MELBOURNE, WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2012— Some of Australia’s best independent music artists including Clare Bowditch, Steve Kilbey, Vika and Linda and Henry Wagons will converse and perform in events hosted by music journalists Lisa Palermo and Kate Welsman aka Systa bb, where the artist will discuss their artistic influences at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall Stalls Foyer and Playhouse Theatre across four dates from 8 September to 8 December in a series titled Performance Enhancers. Each event will also include displays of visual references of the artist’s influences, which range from mythology to visual art and literature.
In the intimate setting of Hamer Hall Stalls Foyer each artist will each bring a unique story and vision to their one-hour set, with music journalists Lisa Palermo and Kate Welsman aka Systa bb drawing out how these artistic ideas and objects have made the artist’s creative minds tick and found an expression through their songs.
Showman and storyteller Henry Wagons, best known as frontman of neo-country Americana group Wagons, will sing and discuss the words, pictures and performances that have inspired him, from writers, performers and philosophers including Elvis Presley, Edgar Allan Poe, Plato and Lee Hazlewood at 5.00pm Saturday 8 September.
Regarded as one of Australia's greatest Renaissance men, rocker and frontman of The Church Steve Kilbey will discuss the profound effect great mythologies have had on his songwriting. With influences ranging from Greek goddesses and Roman heroes to Hindu identities and Biblical stories, Kilbey will sing and also de-mystify the myths at 5.00pm Saturday 13 October.
For the past 25 years, sister singers Vika and Linda Bull have fused the island music of their Tongan ancestry with everything from soul to country. The duo will talk about how French post-impressionist artist Paul Gauguin and cultural artifacts from their mother’s home in Tonga have influenced their work. The pair will perform on a stage decorated with weavings, accompanied by the Tongan Choir, at 5.00pm Saturday 10 November.
Heartfelt singer songwriter Clare Bowditch will perform and talk about how an accidental discovery of a Ballet Russes photography book heavily influenced her debut album Autumn Bone and also influenced costume on her critically acclaimed second album What Was Left. The combination of design, movement, costume and Stravinsky's music and myth made a strong impression on Bowditch which she will share with audiences at 5.00pm Saturday 8 December.
The Performance Enhancers series is part of ongoing programming of Hamer Hall’s public spaces, which aims to illuminate the creative process and increase cultural debate and dialogue about the arts in the community.
Arts Centre Melbourne presents Performance Enhancers
Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall, Stalls Foyer & Playhouse foyer
Henry Wagons - 5.00pm, Saturday 8 September, Hamer Hall stalls foyer
Steve Kilbey - 5.00pm, Saturday 13 October, Hamer Hall stalls foyer
Vika and Linda - 5.00pm, Saturday 10 November, Playhouse theatre
Clare Bowditch - 5.00pm, Saturday 8 December, Hamer Hall stalls foyer
Tickets $20.00
**NOTE: For the Vika and Linda performance children 15 years and under accompanied by an adult are free
Tickets $20.00
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au or phone 1300 182 183