Acknowledgement of Country

Our screens are brimming with commercials of happy families celebrating Christmas, but for some Australians the festive season is actually the loneliest time of year. Mission Australia has been fielding phone calls every single day in the lead-up to Christmas, from people who have nowhere to spend it. The demand aligns with government data that shows the frequency of social contact, both in-person and online, has been declining in Australia for the past two decades. Many living in remote Australia can't be with family these holidays, so celebrating with your chosen family for a "Friendsmas" can help foster a sense of connection. By Gemma Ferguson for ABC News Northern Territory.

In Sydney's Marrickville, people gather weekly to share a meal at Addison Road Community Organisation. The charity's chief executive, Rosanna Barbero, says attendees from all walks of life connect at their services. She says December is the most important time of year for these events. "If you switch on the television, you're always being reminded that it's the festive, joyful period," she says. "There's commercials about buying food and cooking for Christmas Day, and being surrounded by happy, smiling families that are singing carols.

The Addi Sounds Youth Music Festival is on this Sunday, August 10, at the Addison Road Community Organisation on Gadigal Country, an event that is all about Community, Creativity & Authenticity! The festival will showcase 40(!) gifted artists, working across a range of genres, including Indie, Rock, Rap, Electronic & more. Cocoa The Conscious is the Addi Sounds Youth Coordinator, and he joined 2SER Breakfast to give us the lowdown on the showdown.

Addi Road Community Organisation have opened a new community-access recording studio dubbed ‘Addi Sounds’. Launched in partnership with Australian National University (ANU), the Addi Sounds project offers training and hands-on experience recording podcasts, spoken word and all genres of music. Hip hop artist Cocoa the Conscious is Addi Sounds Youth Coordinator. “The essence of hip hop involves social justice, consciousness, making change happens,” he says. “It’s a vessel for those bigger ideas and feelings. That deeper frequency is what really interests me – whether it’s rap, indie rock, electronic music or folk singing.”