Melissa Western
Brisbane’s sauciest jazz-cabaret star Melissa Western draws out the minx in all of us. Successfully straddling the worlds of jazz, cabaret and theatre she is widely considered a ‘pocket dynamite' who delights in unleashing her unique style onto an eager audience. By turns sassy, soulful, smart and sweet, Melissa’s ability to work a crowd and entertain any audience, from a corporate function to a private party, large-scale festival or intimate jazz gig, is surpassed only by her impassioned delivery and thrilling voice. “Western’s gorgeous voice serves her well” – The Australian
Michael Fix
Put an acoustic guitar into Michael Fix's hands and the emotional possibilities of music are suddenly realised. This remarkable composer and musician has the power to create sensory experiences through his music - capturing and conveying emotions, experiences and images with ease. Over the past 30 years, Michael has released fifteen albums, together with several songbooks, singles and EPs, and has established himself as one of Australia's finest guitarists and composers. As well as his annual tours to Europe and Asia, Michael hosts the ‘ Acoustic Guitar Spectacular’, touring Queensland each year, showcasing local and international guests. He is an in-demand educator, and has won numerous awards for his music, including three Golden Guitars.
Murphy's Pigs
A big band, a big sound and almost 50 metres of suit fabric. This is Murphy’s Pigs – the 10-piece, award-winning, Celtic-rock band that the World Health Organisation is warning everyone about. Throw caution to the wind and set forth on a musical journey through the lands of the Celts as Murphy's Pigs drag you headfirst into their world of rugged mountains, stormy oceans, fearsome battles, unrequited love and a drop or two of the whiskey.
MZAZA
Mzaza presents a show like no other, with powerful, sultry multilingual vocals and sounds and rhythms from faraway places. A show that will make your heart beat and your feet dance. Influenced by her Spanish Sephardic roots, French-born front woman Pauline Maudy sings in French, Spanish, Ladino and Turkish. Together with her talented instrumentalists she creates a unique blend of influences from the Mediterranean, the Balkans and the Middle East. Mzaza’s songs are inspired by tradition – gypsy passion, flamenco exuberance, the feel of the desert, and the spirit of the French wordsmiths.
Nadia Sunde
An accomplished songwriter, cabaret artist, theatre actress, comedienne and former ABC radio presenter, Nadia Sunde is a standout performer, engaging and delighting her audience as she would an old friend. Her album 'Stoking The Fire' was 'Album of the Week' on ABC 612 following its release with a sell-out show at the Brisbane Jazz Club.
Rupert Boyd & Laura Metcalf
Based in New York, this duo pairs Australian guitarist Rupert Boyd with American cellist Laura Metcalf for an exciting musical experience. Inspired by the breadth of stylistic possibilities their instrumentation provides, the duo will perform Schubert's powerful "Arpeggione" Sonata, Manuel de Falla's flamenco-inspired Seven Popular Spanish Songs, Arvo Part's beautifully meditative "Spiegel im Spiegel" and other works by composers from South America, Europe and Australia.
Sarah Koppen
Infectious grooves, nifty guitar techniques with dashes of human beatboxing, Sarah Koppen is a one of a kind one-woman-band. Hailing from the small town of Innisfail in Far North Queensland, 27 year old Sarah Koppen is a guitarist known for blending traditional fingerstyle, funk, flamenco, two-handed tapping, beatboxing and percussive techniques into solo guitar material. She has recently built quite a buzz around herself from the ground up via busking to ever-growing crowds in Brisbane, earning herself a healthy following as well as recognition from publications such as GuitarWorld and UltimateGuitar. Following the release of her debut EP Santa Monica Street in 2018, Sarah toured around Queensland performing with renowned fingerstyle guitarists Michael Fix and Andrea Valeri.
Saruzu Quartet (The)
Saruzu meld a love for the esoteric with an ability to absorb and distil what they experience, and then reinvent it with a flamboyance that is both highly original and widely accessible. Wearing the influences of flamenco, improvised music, jazz harmony, and several hundred years of traditional western classical music proudly on their sleeves, Saruzu are fresh, innovative and energetic. Music that works the voodoo of simultaneously making you want to quietly reflect on life - whilst whirling like a Dervish, eating a healthy salad - with a couple of glasses of wine, yelling out like a teenager - and then going home to write poetry. Music that makes you smile, think, and then smile a little bit more...
Simone Pope
Guided by some of Spain's finest dancers including Andres Peña, Mercedes Ruiz, La Truco, Maria Juncal and Belen Fernandez, Simone's contemporary choreographies transfix the audience with their energy and passion. Simone constantly returns to Spain to immerse herself in the latest technical and artistic directions of flamenco. In Brisbane, she runs The Flamenco Studio where she teaches and hosts workshops by visiting national and international flamenco professionals. Simone's extensive performance experience has taken her throughout the country, appearing at many World Music and Folk Festivals as well as concert halls and theatres in Australia.
Sunshine Coast Guitar Orchestra
The SCGO draws its repertoire from musical traditions from around the world: Spanish, Appalachian, Irish, Africa, Australian and more. Directed by Andrew Veivers, the SCGO is a People’s Orchestra project, a community orchestra model created by Andrew Veivers and performing arts company Red Chair. The SCGO is supported by The Events Centre (Caloundra).