Moonshine Special shares a passion for music and making a difference for others by raising awareness and money for charities, like Starlight Children's Foundation.

The band has been playing together for over seven years and leverages the rich musical history of all its members to create its own driving rock tones with influences covering a range of songs from the music of the Rolling Stones, INXS and the Black Keys.

"It's all about getting young again, Keith Richards style. With Moonshine Special, all those dues paid, all those hours and years playing guitar, plenty of cheap gigs in dinghy dives, it has all finally paid off. The Moonshine Special chemistry is now near to a nuclear reaction and the shows go off like a keg of dynamite. To share our passion for music and making a real difference to others is what it's all about...truly a little bit of everything for everyone..."

Kevin Moore (Lead Guitar)

About Starlight Children's Foundation

Just because you're sick doesn't mean you stop being a kid. And it shouldn't mean missing out on all the fun of childhood. So Starlight helps sick kids simply be kids by replacing pain, fear and stress with fun, joy and laughter.

Starlight know there's more to treating an illness than just medicine, that's why they work hand in hand with health professionals. Play, art, games and creativity are all important to a child's wellbeing and that helps overall health too. Fun, happy experiences are good for the mind and good for the body. (And fun is what they do best!)

Not only are they home-grown, Starlight is also the broadest reaching children's charity in Australia. Last year alone Starlight created over 522,208 Starlight experiences for sick kids and their families. They support kids of all ages, regardless of their illness or injury. Starlight are also rated in the top 10 Most Trusted Children's Charities in Australia. (AMR Charity Reputation Index 2017).

From Captain Starlight and the Starlight Express Rooms to Livewire and their Healthier Futures Initiative, Starlight helps brighten the lives of sick kids everywhere across Australia.

Starlight Children's Foundation believe FUN fights fear and wins every time. The $30 ticket price will allow one seriously child access to our Starlight Express Rooms.

Starlight receives no government funding, so your support is greatly appreciated. You can donate here at https://starlight.org.au/donate/donate-today/

Band

The members of Moonshine Special all have "day jobs" in the Information Technology industry and have been playing music in bands in one form or other for most of their lives.

The band is led by singer and song writer Lance Phillips who played in the London Ska/Reggae band "Rhythm & Smoke" in the 90's and who with his band Cloud Nine won the inaugural ABC Radio Exhumed Competition in 2012 which included recording and playing their original songs on ABC radio and playing in support of the legendary Australian band Dragon.

From left to right Kevin Moore, Chris Pedersen, Geoff Mathews, Kai Schweisfurth, John Withers, Lance Phillips, Pete Murray.

The band members are:-

* Lance Phillips Vocals

* Pete Murray Sax & Vocals

* Kevin Moore Lead Guitar

* John Withers Rhythm Guitar & Vocals * Kai Schweisfurth Bass * Chris Pedersen Drums * Geoff Mathews Drums

History

Moonshine Special was formed back in 2008 by members of the Information Technology community as the DD Band to compete with Telstra and Cisco at a battle of the bands event thrown to raise money for cerebral palsy. Following the event the group saw the band as an ongoing vehicle to raise awareness and money for charity.

Since 2008 the band has supported:

* The Kate Rowe Fundraiser (to allow Kate to live at home);

* Local non-government funded youth charities in Canberra;

* The Marion Centre Sydney (shelter for women & children);

* Violence Against Women fundraiser and awareness event in Brisbane;

* The Special Olympics Australia and Cerebral Palsy fundraisers at the Basement in Sydney (Cisco Battle of the Bands)

* The Jack Edge Connected Classroom Foundation at the Bridge Hotel (connecting ill children to their classmates via video) with the band featuring in the IT press.

For further information on the event, please contact: Pete Murray on 0448 866 765

For further information on Starlight Children's Foundation, please contact: Kate Slaytor on 0419 449 541 or kate.slaytor@starlight.org.au