Plans are full steam ahead for this year’s FREE grassroots youth concert. The event will take place on Saturday November 28 from 5–10pm in the laneway behind Thyme to Taste café on Comur Street, Yass.

Now in its fourth year, Night in the Lane was born out of a meeting of minds when Thyme to Taste proprietor Andrew Dodds mentioned to YASSarts creator Kim Nelson that he’d like to host a concert involving the local youth. Each year the event has continued to grow, attracting more spectators and performers. This upcoming event will be a tribute to the late and great Kim Nelson.

This year’s organisers Aluntum Sudnit, Chad Croker and Caitlin Nelson said the event showcases the amazing array of youth arts talent in the Yass Valley. 

“There will be music, art, dance, comedy and other types of performance. We are also hoping to bring ‘adult mentors’ on board to help the youth performers reach their potential – only if they’d like assistance, that is! This mentor-youth collaboration will aim to boost performer confidence whilst also forging meaningful and creative local relationships,” Mr Sudnit said.

Yass Valley born and bred, Mr Croker is a well-known and respected contemporary musician of the region who has supported and tutored many younger players. 

"I received support from people who had faith in me when I was younger so I’m more than happy to pay it forward when and where I can," the musician said. 

This year's Night in the Lane is supported by the Yass Valley Youth Council (YVYC). 

Daniel Furry, a YVYC member said the event is a "great opportunity for local young artists to perform and also provides an opportunity for the youth of Yass Valley to organise and stage their own event".

As many previous audiences have agreed, the event just gets better every year, due to youth refining their event skills along the way. The thing that seems to set Night in the Lane apart from other events is that youth take charge and really own it. They even help to promote, sound check and perform. If you’re a first time or shy performer, don’t be deterred. Thyme to Taste is a very intimate and supportive setting, which will help youth to really shine in front of an appreciative audience. 

If you are a young musician aged 12–25 and would like to perform on the evening an application form can be found at http://www.yassvalley.nsw.gov.au/ or at your school’s front office.

If you are interested in being an adult mentor, contact Caitlin Nelson on 0478 142 208.

For more information about this year’s event go to Facebook and search ‘Night in the Lane”. 

In the event of rain the concert will be staged at the ‘Eagles Nest’ across the road.