We are passionate about the Sunshine Coast live music scene and currently represent the following music acts from our beautiful region on Gubbi Gubbi/Kabi Kabi country.
Andrea Kirwin and The Yama-Nui Social Club
Andrea Kirwin and the Yama-Nui Social Club are a 13 piece 'Island Soul' super band that hails from South East QLD. The band performs rich orchestral renderings of Australian/Fijian Artist Andrea's original songs from her 5 independent albums released under her record label Peace Run Records. With tight horn lines and beautiful string arrangements, AK & the YSC create a lush soundtrack to Andrea's soulful vocals and heartfelt lyrics about love, heartbreak and everything in between and you can feel the influences of Artists such as Carole King, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye and other legendary Folk/Soul bands of the 60s and 70s era.
Andrea's songs are powerful and poignant, written from her perspective as an LGBTQIA+ Artist with Pacific roots and are about her life experiences. Her musical style is influenced by her upbringing as the daughter of a Fijian Preacher and Gospel harmonies are a feature in many of her songs. As an islander, Andrea has a natural prerogative to create music together as a collective and is evident in her enthusiasm to showcase the individual talents of the musicians within the Yama-Nui Social Club. There is always a good dose of improvisation in these big band shows allowing each player to shine and add their flavour to Andrea's songs. The name of the band is a nod to Andrea's favourite band 'Buena Vista Social Club' and her Yama-Nui Recording studio community. Her latest album 'Bloom', released in 2021 was nominated for Queensland Music Awards in the Folk and World Categories.
The musical line up of the Yama-Nui Social Club includes Dexter Hurren on Drums, Oj Newcomb on Bass, Brodie Graham on Electric guitar, Brett Orr on Keys, Angela Newcomb on back up vocals, Claire Evelynn on Celtic Harp, Tanja Hafenstein on Congas and percussion, Dyon Tahana on Alto Saxophone, Zac Hurren on Tenor Saxophone, Lee Hardisty on Tenor Saxophone and flute, Sarah King on Violin and Emma Hales on Cello.
Jen Mize and The Rough and Tumble
Coming off the back of some stellar work with longtime musical partner Mark Sholtez with the release of their self-produced collaborative masterpiece Twilight On The Trail, where Mize and Sholtez tipped their hats to the great cowboy crooners and iconic songs from a golden era of music, Jen has jumped right back in the saddle, musically.
Jen has a whole lot on her plate these days. On top of her highly regarded radio show at 98.9FM ‘Three Chords and the Truth’, (co-hosted w/Paddy McHugh) Jen is also launching her new podcast ‘Jen Does Joni’. This deep dive into the songs and stories of Joni Mitchell is the perfect appetiser for the national tour of the same name that Jen has lined up for the second half of 2021.
Jen also regularly teaches up-and-coming songwriters, with masterclasses and workshops at QUT, JMC and regional songwriting camps The DAG Sheep Station & USQ’s prestigious MacGregor Summer School.
Not to be outdone by her work offstage, Jen has also been juggling time in the studio making a new record with her raucous new 8 piece band The Rough ‘n Tumble. It’s a massive undertaking for Mize, who is self-producing this project with band member, guitarist & songwriter Jeremy Edwards, engineered by both Mark Sholtez (Misty Mountain Sound) and Jason Millhouse (Recordworks). Word has already hit the Australian music scene that Mize is working on something big!
“We want to shake a room, man,” she says. “We want to vibrate an audience with music that feels like music used to feel. In the tradition of bands/artists like Bonnie Raitt, The Band, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Little Feat, The Black Crowes & Tedeschi Trucks Band, we are setting out to compel a crowd to shake their hips to new music that sounds classic.”
Mize adds, “Get some real players together with a killer mix of old school rock, country/ blues and soul. That stuff hits you, man, and when that B3 and Leslie get humming and those horns start in with their stabs and swells… Damn! It’s undeniable, still as good today as it was then. That’s what we are setting out to do with The Rough N’ Tumble”
The Dawn Light
In their short career, The Dawn Light have already played at the National Folk Festival, Caloundra Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival’s Bushtime, Sunshine Sounds Festival, Byron Theatre, Brisbane City Hall, The Dust Temple, The Brisbane Jazz Club, and have played support for Ziggy Alberts and been nominated for 2 x Queensland Music awards in the World music and Jazz Categories (2023).
Covering the genres of Soul, R&B, Latin, Blues and Folk (all with a sprinkle of tasty Jazz influence) and being influenced by musical greats like Erykah Badu, Emily King, Stevie Wonder, Joao Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald and Eva Cassidy, the music of The Dawn Light is elegant, sophisticated and soulful.
An exciting new project by Angela Newcomb and OJ Newcomb, The Dawn Light also features a collection highly acclaimed musicians – Brodie Graham on guitar, Charles Wall (AKA Bobby Alu) on drums, Michael Manikus on keys and Gareth Mews on violin. The expanded band also features Katie Randall on Percussion, Sarah King on Violin and Viola, Emma Hayles on Cello and Peter Hunt on Trumpet.
Those Folk
Truly authentic, naturally charismatic, and delightfully entertaining, Lawrence Menard (USA) and Clare Quinn (AUS) are the transpacific troubadours known as ‘Those Folk’.
With Lawrence’s Cajun beginnings and Californian upbringing melding with Clare’s grounding in Australian folk music, their musical inspiration is diverse and ever expanding. Their worlds collided on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2012 and the pair have been an inseparable duo ever since.
Their intimate stage show is constantly evolving with the introduction of new instruments. Vocal harmonies are featured alongside guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion, harmonica, and percussion. Clare has an effervescence that is contagious and her vocal range is extraordinary. Lawrence is a talented multi-instrumentalist, with an intuitive musical ear. Lawrence and Clare have an on-stage chemistry that is radiant and audiences can appreciate the connection between them and the way that it influences their musical harmony.
Lawrence and Clare write thoughtful lyrics that tell tales of travels, love, nostalgia and hope. Their musicality and heartfelt, compassionate view of life shines through in each and every original composition. Their genuine stage presence and joyful melodies will have you smiling right from the start and all the way through the encore. Known for their diversity and on-stage charisma, Those Folk are an unforgettable act!
Claire Evelynn
Claire Evelynn is an emerging artist who performs on the Celtic Harp. She has been performing alongside her wife Andrea Kirwin and has played and several Festivals across Australia and New Zealand and is currently working on her debut album. Claire has performed at weddings, Festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival and the Abbey Medieval Festival. her repertoire spans across Celtic Harp pieces, old medieval songs from pre-17th Century and stunning original compositions. She also has learnt a few contemporary covers that you can find on her website. With a gentle nature, Claire's harp playing is tranquil, soothing and a beautiful addition to any classy event big or small.