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.
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.
Susanna O'Leary
Weaving her soul into song, Susanna O’Leary is an award winning songstress who wears her heart on her sleeve and draws her audience in with her commanding world vocal style and powerful melodies. Introspective by nature Susanna writes music reflective of her own life experiences and perspective on love, loss, hurt, passion and everything in between. Unable to be boxed into one genre, her musical style reflects her contemporary training, Colombian heritage and exploration into Persian, Flamenco and Irish vocal styles.
The View From Madeleine's Couch
The View From Madeleine's Couch is one of the finest Brazilian music ensembles in the country, and heading into their 17th year of making beautiful Brazilian music together. With the unmistakably lush voice of Anje West, (singing in Portuguese), and the gorgeous sounds of band-leader Kym Ambrose's vibraphone in the mix, Madcouch's music has taken them from some of the biggest jazz and world-music festivals in Australia, to concert stages in Brazil, where they performed with one of bossa nova's most legendary rhythm sections; Marcio Bahia (drums) and Mazinho Ventura (bass). With a repertoire that features bossa nova, samba, Brazilan jazz and award-winning original compostitions, the band presents an intimate and joyous evening, showcasing their unique take on the music they love.
Anje West: voice/percussion, Kym Ambrose: vibraphone, Andrew Shaw: double bass, Paul Hudson: drums, Bruce Woodward: guitar
Tibet2Timbuk2
World music group Tibet2Timbuk2 takes you on a journey from the meditative to the joyous with Tenzin (Tibet), Shen (tabla), and Marcello (African guitar & further west), with special guests. Afro-Asian galloping tunes! Tibet2Timbuk2 has an eclectic repertoire including group arrangements of Tenzin’s Tibetan songs, Marcello’s English songs, collaborative songs and instrumentals and even classical tabla solo. The overall sound is full and organic, with all three musicians sharing bass, percussion, harmony and melody roles to create a solid yet easy groove.