Big Breaks / Milestones / Tours / Achievements / Major Events
1989
Ross Lipson, A Science and Instrumental Music teacher had a bold idea of setting up a social group of students, teachers and local musicians to make the best music they could and have fun. Rehearsing after school they began playing stage band arrangements prepared by American Music Publishers with sheet music. Ross really believed music could make a difference and when opportunities came their way, the journey began.
1990 Known for their special sound the band became the “Sweethearts of Swing”
1991 / 92 Tasmanian tour – Salamanca Place and the Hobart Sheraton Hotel.
1993 Queensland Tour including Dubbo, Seaworld, Dreamworld, Surfers Paradise.
1994 The Big River Tour – Mildura and Swan Hill
1995
1st CD released “On the Train”
Big breaks – Melbourne International Festival & Pacific Rim Jazz Summit Sydney.
Live performance as part of the Coodabeen Champions Show 3LO 20th October.
1996
1st Port Fairy Folk Festival
Sweethearts captured on canvas by Geelong Artist Anne Spudvilas / a finalist in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize and the painting tours the country.
2nd CD released “Motor City Soul”
Band purchases a new sound system ($20,000) from the Parents and Friends group fundraising. A formal committee formed with office bearers elected annually to foster the direction and success of the group. The first strategic plan is developed.
1997
Big Breaks – Tour to Europe / performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival Switzerland
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Melbourne International Festival,
Fun 4 Kids Festival Warrnambool, Meredith Country Festival,
Live performances ABC Drivetime, 9 Network Hey Hey & Today Show,
7.30 Report ABC.
1998
Apollo Bay Music Festival, selected for “Kool Schools”
3rd CD released “Bittersweet”, Ross Lipson heads to Alaska.
1999
South East Queensland Tour (Nov) performing at Barooga Sports Club, Seaworld, Movieworld, Caloundra RSL, Cotton Club & Byron Bay.
Queenscliff Music Festival
4th CD released “Party”
10 year Reunion at the Carlton Hotel
Ross Lipson and Rick Mc Lean visit the Fruit Fly Circus to research their set up.
2000
The Sweethearts Foundation Inc is formed with support from local politicians and funding assistance from the Department of Education. The first of its type in the state system injecting expertise into the management structure and increasing the groups professional footing.
Members of the 1st board – Ross Lipson, Rick McLean, Sandy Thompson, Kris Jones, Jenny Dalton, Tineke Barry, Helen Fraser, Brian Cavagnino.
The band becomes known officially as “The Sweethearts” and girls from different regional schools begin to join the band.
Teacher Team of the Year Herald Sun Monash University Award to Ross Lipson, Richard McLean, Sandy Thompson, Faye Smith.
Port Fairy Folk Festival, West Coast Tour visiting regional schools like Timboon.
2001
Queenscliff Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival
The Sweethearts are performing for lots of private and corporate events.
2002
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Fun 4 Kids Festival Warrnambool.
2nd Tour to Europe performing at the Porretta Soul Festival Italy playing alongside Ann Peebles, Tyrone Davis, and Lucerne Blue Balls Festival presenting their own Motown experience. They perform at a small village in Switzerland and go to the Montreux Jazz Festival.
2003
Music on the Mount at Mt Elephant sharing billing with Renee Geyer
5th CD released “Get Ready”
Workshops Gil Askey, Nicky Bomba
2004
Great Southern International Blues and Rockabilly Festival Narooma NSW
Melbourne Women’s Jazz Festival, Fun 4 Kids Festival Warrnambool,
Maroondah Festival, 15th year Anniversary Deakin Waterfront
The old truck is replaced after many breakdowns!
2005
Study leave for Ross Lipson and Rick McLean to construct the Certificate IV course.
No more music stands on stage!
Workshops with Gil Askey, Lil Fi, Adalita from Magic Dirt and Sally Ford.
Anglesea Live. Sweethearts complete 40 – 50 performances annually.
2006
Certificate IV Course commenced recognising industry-based work.
Release of 6th CD “What’s Going On”
Port Fairy Folk Festival, Wimmera Tour,
New rehearsal space at Helen Fraser Campus.
Workshops Gil Askey, Nicky Bomba
2007
3rd Tour to Europe / Montreux Jazz Festival Switzerland, Parma Summer Festival & Porretta Soul Festival Italy, Sweethearts billed alongside legends in the industry Betty Harris, Booker T & the MGs, the Blues Brothers.
Wayne Jackson performs with the band.
New improved website and rebrand.
Apollo Bay Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival,
Mia Dyson workshop Pt Lonsdale camp along with Nicky Bomba and others.
2008
Ross Lipson is a finalist for the “Lindsay Thompson Fellowship” for his work with Sweethearts.
Homestead Blues Festival, Workshops with Gil Askey, and other local artists.
Work on a new CD “Another Day Another Night” (7th CD)
New NEXO PS 15 speaker system with assistance from Kevin Bishop Audio.
2009
Way Out West Tour – Western Victoria Nhill, Dimboola, Camperdown. Carranballac College Point Cook provides the bus!
A new and larger truck arrives!
Ian “Mocha“ Morrison retires from the band.
20th Anniversary celebrated at “Party” annual fundraiser
2010
4th Tour to Europe / Montreux Jazz Festival / Porretta Soul Festival Italy,
Cherry Bar association begins with great support from James Young
Vince Peach PBS (Soul Time legend) interviews Sweethearts on air.
New CD released “Secret” (8th CD) at Soul A Go-Go Melbourne. Original track sits at No. 1 on Triple J’s Unearthed Chart for 2 weeks and in the top 10 for 5 weeks.
2011 /12
Great Southern Blues Festival Batemans Bay NSW.
5th Tour to Europe / Performances at Montreux Jazz Festival, Porretta Soul Festival Italy (25th Anniversary), Jazz A Vienne in France
Release of 9th CD “Red in Your Eyes”
2013
Heart & Soul TV series – aired ABC (13 part series).
Sweethearts Academy established (now called the Young Hearts) under the leadership of Melanie Humphrey,
First EP of all original songs “Bar Roma” (10th recording) received a nomination for The Age/ Music Victoria Awards Best Soul, Funk, R’n’B and Gospel Album alongside Hiatus Kaiyote, The Cactus Channel and Kylie Auldist.
Cherry Bar residency and receival of Cherry Award
Queenscliff Music Festival
Our director Ross falls ill in October and can’t continue.
2014
Steve McEwen takes on the Musical Directorship.
Tour to USA – Summerfest, Memphis, Chicago / TV crew recording USA tour
Sweethearts performed at B.B. Kings in Memphis, on Memphis’ highest rating TV Channel WREG with a Live- to-Air TV performance and a set at Summerfest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin one of the biggest festivals in the world that, according to Consequence of Sound, attracts 800,000 to 1 million punters each year.
Sweethearts perform with Osaka Monorail at the Barwon Club
No more men onstage at Sweethearts gigs!
Queenscliff Music Festival – Ross Lipson Award established to encourage young aspiring female musicians and those working in the industry.
Sadly, Ross Lipson our Musical Director passes away from cancer in December.
2015
New Musical Director appointed – Michael Fitzgerald
Port Fairy Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival,
Released Heat & Soul Live Across Europe and the USA.
Acoustic Treatment / Soundproofing in the rehearsal room.
The Waifs and Mia Dyson working with the band.
2016
2nd TV Series Heart & Soul released.
Original material EP Four Leaf Clover released on 12 August (11th recording).
Queenscliff Music Festival.
Sweethearts support Kate Cebrano at Williamstown.
2017
6th Tour to Europe / Performances at Montreux Jazz festival, Porretta Soul Festival Italy, Jazz A Vienne France.
Sweethearts can now boast being the only Australian musicians to have shared the stage with the great Bernard ‘Pretty’ Purdie, the most recorded drummer of all time who has worked with greats including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, B.B. King & Herbie Hancock to name but a few! He was so impressed with Sweethearts that he continued coming to all shows and insisted on joining them onstage each time. They also were joined on stage by Sax Gordon, a renowned USA saxophonist.
Sweethearts Program receives International Award – Porretta Soul Festival
Sweethearts were 1 of 3 artists awarded and recognised for their contribution to the world music industry. The other two award recipients were none other than the King of Soul Solomon Burke & Rufus Thomas! Not bad company to be recognised alongside. Band members also witnessed some incredible performances by music legends including Herbie Hancock, The JB’s (James Brown’s Orchestra), Mavis Staples & Michael Kiwanuka.
Kylie Auldist working with the band at camp
Queenscliff Music Festival
2018
Sweetfest – The Sweethearts Foundation 1st Music Festival December 2nd 12pm-6.15pm in Little Malop St Precinct, Geelong CBD. The festival was a celebration of 30 years operation for the Sweethearts music program starring Bernard Purdie, Kylie Auldist, Vince Peach and local artists. The festival had 17 acts across 4 stages throughout the day with a drum workshop from Bernard Purdie.
Vivian Sessoms working with the Sweethearts at Wangaratta Music Festival
Queenscliff Music Festival – Bernard Purdie performs with the Sweethearts
2019
8th Tour to Europe / Montreux Jazz festival, Poretta Soul Festival Italy,
Jazz A Vienne France.
Alfred ‘Pee Wee’ Ellis, former member of the original James Brown Band and co-writer of soul classics including ‘Cold Sweat’ and ‘Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud’ heard about the talent of Sweethearts so he showed up at one of their soundchecks. It only took half a song until he agreed to jump up and perform his original Cold Sweat with the band.
Residency at Workers Geelong Sweethearts monthly residencies include bringing artists down from Melbourne such as Georgia Van Etten, Fulton St & That Gold Street Sound
Don’t Fool Yourself EP released / Original music (12th recording)
Queenscliff Music Festival
Fulton St working with the band at camp
2020 – 2021
Covid pandemic sets in, lockdowns and state boarders closed. Sweethearts work online together each week with the Foundation providing each member with the technology to record at home.
Film clip of Al Greens “Take me to the river” created with a live stream You Tube series.
Eventually through different lockdowns and opening up, small groups are allowed to come together to rehearse until finally we are all back together.
Nov 2020 The Sweethearts Foundation entered on the Cultural Organisations List with the Sweethearts Music Excellence Public Fund able to receive tax deductible donations for scholarships.
2022
2nd Sweetfest Music Festival for the Sweethearts Foundation Inc. Sunday March 6th featuring Emma Donovan & the Putbacks, Fulton Street, Alex Lahey and a wealth of regional talent.
Queenscliff Music Festival.
2023
Festival of Sails.
Several Brunswick Ballroom performances in Melbourne.
Queenscliff Music Festival.
Sweethearts program recognised and praised by Chris Thompson, DET South West Victoria Regional Director. Acknowledgement given to the quality of the program.
Workshop and gig with Hot Potato Band
Masterclass with Doug Wimbish & Will Calhoun
New musical equipment purchased
2024
9th Tour to Europe / visiting the Montreux Jazz festival, performing in Bologna and for the Porretta Soul Festival Italy including opening the festival. They also perform in Vergato, Tolé and Camugnano in the lead up to the festival. Sweethearts perform with Mitch Woods (Boogey Woogy specialist).
