One Voice, Full Band Sound
Story: Lizzie Macaulay, Bigger Picture Business Solutions. Photo: Cody Fox, Celva Media
When Aaron Westlake watched Howie Day perform "Ghost" live in 2002, something clicked. The young musician witnessed the magic of live-looping for the first time - one performer creating the sound of a full band using just vintage Line 6 DL4 pedals. That moment sparked a journey that would eventually earn Aaron the title of Hervey Bay's "looping legend."
Twenty-three years later, Aaron brings his ‘Echoes of the Past’ performance to Morning Melodies at the Brolga Theatre on 23rd October, armed with multiple guitars, keyboard, and electronic drums to recreate his favorite classic hits from the 50s and 60s.
"I will play all of these instruments individually to create the sound of a full band on stage, without using any pre-recorded backing tracks," Aaron explains. "This makes every performance unique and gives me the freedom to change the setlist as I go."
His song selection draws from artists who inspired not only him but many modern musicians. Some choices might surprise audiences—like "It's All Over Now Baby Blue," which many know from Graham Bonnet's 1977 version, though it was originally Bob Dylan's 1965 release.
For Aaron, who's been adding live-looping to his performances over recent years, the appeal goes beyond technical wizardry. "I'm constantly adding new songs to my setlist, as well as writing my own music," he shares. "Playing a new song that gets a good reaction from the crowd is always a great feeling."
While Aaron adapts his performances to suit different venues—from chilled Sunday afternoons to high-energy Saturday nights—he's particularly excited about tackling "Build Me Up Buttercup" by the Foundations for Morning Melodies. "Rehearsing it for the show has been a lot of fun," he admits.
Despite his solo success, Aaron maintains connections to the broader Fraser Coast music scene through his rock band Trainwrecks. His most memorable performance remains their 2016 Hervey Bay Whale Festival set—still the largest crowd he's ever played to.
For newcomers to live-looping, Aaron promises something special: "This makes every performance unique and gives me the freedom to merge songs together, or even play different versions of certain songs to better suit the mood."
This story appears in the October 2025 edition of Fraser Coast Scene, our monthly guide to What's On across our Cultural Services venues.
The creation of this story and photography was funded by Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government and Fraser Coast Regional Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
