William Crighton has his time on national stage

Years of hard work came to fruition for William Crighton in November when he won his first ARIA Award for his album Water and Dust. Picture by Simone De Peak

THE past two COVID-plagued years might have decimated the Newcastle and Hunter music scene, but it arguably helped sow the seeds for a glorious rebirth.

So many quality bands formed during lockdown and in 2022 that fresh crop of talent emerged as Newcastle music punters returned en mass to restriction-free shows.