Musical sisters Alanna and Alicia Egan will play their first live show in more than a year in May.
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Originally from Bendigo, the duo spent much of 2020 creating music as they faced stage 4 lockdowns in Melbourne.
They will return to the stage on May 8 when they perform at The Old Church on the Hill.
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Alanna will also bring her vintage jazz swing quintet to Bendigo three weeks earlier in April.
She said the break from live gigs made her realise how much she enjoys perform.
"We haven't played since before COVID, so we are really looking forward to coming back to the Old Church and connecting with Bendigo audiences again" Alanna said.
"Having break from performing live has made me realise how special it is. I did miss it and returning to the stage has sense of excitement and gratitude for how beautiful is to make music together.
"Most musicians and venue owners are understanding of how delicate (live performing) can be (during COVID). It is a matter of musicians, venues owners and festival directors growing and putting the live music scene back together. But everyone has to be a patient and flexible."
During the past year, Alanna and Alicia have participated in the Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival On The Wire online showcase as well as spending time writing for a fifth album.
"We had to get work permits to come from Melbourne to be film in the Gold Dust Lounge for (On The Wires)," Alanna said. "There were no audiences, just musicians but it was still good to connect with everyone again.
"The first lockdown was a really creative time for me. I loved stepping off the rat race and did write some new songs. I wrote, recorded and released a song in stage 4 lockdown called Sincerely COVID, which was a bit of a personification and satire of the virus, that was interesting process for me.
"We also were writing songs for our fifth album and have started recording that."
Alanna said she also taught music and English remotely during 2020.
"It was good to have that. We were lucky in that respect," She said. "Many musicians I work with are full time performers and did struggle financially and emotionally, so it was good to offer them gigs now we are opening back up.
"(The upcoming shows) have also given us a sense of what wonderful community there is in Bendigo. You get a sense of how special (performing) is when you're not there for a year. It is nice to be able to re-engage with that."
Alanna and her jazz swing quintet Old Hat are The Old Church on the Hill on April 17. For tickets visit www.trybooking.com/BPZKT
Sisters Alanna and Alicia perform at The Old Church on the Hill on May 8. Visit www.trybooking.com/BPZSL for tickets.
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