MOJO’S Bar will be rockin’ out on Sunday to raise funds for Parkinson’s research.
Forget all about church and the traffic bridge chaos, Dangerous Goods and Ember’s are pumping out old-school rock anthems at the legendary North Freo venue.
The Offbeat gig is the brainchild of events producer Hannah Moltoni, whose brother Leigh was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of Parkinson’s when he was just 29.
“He was essentially frozen within five years,” Moltoni says.
“Watching him struggle with quite literally every little movement, in constant pain and discomfort, gradually lose all sense of self and purpose, and to come to believe he has no value or place in the world and nothing to offer his children, is beyond heartbreaking.
“My dad was diagnosed seven years ago. His condition is steadily progressing albeit at a slower rate.”
• Hannah Moltoni (above) set up Offbeat, an annual fund-raising gig for Parkinson’s research, and also founded The Green Room, an informal catch-up for musos and industry folk (below).
The double blow inspired Moltoni to hold the first Offbeat gig in 2023. Since then its been held annually and raised about $30,000 for Parkinson’s research and support.
“Any money that is donated to the Shake It Up Foundation is then matched by the MJ Fox Foundation, so double what we donate,” she says.
“Just as importantly, we’ve started conversations, been connected with and helped connect people living with Parkinson’s, and brought community visibility to a condition that often stays in the shadows.”
Moltoni is an old hand in the music biz. Before starting Renegade Events, she worked in production for large-scale shows and festivals like the Big Day Out and toured with worldwide names like Neil Young, Rage Against the Machine and The Prodigy, specialising in logistics and artist liaison.
The music gene runs in the family – her father is a talented drummer.
Earlier this year, Moltoni set up The Green Room – a relaxed Freo hang-out for musicians and industry/creative folk.
Held fortnightly in the Hybrid Warehouse on Quarry Street, it’s an opportunity for creative folk to catch up, meet new people and learn from each other
“It is about building the relationships and support networks that keep musicians inspired and a music scene alive,” she says.
“It has been steadily growing, and we usually see anywhere from 10 to 40 people on a night. “That’s the beauty of it being fortnightly. The energy and organic buzz has been incredible – lots of collaboration and genuine camaraderie starting to form. It’s getting traction.”
But right now, the energetic Moltoni is busy getting ready for OffBeat on Sunday.
“Young onset Parkinson’s affects 10-20 per cent of those diagnosed, some as young as their 20s, robbing them of their future and leading to early death,” she says.
“We need to move away from viewing it solely as an ‘old person’s’ disease and push for public awareness and treatments that accommodate younger sufferers as well as the elderly, while we continue the search for a cure.”
Offbeat is on tomorrow (Sunday November 9) 6pm at Mojo’s Bar in North Fremantle. Tix at moshtix.com.au. For more info see renegadeevents.au.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK