Carrot Man

Carrot Man

From January 24, 2020 10:00 am until January 24, 2020 3:00 pm

At Ron Hurley Theatre


Photo Credit: Dylan Evans

Linsey Pollak is “Carrot Man”.

He didn’t want to be “Carrot Man” but the name sort of stuck (that’s what happens when a video with you drilling out a carrot and turning it into a clarinet goes viral). He tried to ignore the name, he even stopped making carrot clarinets for a while, but now he’s decided to embrace it, because after all, the Carrot Clarinet is the perfect example of his philosophy that “music is all around us and we are all musicians”. Linsey makes music by live-looping instruments of his own invention, such as “Mr Curly” (a contra-bass clarinet made from garden hose) which, sounding like a 70’s synth, will have audiences bopping in their seats.

Using the instruments, Linsey creates layers of music which will have audiences either spellbound or dancing in their seats. He demystifies the process of musical instrument design and music itself, but at the same time creates music that is (in the words of his YouTube viewers): “mindblowingly fantastic”, “one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard”. This is a music performance for all ages and does not fit into any genre box. It is the culmination of 9 other solo shows that Linsey has toured to 23 different countries. Firstly it’s great music (“Linsey Pollak is one of Australia's most brilliant and under-rated composer/musicians. - The Courier Mail, Brisbane”); it’s entertaining; and it smashes a few assumptions about music.

After the show why not try your hand at making a Foonki? "What ‘s a Foonki?" Well .... it's a reed instrument with a membrane reed. The membrane is made from a garbage bag and is attached to a garden irrigation T- junction fitting and the body of the instrument is a large slurpy drinking straw. AND .....it sounds Foonky! Make your own under the tutelage of Linsey Pollak (the Foonki's inventor).

Presented as part of Brisbane City Council's Lord Mayor's Children's Program. This Event is produced by Red Chair.