Episode list

It's July 2012 at the Porretta Soul Music Festival in Italy. Sweethearts receive a pep talk before they go onstage. The pressure is on to perform to an excellent standard or they will never be invited to the festival again. Flash back to July 2011, and the beginning of the long road to Europe. Sweethearts are a soul fusion band of thirty schoolgirls from Geelong. They are the only practising school band that play exclusively in professional settings. The current line-up is the closest and most polished in the band's history. Their tight knit bonds are about to be broken by a longstanding rule: when a girl graduates from high school, she must leave the band. This time around, nine girls are set to graduate - a third of the band. It's their biggest ever line-up change. They must find and train nine new members who are at an advanced level. As auditions get underway it's clear that finding these "newbies" is going to be a hard task. There's euphoria when the band wins a spot at the 25th annual Porretta Soul Festival in Italy. A European tour is on the cards, but that creates a problem for musical director, Ross. Do they risk their reputation by taking a substandard line-up? Or do they break their key rule and let the graduates stay on for the tour? That would deny the younger members a chance to make their mark. Ross lets the graduates stay. He wants to keep the band together and maintain the high standard needed for Europe. No one is ready to say goodbye yet. Over the next twelve months, there will be fallout from abandoning the band rule.

In the pouring rain, Sweethearts undergo a dress rehearsal for Europe: six gigs in forty-eight hours. Trumpet player Tilly battles stage fright at having to sing. The recording session for the band's new CD runs dangerously behind schedule.

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 band loses trumpet player, Kirsten. Elsbeth feels guilty for staying on. Jess is elected as new band captain. The girls remember their lost loved ones at a fundraising gig for cancer research. Rachel pulls out of the tour.

Kirsten comes to terms with leaving while Maddi harbours a secret. The band works up a new song by Bree and Holly. Just when the line-up looks settled, Maddi reveals she has to leave Sweethearts as well.

Despite a strong tryout by Janeva, the new song "Hate On Me" is given to Chloe. Elsbeth has regrets about staying on as trombone mentor. Ross lays down the law to the vocalists and Tilly. Maddi doubts her worth to the band when Tilly takes on Maddi's solo.

Sweethearts score two gigs at the Montreux Jazz Festival and Ross pushes the band to improve. The horn section scrapes by in their first gig without Maddi. While the girls are stressed by exams, Ross is stressed by the band's disunity. Their annual fundraiser, "Party", looms as a disaster.

"Party" is an unexpected success. The backing vocalists get a sizzling overhaul of their dance routine. Maddi's move to the US has been postponed. The vocalists are warned to take care of their voices, as Chloe struggles through the last rehearsal before Europe.

Sweethearts arrive in Europe. Paris makes the girls giddy with excitement and eternal friendships are declared. Elsbeth gets a tattoo. An odd emergency kicks off the first gig of the tour.

Chloe loses her voice at the Montreux Jazz Festival and fears she has permanent damage. "One song" Abbey increases her song count. Elsbeth abandons a gig in Vissoe.

Sweethearts are made a headline act at Porretta Soul Festival. Chloe's voice slowly recovers. Members of Otis Redding's old band, The Bar-Kays, join the girls for an onstage jam.

Chloe suddenly withdraws shortly before the Porretta headline show, sending the band into a spin. Digging deep, everyone steps up - and they bring the house down. On this unforgettable night, Maddi "trades fours" with a soul star.

Janeva gets a break to sing "Hate On Me" but the rug is pulled from under her when Chloe makes a recovery. Sweethearts play their last gig at Porretta, joined by special guests. Amid the final goodbyes, the band gets a once in a lifetime offer to tour the US.

Maddi returns from the U.S to rejoin Sweethearts, but fears she's below par. The band has two big goals: to perform an all-original set and tour the U.S.A for the first time. Maddi's return buoys Ross and the future looks bright. But something is brewing that could destroy the American tour, and even the band itself.

The Sweethearts are peaking: they are performing knockout sets, their EP of original songs is nominated for a big award and an American tour is on the horizon. Suddenly, Ross is absent from rehearsals and gigs, and the girls receive crushing news: Ross has cancer.

As the crushing news of Ross sinks in, the girls solider through a challenging week. Frustrations run high when they resist Lior's attempt to show them a new songwriting approach. Then they must win over a crowd of rock and metal fans at Cherryfest, and impress the guests of a high calibre wedding. The year ends in limbo: no USA tour, no Ross, and the loss of a third of their members.

With the new year comes a new musical director, Steve. He makes waves when he reinstated a sacked singer. The U.S tour is a possibility again and everyone has to audition for a tour spot. Wil is elected band captain. Jess E takes on a leadership role but it's soon apparent her standards are very different to Steve's.

Tour auditions reveal mounting frustrations. Steve trials a mentor-free gig to test the younger members. Ross arrives unannounced at a gig, inspiring the band to play just for him. The U.S tour is finally confirmed and so are the members who are going. But with so many spots taken by younger members, the places of Bec and Jess E are hanging in the balance.

Wil feels lost as band captain. Jess E is admitted to U.S rehearsals and they work on ideas for the America stage show. The younger girls bond at band camp. It's a baptism of fire for Steve, as Will likens his style to a dictatorship. When the mentors are criticised, Georgia R defends that they stood up when no one else did. The air finally clears and the band feel hopeful: now they just have to do the hard work.

The crowdfunding campaign is launched and starts well, but runs into trouble. Leah and Maddi vent their frustration, and the division between mentors and younger girls widens. Steve insists Jess E gives Chloe more songs. A jaw-dropping confirmation from Summerfest comes with a daunting request for a two and a half hour set.

The crowdfunding campaign exceeds its target and the new stress is the massive Summerfest set. Their Cherry gig is such a stinker it makes Maddi never want to play trumpet again. Georgia stars in their spectacular last gig before America but then pulls out of the tour. At final rehearsal, Jess E brings the fun back. Next stop: U.S.A.

The band arrives in Memphis, the home of soul. At the Stax Academy workshop, they're inspired as the director and students help funkify their moves. Ross is top of mind as they delve into the rich music history of Stax. Maddi moves legendary soul trumpeter, Wayne Jackson, to tears. After they witness the power of gospel at Al Green's church, their first American gig - the Stax concert - is rained out.

Nerves run high for Sweethearts' first time on live to air TV. Visits to the Civil Rights Museum and Graceland yield more understanding of the messages in music. Their first gig brings honors: the keys to the City of Memphis, a surprise visit from Larry Dodson and high praise from all quarters. After a gig at an empty bar, there's a sudden make-or-break: they have 20 minutes to get to BB Kings for an impromptu show. And it's the experienced Evan and Jess E who look the most uncertain.

The band rushes to change its song list mid-set to suit the BB Kings crowd. It's a triumph and an ovation overwhelms the girls. More musical wonders await at Gibson Guitar Factory, Sun Studio and the flesh shaking "Gong Chamber" at the Memphis Drum Shop. The rescheduled Stax Concert is an embarrassment for Sweethearts when no one tells the girls onstage that a song has been cut.

The girls discover Nashville's more than country music and their one gig leaves the venue and a record producer asking for their return. The Summerfest gig is dedicated to Ross but it starts badly and gets worse. The most experienced players are freaking out and it's contagious. There's no energy, and no one's sure how to fix it. The most important gig of the tour is heading for disaster.

Sweethearts transform their Summerfest gig into a triumph, earning a standing ovation. Maddi experiences a musical renewal when she plays at Louis Armstrong's old jazz club. Emotion spills over at the last gig of the U.S tour and the girls celebrate their incredible feat. They salute Ross and the extraordinary impact that he, and music, have had on their lives.