Theatre fans in Australia have been spoiled of late with outstanding major musical productions playing our stages for the first time. They don’t always find their audience; the premature closure of Dear Evan Hansen is a prime example. But I do hope that the industry continues taking chances on “fresh” works. The latest is Hadestown, which took home eight Tony Awards in 2019 including best musical.
When I saw the then newly reunited Southern Sons perform at 2019’s One Electric Day shows, I begged for a tour. This iconic Aussie act disbanded when I was 14, so I was too young to catch them in their heyday. Their short set at One Electric Day was well … electric … but it left me wanting more. Last night, more than five years after those shows, my patience was rewarded. With a gig in my local area no less!
Proving that music really is the universal language, Charles Maimarosia has captured my heart with his sophomore album Hote’ Hote’. Born in the Solomon Islands and now based in Naarm/Melbourne, Charles celebrates his Are’ Are’ roots with this special collection of songs.
It’s no coincidence that Thndo’s released her new album Lessons in Love this Valentine’s Day. While the day might be a Hallmark holiday, it’s also the perfect time to discover this diverse collection of “love songs.”
Fiercely independent, Alexander Biggs is an artist who plays by his own rules. His music doesn’t sound like anything on the radio. He takes his time releasing it, waiting five years after hitting my radar before unleashing his debut album Hit or Miss and another four years before following it up. But today, we get the opportunity to hear his sophomore effort Stay With the Horses.
Damien Rice’s music captivated me from the release of his debut album O. Yet strangely, even though he’s a regular visitor to our shores, I hadn’t managed to catch him live. Those shows always clashed with others or came at the wrong time. So I made things right last night when he visited the beautiful State Theatre.
I love a good cover version. Covers have become a bit of a dirty word over the years, something reserved for karaoke nights or reality singing shows on commercial networks. But interpreting a beloved song and making it your own takes a real skill. So while the title gave me some trepidation, I was excited to discover Brave Mistakes new EP, Some Good Songs … Done Badly.
I love musical theatre, but it doesn’t seem like the nation as a whole embraces my enthusiasm. More often than not, major theatre promoters seem unwilling to try anything new. They give us the same old hits or jukebox musicals they know will fill seats. And I don’t blame them. When they do take a risk, as Michael Cassel Group did recently staging Dear Evan Hansen, the reception is so lukewarm that whole runs outside Eora/Sydney and Naarm/Melbourne get cancelled. But I learned a couple of years ago that musical theatre nerds like me have options. There are passionate community theatre groups all over the country committed to bringing a greater variety of productions to fans. I’ve raved about the Hayes Theatre in Eora/Sydney before, but I’m lucky to have a fantastic community theatre group closer to my home in Darkinjung Country/Central Coast. On Sunday I headed to the Art House to see Curtain Bounce’s production of Heathers: The Musical.
With Forgiving Spree, Slowly Slowly proves the old adage that quality is always better than quantity. Its nine tracks spanning will take you just a little over half an hour to listen to, but I guarantee you’ll be thinking about them long after the final note.
Dear Seattle aren’t playing around with their latest album TOY. The band’s third studio album is packed with stellar rock tunes that will have you singing along in no time.