It’s this passion that drives him to organise free bi-monthly gigs to showcase local original acts. The winter event, Earl Jam, will be held next Friday night.

It’s a show organised as much for the musicians as it is for the audience - giving an opportunity for artists to try new material and hone performance skills.

For some, like bassist for grunge cover band Citizen Dick, Brendan Smith, it’s a chance to “brush the cobwebs off”.

It’s been well over a year since the band formed to raise vital funds for the Goulburn MS Society. Some $6,500 was tallied from their one-night only gig.

“We were chomping at the bit to get on stage and do it all again,” Smith said on Wednesday.

“(Earl Jam) gives us a chance to get out there, have a good time and brush the cobwebs off so we can prepare to do it again sometime later in the year.”

In an interview with the Post, Smith and fellow Earl Jam performer Joe Conroy unreservedly praised McColl for his passion and support of the local scene.

They labelled him the “extra member of every band”.

“I don’t think there is anybody that has more love for music than Marky, you know,” Smith said.

“That’s his number one passion. Not just the music itself, but giving his mates or anybody really an opportunity to get out, have a jam, get their voice out there and have a good time.

“It’s never done in a selfish way, it’s that ‘I want to do this because I want my friends to be able to have a good time’.”

Conroy said it was McColl’s spirit that drew people to his gigs.

“It seems as though, because of the generosity in his spirit, people are just drawn to him and want to do a mutual kind of offering for each other...” he said.

“It’s just because the dude loves it, man," Smith added.

"He is just so passionate about music and he just wants to be involved. The best way for him to do that is for him to sit behind the mixing desk and be, sort of, the extra member of every band."

THE Goulburn music scene is shifting ever so slightly.

Gigs once reserved for heavy metal and hardcore are balancing out with variety gigs, like McColl’s, that not only attract a wider audience base but folk and blues musicians, too.

Earl Jam will kick off from 7pm with a blues saxophone solo from the gig’s namesake Earl Wilson, followed by Jim Marchet’s solo folk project, Jim Dusty. Bailey Judd will play an acoustic set from 8.10pm and then Conroy with a “blues/funk/soul explosion” from 8.40pm.

Canberra’s Neon Honey will feature as the out-of-town act, from 9.15. Citizen Dick, the Muddy Malone Trio and Propeller will wrap up the night.

“As long as I can remember metal has been at the forefront and Marky, who likes metal as well, has gone and changed it so everybody gets a go and so people like Joe can play a gig to a room full of people that isn’t a pub, that is not just covering Brown Eyed Girl,” Smith said.

“The thing about having a show like this... you will get some softer stuff that people who don’t necessarily listen to aggressive music will come and listen to, and they might even get their eyes opened to harder stuff - or vice versa.”

“When Marky does it, it’s a bit more variety... It’s a huge mix across the spectrum,” Conroy added.

SO you’ve got the passion and the talent, the final ingredient is the perfect venue. For Smith, Conroy and McColl, the Goulburn Club has a certain “feel” to be just that.

The volunteer-run club still stands in support of live, original music despite a string of venue closures in the past five years.

“Those guys are just doing it out of their own love for music... not many places are doing that anymore, especially in this day and age where you hear more and more venues getting closed down,” Smith said.

“Marky and the Goulburn Club have done so much to support local music in this town, and it often gets overlooked.”

Conroy said it was the way the audience engaged with the musician that made the Club something special.

“As a musician that bit of support makes you feel good about what you are doing,” he said.

McColl thanked Ron McLaughlin for his generosity in providing space for the gigs.

“I love the room for the gigs. It’s reminiscent of the early 90’s scene in Seattle... a small space that has a similar community aspect, where a band and their friends come together to watch others. It’s all about the support and friendship,” he said.

As for McColl himself, and why he organises the gigs, he put it down to a love of music:

“My general love of music and seeing these kids and friends share the exceptional talent and musicianship of their performances with others... Seeing how much work they put in and, basically, giving them a voice that gets easily lost in the daily manufactured music industry...

“Mainly, a love of music.”

Earl Jam will kick off from 7pm next Friday, June 24, at the Goulburn Club. As always, it’s free.