-year-old Elsie struck a chord with judges singing her own song titled Is This What Love is Meant to Feel Like and playing the guitar.

“It was such an awesome feeling to know that I’d won – it was my own song too so that was pretty cool,” Elsie told The Courier.

“The song is actually about my boyfriend. I think we were about a year into dating when I wrote it and it just flowed so easily.”

Elsie said it was her dad, Bob Ford, who inspired her love and style of music.

“My dad always played guitar and from a young age he introduced me to musicians like Fleetwood Mac, Queen, David Bowie and ACDC.

“He taught me how to play guitar and he sang all the time.

“I started playing guitar when I was young but I only really started singing when I was about eight because I was just so nervous about it.

“I was really shy about singing to start with,” said Elsie.

The year 11 Narrabri High student said her confidence levels are growing with every performance.

“MADD Night last year was actually the first time I think I performed as a solo act.

“I did have a band, but I was the one out the front singing and playing guitar and then I remember hearing the crowd and I was like: ‘Oh, well I must be alright then’.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there were no live performances for Battle of the Bands this year and instead musicians were invited to send in a video of themselves performing at home, so there was less chance of stage fright.

“I do still get nervous, but doing the performance over the internet and recording on my phone wasn’t too bad,” said Elsie.

The performance videos were posted on Facebook and presented as an online concert.

“I think the event was run really well because everyone could still see it.

“I really enjoyed listening to everyone else sing and play their songs – it was a really fun experience.”

Elsie is certainly a talent to watch for the future and thanks to the North West Battle of the Bands competition, she not only won a cash prize but will also receive a mentoring session with singer songwriter, and former champ Battle of the Bands winner, Sarah Leete who also hosted the event.

“I do it for fun and music is just a release from everything too, but if I could make it into a career that would be something that really I have just dreamt about, I’d be over the moon.”

Elsie also thanked the Battle of the Band organisers for doing a stellar job.

The contest was last held at the Crossing Theatre in 2013 but organiser Angela Pattison, along with a new team of music lovers, decided to bring back the popular event.

“We wanted to do something for young people in our community who are stuck at home at the moment,” said Angela.

“We thought that bringing back live music from talented locals will be great for the audience, great for the musicians, and great for the community.”

The team of volunteers, with ‘Sober in the Country’ founder Shanna Whan and previous winner and professional musician Sarah Leete achieved their aim of bringing together aspiring local musicians in an online battle.

Sarah Leete was also a judge along with Damien Baguley of Viper Creek Band fame and singer songwriter Gilly Goddard.

The covers category was taken out by Narrabri High School group Pat the Acid Dragon which performed Life is a Highway.

Luke Solomon was named runner-up and he sang his sang a Randy Travis tune titled Three Wooden Crosses.