East Coast Car Rentals: Selene and the Strange Win 'I'm With The Band'

Selene and the Strange have been crowned the winners of East Coast Car Rentals’ ‘I’m With the Band’ competition, following an eye-catching live showcase in Manly that brought together some of the country’s most exciting grassroots music talent.

The indie-rock group took out the top spot, securing $12,000 in cash and publicity to aid in their career, as part of the campaign’s prize pool. Runners-up Hope Held Hostage and Caleb Foster each received $500 to support their musical journeys, while the remaining top eight finalists, Gilroy, Ash Morse, LACE, Harriet Lowe, and Andryel Jung, were each awarded a $500 East Coast Car Rentals voucher.

The Manly showcase saw all eight acts step up to the stage and entertain the crowd with original sets that highlighted the diversity and strength of Australia’s busking scene. The event was hosted by singer-songwriter Katie Jayne, who also performed and engaged with each group in a fun Q&A session, where they shared insights about their career journey.

Ben Whitmore, Chief Marketing Officer at East Coast Car Rentals, says, “Seeing these artists perform live in Manly really brought to life what ‘I’m With the Band’ is all about, discovering incredible local music and giving grassroots talent the chance to take their sound further. We’re proud to help Selene and the Strange, along with all of our finalists, take the next step in their careers.”

Katie Jayne, Australian singer-songwriter and host of ‘I’m With the Band’, says, “It was such an incredible experience to host ‘I’m With the Band’ and to see just how much talent we have coming through in Australia. Every act brought something unique to the stage and the crowd in Manly really felt that. Selene and the Strange were so deserving of the win, but every performer left their mark.”

To keep the momentum going, videos from each of the finalists’ performances, along with a curated playlist of the acts, will be released across East Coast Car Rentals’ social channels in the coming weeks, giving Australians nationwide the chance to experience the talent of each act and discover new artists on the rise.

‘I’m With the Band’ launched earlier this year with the aim of spotlighting undiscovered musical talent across Australia. The competition connected the country’s love of live music with the open road, turning everyday travel into a stage for emerging artists.

East Coast Car Rentals | www.eastcoastcarrentals.com.au