TIME: Doors/bar open 2:30 pm, Music from 3:00 pm
TICKETS: Pre-sale tickets: $35, Members: $30
At the door on the night: $40
VENUE: Wauchope Community Arts Hall Oxley Lane (opp Bain Park)
SUPPORT ACT: NA
With their latest seventh album, Nightjar, ARIA Award winners The Vampires mark a watershed in their 15-year career, making them one of Australia's most acclaimed acts. Melding saxophone and trumpet intricate melodies and expansive groove soundscapes into their austral-facing jazz textures, they effortlessly capture the essence of their genre-hopping ethos into an immersive musical experience. Having just returned from a successful European tour, the band will be in fine form for their Australian tour and will be joined by the amazing Jess Green on guitar.
Critics have hailed their music as 'phenomenal' (Downbeat), 'a masterpiece' (The Australian), 'seductive' (Jazzwise), and 'a relaxed sound journey' (Jazzthetik, DE). The Vampires' music is a visceral experience, deeply rooted in the expansive landscapes of Australia. Their sound is a blend of influences, shaped by their admiration for The Necks and enriched by collaborations with artists including Chris Abrahams, Lionel Loueke, Shannon Barnett and Dave Rodriguez (Godtet). This deep connection to their musical roots is evident in every note, showcasing their ability to merge composed and improvised parts seamlessly, creating a hypnotic flow that captivates listeners.
Supported by a rich history of performances and accolades, The Vampires have established themselves as a formidable force around the world. They have played at renowned venues and festivals including A Love Supreme Jazz Festival (UK), Enjoy Jazz Festival (DE) and all the major jazz festivals in Australia. Their music continues to evolve, pushing boundaries and captivating audiences with its unique blend of beautifully constructed melodies and hypnotic grooves.
HOTE' HOTE' ALBUM LAUNCH
HOTE' HOTE' ALBUM LAUNHC
Charles MAIMAROSIA is an extraordinary singer, guitarist, panpipe player, and storyteller, originally from the Solomon Islands and now based in Melbourne. He is renowned for being a musician of important custom knowledge, drawing equally on traditional and contemporary musical styles.
The award-winning artist has come a long way since growing up in the remote Pipisu village of Malaita. He went on a world tour for over a decade with the globally recognised panpipe orchestra Narasirato, acting as their frontman, choreographer, and songwriter. Since launching his solo career, his music is making a buzz on international stages, including performances representing Australia and the Solomon Islands at the G20 Summit in India and performing at WOMADelaide. He has toured widely in Australia as well, including shows at the National Folk Festival 2024 and the Blue Mountains Music Festival.
Charles will perform his new album Hote’ Hote’. The album features songs inspired by Are’ Are poems and stories, with a focus on preserving ancient cultural heritage. Be ready to be taken on a journey that shares the wisdom of his ancestors and the cultural and spiritual essence of Charles’s homeland.
Check it out on Youtube here
SUSAN O'NEILL
Irish artist Susan O’Neill is a songwriter of hidden depths, with a timeless voice that is equal parts balm and blowtorch, a multi-instrumentalist and sought-after collaborator across many genres.
Susan has toured across Europe and North America and, in recent years, has shared stages with an array of artists, including Phoebe Bridgers, Calexico, Valerie June, and The Teskey Brothers. Nominated for the Radio 1 ‘Best Female Folk Artist’, Susan’s new solo album, released late 2024, Now in a Minute, went straight to No. 1 on the Independent Album charts.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve heard a voice like this; take note—a bright road ahead for O’Neill” - The Times ★★★★
“Superb” - Clash Magazine
“Artist working at the top of her game…” Hot Press 9/10
“An album of great intimacy” - Rolling Stone
View More Information about Susan: susanoneill.ie
Watch on YouTube: Drive (Official Video)
TIME: Doors/bar open 7:30 pm, Music from 8:00 pm
TICKETS: Pre-sale tickets: $35, Members: $30
At door on night $40
VENUE: Wauchope Community Arts Hall Oxley Lane (opp Bain Park)
DURATION: Approx 2.5 hours
JOINED BY: ALEX BURKOY (Tinpan Orange)
CATERING: Bar open selling beer, wine, tea, coffee, cold drinks, icecreams and Baba Lila chocs (cash preferred)
With a voice described as “truly astonishing” by Rolling Stone, Anna Smyrk is a powerful singer and song-maker. Her songs range from hook-laden anthems to vulnerable alt-folk ballads, all tied together by her unique voice and astute lyricism.
2024 has been a huge year for Anna, with highlights including official showcases at SXSW (Austin, Texas) and her first US tour.
Anna’s recent EP was recorded in Nashville with award-winning producers Jake Finch and Collin Pastore (boygenius, Lucy Dacus). The record explores themes of fight or flight and the push and pull of relationships. She has toured widely around Australia, the US, and Europe, supporting artists like Birds of Tokyo and Bachelor Girl, ad performing at festivals such as Port Fairy and Woodford.
Described by Backseat Mafia UK as “a significant songwriter with an exceptional voice,” Anna Smyrk is a formidable artist on the rise.
She’ll be joined in Wauchope by her long-time collaborator, Alex Burkoy (Tinpan Orange).
TIME: Doors/bar open 7:30 pm, Music from 8:00 pm
TICKETS: Pre-sale tickets: $35, Members: $30
At door on night $40
VENUE: Wauchope Community Arts Hall Oxley Lane (opp Bain Park)
DURATION: Approx 2.5 hours
CATERING: Bar open selling beer, wine, tea, coffee, cold drinks, icecreams and Baba Lila chocs (cash preferred)
Stiff Gins, featuring Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman Kaleena Briggs and Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson, form a powerful musical duo.
Their fourth studio album, Crossroads, marks the 25-year career point for Australia’s longest-performing all-female First Nations band. It also reaffirms the band’s status as matriarchal pioneers in the Australian Blak music scene. Produced by Syd Green (Casey Chambers, 19Twenty), Crossroads combines Stiff Gins’ signature blend of folk, roots, and First Nations language and culture with newfound depths of lyrical storytelling, intricate harmony, and rich layers of instrumentation. The result is a sonic landscape resonating with both introspection and resilience, forged against a political backdrop advocating for greater representation and recognition of First Nations people in Australia.
Crossroads not only delves into the emotional landscapes of transformation but also sings up profound belonging amidst change. As Stiff Gins navigate these crossroads, they craft a musical tapestry that resonates with themes of resilience, self-discovery, and letting go. The album reflects personal and collective evolution, bearing testament to Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs’ enduring spirit and sisterhood.
Crossroads is a celebration of Stiff Gins’ role as cultural custodians of the Australian musical environment—one that invites the past into the present, merges tradition with innovation, and seeks to sing a future overflowing with strength and grace.
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Wauchope Community Arts Council acknowledges the Birpai peoples as the traditional owners of country and pays its respect to Elders past and present.
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