Two amazingly talented vocal legends from completely different worlds musically and geographically are about to hit Australia on separate but equally unmissable tours. Latin Grammy-award winning vocalist Gaby Moreno is coming to Australia for a string of dates to sing her heart out for you and one of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers, Mary Coughlan is returning to Australia too. Both will be performing at The Port Fairy Folk Festival, Fyrefly nightclub in St Kilda and various other venues around the country.
A superb vocalist and uniquely gifted songwriter originally hailing from Guatemala, Gaby Moreno is an Emmy nominee and Latin Grammy winner who has released 4 solo records internationally. Her latest album Ilusión received a 2017 Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. She has toured with Tracy Chapman, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Ani DiFranco, Punch Brothers, Milk Carton Kids and Calexico, and has shared stages with Bono, Andrea Bocelli and Van Dyke Parks.
In 2017, Gaby sold out a week of shows in Melbourne and toured Australia as part of the Celebrating David Bowie extravaganza (to much critical acclaim), as a featured member of Hugh Laurie’s Copper Bottom Band and as co-lead singer of celebrated vocal group The SongBirds.
Mary Coughlan is live and kicking and coming to Australia for dates in February and March 2019 and bringing her most recent album ‘Live And Kicking’ with her! Mary is arguably one of Ireland’s greatest female jazz and blues singers, a true artist who has carved out a timeless and highly regarded career and a legion of devoted fans worldwide. Described as “Ireland’s Billie Holiday’ Mary has overcome childhood trauma, alcoholism & drug addiction to become a musical force like no other. “Her lifestory gives weight to the truth that the best singers are the ones with the most painful lives” (The Guardian).
Mary is excited to return, saying, “I Iove, love, love Australia. I honestly think about it most days! I’m so looking forward to being back down under and the whole Live And Kicking tour.”
Her seminal first album Tired and Emotional rocketed her to overnight fame in 1985, and fifteen albums later, her ability to deeply connect with both the song &her audience remains undiminished, a testament to her inner strength and to the power of transformation & redemption. Mary live is in a league of her own, her glorious husky voice pulling every ounce of emotion from the music. This is the real thing, sung from the depths of a woman’s heart and soul, a survivor who (to paraphrase Leonard Cohen’s famous words) “was born with the gift of a golden voice.” This is why she is so loved. As the Observer rightly said, “Mary Coughlan’s talent is awesome.” Resonant with the grief of Billie Holiday, the soul of Van Morrison and the defiance of Edith Piaf, to hear Mary sing is to be at the core of the human heart.
MARY COUGHLAN dates:
FEBRUARY
Wed 20
Irish Club, ACT
https://www.irishclub.com.au/Home.aspx
Fri 22 & Sat 23
Foundry 616
Sydney
https://foundry616.com.au/
Sun 24
Speigletent
Adelaide
Speigletent https://www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au/
Thurs 28
Fyrefly
Melbourne
https://www.fyreflystkilda.com.au/shows/
MARCH
Fri 1st
Caravan Music Club
Melbourne
https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=463142&
Sun 3rd
Mordialloc Festival
https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/Places-and-Events/Council-Festivals-and-Events/Mordialloc-Food-Wine-and-Music-Festival
Fri 8, Sat 9, Sun 10
Port Fairy Folk Fest
Port Fairy Vic
https://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/
GABY MORENO Tour Dates:
7, 8 March – The Fyrefly, St Kilda VIC
https://www.fyreflystkilda.com.au/shows/
9.10,11 March – Port Fairy Folk Festival
https://www.portfairyfolkfestival.com/
12 March – Garden of Unearthly Delights Spiegletent, Adelaide SA
https://www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au/what-s-on/gaby-moreno
14 March – Camelot Lounge, Sydney NSW
http://camelotlounge.com/
15 March – Dust Temple, Gold Coast QLD
http://www.dusttemple.com.au/
16 March – Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane QLD
http://www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au/