kew court house 2016 seaon 1

Kew Court House season 12016

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Sweet sixteen in the land of the leafy green

Times, they are a-changing. It seems these days, here in the fine-looking eastern suburbs, that every time you turn a corner a new hip café, boutique or cultural offering is bursting out onto the street to greet us. What once was a well-kept secret seems to be infiltrating the masses. We’re on the map!

After a spate of sell-out shows in 2015, the challenge has been laid upon us to come up with an equally enamoured program. This means you’ll be looking forward to that wander down to your local for a gig or to discover what is unfurling on this, sometimes over-looked, side of town.

The 2016 Season 1 program really beams a light on the diversity and depth of Melbourne’s music scene. Many of these artists, you may be surprised to know, are living among us here in the east and are relishing the opportunity to perform for you in their own backyard. Expect to be taken on a joyride with stunning performances from across the spectrum including Firebird Trio, Tash Sultana and Brazilian Choro ensemble, Tamandua. Wrap yourself up in the ambience and sentiment of The Weekend of Beautiful Music in May featuring a raw headline show from Ella Hooper.

Our winter series, House Party, kicks off in June with Quarter Street who will be defrosting our dance floor with heavy duty salsa bombs. This will coincide with the second annual Party Art Prize, commissioning four local practising artists to take over a range of our less-conventional spaces.

Finally, don’t forget to let us in on what you’re up to by tagging #myartseffect across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. We can’t wait to be a part of all things creative in your world.

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Presented by Kew Court House

Louisa Rankin QuintetSongs of the Great Southern Land

Reimagining music of iconic Australian artists

Taking her cues from the jazz tradition of reinterpreting the American popular songbook, vocalist Louisa Rankin found inspiration closer to home when looking for material for this latest project. A love of artists such as Crowded House, Gotye, John Farnham and Sia inspired a re-working of some Australian classics. Rankin and her quintet give a jazz twist to a collection of your favourite Aussie songs and invite you to fall love with them all over again.

Loving any chance to perform, Rankin has worked with artists as diverse as Gian Slater, Luke Howard, Lior, Barney McAll, Hailey Cramer and The Monash Art Ensemble. As band-leader, she has presented her music around the country and is highly regarded as one of Melbourne’s leading jazz vocalists.

Louisa Rankin vocals Luke Howard piano Jon Delaney guitar Jonathan Zion double bass Aaron McCoullough drums

FRI 12 FEB 8PM

$25 all tickets

kewcourthouse.com.au or 03 9278 4770

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Firebird Trio: Classic Latin

Firebird Trio takes a sultry sojourn into the music and dance forms of Spain and Latin America. From tango to milonga, vals to flamenco. Featuring works by Argentine composers Ezekiel Vinao, Alberto Ginastera, Astor Piazzolla and Spaniards Joaquin Turina and Isaac Albeniz. Merging studied technique with one hot summer night, this is a performance that will smash through classical sensibilities. Classic Latin will literally (note, this is a hint) encapsulate you in the romance and intimacy of the Argentine tango.

Three of Australia’s most respected performers unite as Firebird Trio, an exciting addition to Australia’s burgeoning chamber music scene. Their performances reflect the energy, colour and splendour of the Firebird, taking their name from the Ballet Suite by Igor Stravinsky. With a growing international reputation, recording career and performances in Australian metropolitan and regional centres, the members of Firebird Trio are known for their passionate, thought-provoking and compelling music-making.

Benjamin Martin piano Roger Jonsson violin Josephine Vains cello

FRI 26 FEB 8PM

$35 Full / $30 Conc


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The Boroondara Arts Effect

Kew Court House is one element of the Boroondara Arts Program that also includes sibling venues Hawthorn Arts Centre and the Town Hall Gallery.

Alongside the City’s outdoor summer events program and regular arts projects you’re in for a new landscape of feature performances, exhibitions, live events and workshops.

These are experiences so inspiring that you will leave with a newfound appreciation of the arts in Melbourne’s leafy east.

Share your arts effect.

#myartseffect

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FRI 11 MAR 8PM

$25 all tickets



Tash Sultana

Tash Sultana is a young dynamic Melbourne artist, at just 20 years of age she is creating major waves, generating massive street buzz and playing sold out shows.

Since having her hands wrapped around a guitar at the mere age of three, the self-taught artist quickly developed her own unique style that has people lining up to see her perform live. Her vocal truly shines and she has a real ear for melody. The theatre here at Kew will offer an opportunity for punters to truly appreciate the subtleties of this sheer talent.

Her carefully crafted edgy fusion of multi-instrumental pieces beat boxing and percussion styled finger tapping guitar has left audiences in awe. The young one-woman-band powerhouse is set for a huge 2016.

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The Parlour:Blame Not my Lute

We welcome The Parlour featuring one of Australia’s leading lutenists, Rosemary Hodgson, to share this program of songs of passion and celebration. Theresa Borg, Karen Van Spall and Adam Miller will share stories of opera’s early years, tales of shady composers and their exploits and saucy yarns of traveling minstrels along with their dazzling music accompanied by Baroque Guitar, Theorbo or Lute. Through arias and duets by Monteverdi and Purcell, songs by John Dowland, laments composed by an executed queen or two and more, The Parlour will expose the ardour and splendour of the Baroque.

Just to be really debaucherous on a Saturday afternoon we’re putting on a true Baroque era feast in which you can indulge.

Rosemary Hodgson lutenist Theresa Borg soprano Karen Van Spall mezzo soprano Adam Miller baritone

SAT 9 APR 3PM

$40 Full / $35 Conc

Tickets include an antiquated (in a good way) Baroque spread. Beverages at bar prices. Book-ings essential.


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Take a walk through the history of Memphis’ famed Sun Records, the record label where some of the most famous Rock n Rollers had their start including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Howlin’ Wolf, BB King and more. These guys will have you howlin’.

It’s one thing to pay tribute, it’s another to live and breathe the music. The passion shared by the boys in Sun Rising, is nothing short of fanatical. It has less to do with the fact that the boys have visited Sun and Memphis a combined 12 times and more to do with the goose bumps that rise when they talk about Sam, Sun, the artists and birthplace of Rock n Roll.

Original Melbourne music luminaries, David Cosma and Damon Smith have for years dreamed of Sun Records. They have silently worshiped their idols while pursuing their own original music, always knowing that at some stage they would team up to pay homage to the birthplace of Rock n Roll. They now do so, with a world class rockin’ band and a set list that is as hot as the Sun itself.

Having played a huge year of sold out shows around Australia in 2015, including Adelaide Cabaret Festival and the Caravan Club, Sun Rising: The Songs That Made Memphis is set for an even bigger year in 2016.


Sun Rising

THu 21 APR 8PM

$35 Full / $30 Conc


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The Weekend of Beautiful Music

Beauty takes many forms but none so much has the ability to encapsulate oneself in it than music.

Over the course of two days in autumn, we explore the tenderness, emotion, memory, ambience, solitude and aesthetic that such a universal art form allows us to experience with one another, as humans.

Sit back, take a moment and let The Weekend of Beautiful Music wash over you.

SAT 14 - SuN 15 MAY

$25 Single ticket $100 Beautiful Weekend pass (all shows)


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Duo Singh and Blanes sing timeless love ballads that cross musical continents and cultures. An intimate portrait is drawn between these two musicians, each song performed acts as a vignette of a deeper love story.

Singh (The Bombay Royale) plays a combination of Indian instruments, the sitar and tanpura, and sings in English and in her native Punjab; accomplished pianist Blanes (The Bamboos, The Melodics, The New Black) minimalist in his approach to this project has drawn near, with his baritone, a deep simplicity in lyrics and phrasing. Their tender heartfelt performances and high musicianship are a rare sight and sound; playful and earnest.

The Weekend of Beautiful Music Presented by Kew Court House

Singh and Blanes

SAT 14 MAY 4PM

$25 Full Single Ticket $100 Beautiful Weekend pass


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Tulalah

Kew Court House welcomes Tulalah to bring you on a trip through an ethereal yet energetic sonic wonderland for a very special, intimate performance with accompanying string section.

Tulalah is a nine-piece orchestral folk outfit hailing from Melbourne. Incorporating elements of jazz, folk, rock and cinematic influence, they strive to create a sound that is far beyond the expanse of their instrumentation.

In October 2015, the ensemble released their debut album The Flood to wide critical acclaim. The complex and sensitive collection of works that was the result of two weeks spent in a beach house on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula recording the bones of the album. From there, several churches and halls in Melbourne’s inner north were used to track vocal, string and horn sections. It will be something rather extraordinary to witness this work in the intimacy of our little theatre.

SAT 14 MAY 6PM



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Ella Hooper

They say that to be vulnerable personifies true beauty. Hooper’s most recent EP release Venom travels a raw journey of heartache and opens a window to her inner realm. Echoing this work, Hooper comes to Kew for a bare duet performance of this latest material.

The songstress is no stranger to the Australian music world. Having been a founding member of Australian group Killing Heidi back in the day, you can imagine that she’s been far and wide playing her songs to crowds of people. Many years ago Killing Heidi pressed pause on the music they made leaving each member of the group free to pursue other endeavours. Since then and a few other projects later, darling Ella has ventured out on her own to bring to you a solo project we’re excited to hear more of.

Ella says, ‘It’s been an incredible year for me already and I’m over the moon about the many new elements of my career taking flight, but a tour and album release is what I’ve been waiting for to satiate the front-woman in me and show you all what I’ve been up to!’

SAT 14 MAY 8PM



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Music inspired by the birds for cello and vibraphone

Allow Elissa Goodrich and Caerwen Martin to delicately ease you into Sunday with poetic, musical and provocative morning song. Settle in and absorb the light streaming in the stained glass windows to be taken on a flight somewhere between earth and sky.

Caerwin Martin Highly regarded for her versatile and innovative approach to the cello, Caerwen Martin pushes boundaries with her performances Martin’s repertoire extends from the traditional to the most cutting-edge avant-garde, taking in jazz, rock and pop along the way. She has worked with musicians as diverse as The John Butler Trio, Chamber Made Opera, the Australian Pops Orchestra, Missy Higgins, Elena Kats-Chernin, Lou Bennett - and once jammed till dawn with violinist Nigel Kennedy!

Elissa Goodrich Elissa Goodrich is a composer, percussionist and sound artist. Elissa’s compositions and music practice continues to work at the nexus between traditionally defined idioms, world-jazz, contemporary improvised music and sound art.

SuN 15 MAY 11AM




Sublime Flights

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Natalie Carolan

Rarely we encounter female artists whose voice and lyrics exhibit the quality of being understated, vulnerable and yet powerful. Melbourne musician, Natalie Carolan is one such artist. Without having to over adorn her vocals, Carolan’s unique, dream-like sound melt into her melodic driven songs. The Melbourne music maker studied jazz at university which was where she first explored songwriting, falling in love with melodies and a new world of sonic possibilities.

Natalie is set to release a string of singles produced by Colour Bomb frontman, James Saunders, and is also working towards the release of a trio album she recorded with Luke Howard and Leonard Grigoryan, much of which she will share with us on this fine afternoon.

SuN 15 MAY 2PM



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Tamandua

Choro has been dubbed the ‘New Orleans Jazz of Brazil’ – it lies in the heart of Brazil’s musical culture. As the urban music of Brazil it is vibrant, highly virtuosic with European and African influences interwoven in a lively and fascinating musical genre. Tamandua is joined by Tamil Rogeon (The Raah Project) for a one-off collaboration at Kew Court House

Having all studied music in Brazil, the members of Tamandua are experts in the field. They bring a fresh, contemporary approach with a line-up of flute, 7 string guitar, cavaquinho, drum kit and percussion, playing music from the complete gamut of choro; 19th century to world premieres. Fast, energetic and addictive, Tamandua play with a true Brazilian instinct. They just know how to swing it.

Tamil Rogeon special guest violin Asha Henfry flute Corey King 7 string guitar Josh Bridges cavaquinho Al Kerr drums Monique Zucco percussion

FRI 27 MAY 8PM

$25 All tickets


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Future Classic feat. Rubiks Collective

Rubiks Collective is Melbourne’s newest contemporary classical music ensemble, comprising some of Melbourne’s most versatile young performers. The ensemble’s core members collectively have appeared in the Sydney and Melbourne International Arts Festivals, Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music, Bang on a Can Festival (USA), the Banff Centre (CAN) and Huntington Estate Music Festival.

The ensemble is dedicated to the proliferation and celebration of contemporary music in Australia in all of its contexts. With full creative freedom as a part of Future Classic we’re excited to witness what they have in store for Kew Court House.

About Future Classic

The eastern region of Melbourne is synonymous with producing and nurturing some of Australia’s finest classical composers, performers as well as institutions such as the Zelman Memorial Symphony Orchestra.

With a nod to its local pedigree, Kew Court House continues the series, Future Classic that showcases the new wave of talent in Australia’s classical music landscape.

SuN 12 JuN 5PM

$25 Full / $21 Conc


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House Party

Winter is Melbourne’s favourite time of year when the night time comes to life. House Party rises from the viscera of our little theatre to defrost the dance floor and shine an infrared glow on High Street. With three special events happening on the last Friday of each month through the chilly season, we are turning the venue on its head and presenting some of this town’s most exciting and diverse outfits. All in the name of good art and a good time.

Full House Party program to be announced as a part of the 2016 Season 2 Program in May.

Party Art Prize

The Party Art Prize offers four locally practising artists the chance to secure $750 each to present work at Kew Court House. Launched in conjunction with House Party this coming winter, the prize offers an unparalleled opportunity for emerging and established artists alike to exhibit or present on their own doorstep.

Applications open Monday 15 February 2016

Hit kewcourthouse.com.au for full eligibility and program details.

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House Party 1 Presented by Kew Court House

Quarter Street

Inspired by the raw sounds of New York in the 1970’s, Quarter Street revisit an era where the music of the streets resonated with the voice of the people.

Like many Latino-American migrants to Australia, the group’s parents fled the various coups and revolutions of the 70s and 80s, raising their children to the sounds of the Spanish language superstars of the era. Cuban brass virtuoso, Lazaro Numa, recently arrived in Melbourne and adds a taste of Havana to the underlying mix of classic Puerto Rico and New York styles. The boys grew up with salsa and now they’ve brought together an impressive unit of Melbourne’s finest Latin and jazz musicians together to light up turntables and dance floors worldwide. Formed in early 2011, Quarter Street combines the fresh energy and the skills of well-known established musicians. A dynamic live band with a driving rhythm section and heavy horn section, this vibrant group of talented Melbourne musicians are quickly making a splash in the Australian music scene.

FRI 24 JuN 8PM

$25 all tickets


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All About us

Thanks to an unprecedented campaign driven by the local Kew community, in 2011 Kew Court House was lovingly restored and transformed. With the support of City of Boroondara, the Victorian State Government and private donors the building reopened as a new venue to support artistic expression in the eastern region of Melbourne and beyond. Since that time the space is rapidly emerging as a hot house for interesting and bold artists, both local to the area and from around Australia.

We love to be social! kewcourthouse

@KewCourtHouse

Want to know more?

See what we’re up to around the clock at kewcourthouse.com.au

Get the first word

Just between you and us, you don’t have to go to the city or the inner north to see the best performances, gigs and exhibitions. Things are bubbling beneath the surface in Melbourne’s leafy east. Sign up to The Arts Abstract E-News to be the first to hear of all things creative in this burgeoning part of town. Head to hawthornartscentre.com.au, scroll to the bottom of the page and subscribe away, my friend!

Speak another language?

As a City of Boroondara owned and managed venue, we offer communication assistance for our information services includ-ing this program.

If you require translation please call City of Boroondara Custom-er Service Centre on 03 9278 4444 or make your request through Council’s free interpreting service on 03 9278 4002.

Accessibility

Kew Court House is specifically designed with access needs in mind and our staff are here to make your experience hassle free and enjoyable. To discuss your requirements in detail contact us on 03 9278 4770.

Program details are correct at the time of printing but are subject to change where necessary and without notice. Please check the website for updates.

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At the Venue

Tickets

Booking tickets to Kew Court House performances is easy for everyone. Book online, by phone or in person.

Online Visit kewcourthouse.com.au and head to What’s On.

Phone 03 9278 4770 Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm

In person Visit the Hawthorn Arts Centre 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn. Mon-Fri 10am to 4pm

The Bar

Kew Court House has a small tuck shop bar that boasts a small but lovely selection of refreshments and snacks. We cordially invite you and your friends to settle in pre-show and stick around after to discuss all the best bits of the performance.

Venue hire

Kew Court House is a venue for hire with spaces that can be used for gigs, rehearsals, exhibitions, corporate events and meetings. For venue hire information visit kewcourthouse.com.au or call our events team on 03 9278 4770.

Kew Darling...

If you are looking for something more substantial to enjoy before or after the show, our venue is actually nestled in quite the unassuming but fabulous food and wine destination.

A variety of casual and high end eateries and bars are dotted along High Street and Cotham Road for your enjoyment.

Tickets are sold at the venue prior to performances subject to availability. Kew Court House seating is unreserved and may be arranged in various formats.

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Where We Live

Kew Court House 188 High Street, Kew

By car

Ample off-street parking is located on Fenton Way and Walpole Street. This is mostly unrestricted after 6PM every day.

By public transport

Tram 48 North Balwyn to Victoria Harbour Docklands via Kew Junction

Tram 109 Box Hill to Port Melbourne via Kew Junction

Tram 16 St Kilda to Kew Cotham Road (walk 1km east along Cotham Road) Bus 205 Doncaster via Kew Junction

For more public transport information, including timetables, fares, route information and the Journey Planner, visit ptv.vic.gov.au or call Public Transport Victoria (PTV) on 1800 800 007.

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Calendar

Date Artist Page

FRI 12 FEB Louisa Rankin Quintet: Songs of the Great Southern Land 4

FRI 26 FEB Firebird Trio: Classic Latin 5

FRI 11 MAR Tash Sultana 7

SAT 9 APR The Parlour 8

THU 21 APR Sun Rising 9

SAT 14 MAY The Weekend of Beautiful Music: Singh and Blanes 11

SAT 14 MAY The Weekend of Beautiful Music: Tulalah 12

SAT 14 MAY The Weekend of Beautiful Music: Ella Hooper 13

SUN 15 MAY The Weekend of Beautiful Music: Sublime Flights 14

SUN 15 MAY The Weekend of Beauitful Music: Natalie Carolan 15

FRI 27 MAY Tamandua 16

SUN 12 JUN Future Classic feat. Rubiks Collective 17

FRI 24 JUN House Party 1: Quarter Street 19

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