Series Synopsis

A band of thirty schoolgirls brave tensions, line-up changes and heartbreak to triumph at Europe’s top music festivals. Over the course of a year, the Sweethearts face the hardest lesson of all – when to let go.

Episode Synopses

Episode 3 – Never Can Say Goodbye

The second recording day for Sweethearts starts shakily when Chloe is late. Tilly co-opts Rachel to record a duet, but Ross cuts Rachel from the song. After starring at a Melbourne soul dance night, the girls play to a sparse crowd at their school graduation.

The second day of recording kicks off for the lead vocals. After the delays of the first day, musical director Ross hopes things will run smoothly. But then lead singer Chloe is nowhere to be seen.

They switch to recording “Ten Foot Tall”, which Jess the drummer and Tilly the trumpet player co-wrote. Tilly is nervous about singing it on her own and has co-opted backing vocalist Rachel to sing it with her as a duet. This is a surprise to Ross and he’s not pleased. Ross gets Tilly to record a version on her own. Tilly feels guilty that Rachel may be cut out of the song.

Chloe finally arrives and records vocals for “Red In Your Eyes”. There are a few problems with the high register in her voice and Chloe admits she is concerned about recording given the cold she recently suffered.

In contrast, Bec the guitarist (and sometimes vocalist), arrives on time direct from a netball game and swiftly records her original song “Oblivion”.

Bec, Annika (guitar), and Georgia K (bass) give a promotional interview on Melbourne’s PBS FM for one of their favourite gigs of the year: Soul A Gogo. The gig is a rousing success: they play to a crowd that loves soul music and Sweethearts. But it’s another late night once they hit the road back to Geelong.

At the next rehearsal, Ross takes Tilly and Rachel aside. He’s going to use Tilly’s full vocals for “Ten Foot Tall”. While Tilly feels bad Rachel has been cut from the song, Rachel takes it on the chin.

After the pumping atmosphere of Soul A GoGo, Sweethearts face a perplexing situation: playing to a sparse, disinterested crowd at their own school’s graduation night. It’s a typical experience for the girls, who find that they are less popular within their own school than anywhere else; in fact there is “long term hatred” of Sweethearts within their school.

A few days later, the Principal of Carranballac School drives the band to play as the main act at that school’s graduation. It’s their last gig of the year – and for those about to graduate, it’s their last as official members of Sweethearts. It is also Sarah’s last gig as band captain.

They bid each other tearful goodbyes for the summer, unaware that some members may not return. Those that do will face tensions that will shadow the band all the way to Europe.