When local children tune into ABC Kids this month they might see someone who used to be just like them. 

Someone who spent their childhood growing up in Newcastle with big dreams for the future. 

Just last week Novocastrian Michael Yore and his band The Beanies made their television debut. 

Tuesday 1 March marked one of the biggest days in their six-year history – eight animated song and dance video clips began airing on ABC Kids.

Yore says “it felt wonderful” when they popped up on TV. 

“We’ve been releasing our music with ABC for a long time but to actually see it on TV was so exciting for us,” he said. 

“We have been working towards that for so many years now so to see our faces on the tele and to see our video clips on ABC IVIEW is a wonderful feeling.”

It’s something the trio – Yore, Miriam ‘Mim’ Rizvi and Laura Dawson – had been dreaming about for quite some time. 

“We started off thinking that we’d make some podcasts and sing some songs and things like that,” Yore said. 

“It was just a nice project for us to do together as a group and share with a few people and then over the years, we realised that we had a following starting so we were like ok, let’s get this going and it’s grown from there. 

“It was really wonderful to see ourselves on ABC, I never thought it would happen.” 

He adds the reactions to their silly songs and wacky dance moves have been heart-warming. 

“We’ve been sent some videos of kids being really excited to see us on ABC TV and they’re going crazy,” Yore said.

“I think the best reactions we’ve had are from people who have been following us for a while now.”

Appearing on TV was a much-needed boost for the group after COVID-19 cancelled almost $50,000 worth of gigs in the space of a week in 2020.

“We have not been able to perform live much at all,” Yore said. 

“Being on TV is a really big boost for us.

“It’s been a tough couple of years but with things opening up again we have started booking shows again which is really exciting.”

The Beanies are planning a tour around regional NSW this year where they will perform their musical called Extraordinary Day. 

Yore hopes Newcastle will be on the list of places The Beanies visit. 

“I would really love to come up to Newcastle and do some performances there because it is my hometown,” he said. 

Meanwhile, they’ll continue to be seen on TV as their eight video clips have become part of ABC’s regular programming. 

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