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Singing in Mark Campbell and The Ravens allows Dr Kate Campbell of Montrose Veterinary Clinic in Victoria to unleash her creativity and have a load of fun.
“My brother-in-law has a band called Mark Campbell and The Ravens, and for the past 10 years, I’ve been their back-up singer. Mark writes all the songs and it’s been a long and dedicated creative journey for him. I’m very thankful to have been along for the ride.
“The music is a mix of folk, country and blues with eight of us in the band. Mark likes to bring together as many instruments as possible. I’ve always got on well with Mark and playing in the band with him is a lot of fun. He’s a very good musician but allows me and the other band members to add our own creativity to the songs.
“I’ve always liked singing but never had lessons. Some of my earliest memories are singing and dancing around Dad’s record player with my sister. At school and high school, there were lots of opportunities to sing in choirs, musicals and plays. As I got older, started working and life became busy, I lost that connection and passion for singing. When the opportunity came up to join Mark’s band, I jumped at the chance.
“We play at various venues once or twice a month. We’ve done a few live radio performances and released an album in late 2025. Mark has a nice set-up at his place where we rehearse, which is always fun. It’s great to just sing, unwind and hang with the band.
“We launched the album with a gig at the Wesley Anne, a fantastic live music venue in Melbourne that was originally an 1850s church. It was a wonderful night and the crowd reaction was lovely. We recently played at The Basin Music Festival on the far outskirts of Melbourne. It was a beautiful sunny day, there were lots of bands playing and everybody had a great time.
“Working as a vet can be super stressful so I appreciate being able to come home, step away from work, and have something totally different that I enjoy. Music allows me to switch off. It’s very important for me to have a healthy work-life balance.
“When the band is playing live, I’m totally in the moment and having a ball. I love performing with like-minded, talented people while sharing the experience with them. When the audience is into it and obviously enjoying themselves, it’s a special moment. You’re bringing joy into other people’s lives. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Visit Mark Campbell and The Ravens at: https://linktr.ee/markcampbellband
