Andrea kirwin

"When I heard Andrea I was totally excited to hear such a competent, unique and exciting new songwriter. It is one of the joys of being a musician, traveling the globe and hearing exciting music that I wouldn’t have found at home, yet it is a rare joy. I find there are many competent yet mediocre musicians out there and Andrea was way above anything I had heard for a long long time." - KRISTINA OLSEN


ANDREA KIRWIN / ISLAND SOUL

Andrea Kirwin is an Australian-Fijian Singer-songwriter based on the Sunshine Coast,QLD, who has been performing at Folk Festivals since 2008. Andrea has released 5 independent albums under her record label Peace Run Records since 2013. With a warm stage presence, soulful sound and a knack for storytelling, Andrea creates beautiful songs that are delivered whole heartedly. Whether solo or with her big band, Andrea Kirwin and the Yama-Nui Social Club, Andrea has impressed audiences both in Australia and New Zealand with her heartfelt songs, incredible vocals and engaging shows over the past 15 years. With Influences such as Tracy Chapman, Carole King and Eva Cassidy, Andrea has crafted her own personal style which she describes as 'Island Soul' and her live performances are both entertaining and uplifting and are a joy to experience. With many stories from her multicultural upbringing in Townsville as the daughter of a Fijian Church minister, to living in Fiji in her mother's village of Levukaidaku, Matuku and dropping out of an Arts/Law degree at Australian National University to become a full time touring singer-songwriter, Andrea continues to forge a unique path within the Australian music industry as a self-managed independent artist running her own record label, agency and events company Peace Run Records from her home town of Nambour on the Sunshine Coast.

ANDREA KIRWIN AND THE YAMA-NUI SOCIAL CLUB

 

Andrea Kirwin and the Yama-Nui Social Club is a 13 piece band put together by Andrea for her latest album, 'Bloom'. This mini orchestra featuring some of the Sunshine Coast's most talented musicians has a sound that is reminiscent of the 60s/70s soul bands era of music. This latest evolution of Andrea's original music showcases a depth, richness and maturity in arrangements that is captured in songs such as 'Firenze' (QMusic Award Finalist in the World category) and 'Beautiful Morning' (QMusic Award Finalist in the Folk category). The String arrangements are composed by Sarah King and each member of the band is encouraged to add some of their own magic to the band's live performances. The name - Yama-Nui Social Club is influenced by Andrea's admiration for the Buena Vista Social Club, and captures the community spirit of this band of talented friends who have come together to bring Andrea's stunning songs to their full band potential.

 

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 Iimura and Claire Evelynn on the 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. 

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS SO FAR

 

Booked to attend and showcase at Break Out West Music Conference in Calgary, Canada from 28 September, 2022

National Folk Festival (April 2022)

Current programmer for 'Nambour Forecourt Live' Live music community concerts 2022

Current guest artist programmer for Caloundra Music Festival for 2022

Two songs from 'Bloom' nominated as Finalists for the Folk and World categories in the 2022 Queensland Music Awards

Break Out West Music Conference, Canada --virtual-- (Feb, 2022)

 

Woodford Folk Festival Small Halls Tour of Regional QLD (Nov 2021)

QMusic Panelist for Connect Music Industry series (July-Aug 2021)

Represented Australia as part of the Global Music Match thanks to Sounds Australia (2021)
Emerging Curator role with Creative Arts Alliance and RASN network (2021)
Women in Music Mentorship Mentor for Apra Amcos (2021)
Winner of QMusic Award with Nyssa Ray for Children's song of the year (2021)

Sunshine Sounds Tour with Katie Noonan and Louise King (2020)
Ukulele Intensive Workshop facilitator, Woodford Folk Festival Bushtime (2020)
Opened up Peace Run Records shopfront in Nambour (2020)

Carol Lloyd award finalist (2019)

Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival (2018)
Cole Clark Guitars Endorsement (2017)
Representing multicultural Artists from QLD at Big Sound QLD (2016)
4 songs from 'The Story of Us', highly commended in the Q Music Awards, (2016)

 Regional Arts Development Fund recipient (2015) 

Founded Independent record label Peace Run Records (2009)
Founded the Andi and George Band in 2007, managed and booked tours independently until 2009 and performed at Festivals across Australia including The Dreaming (Woodford), Woodford Folk Festival, Folk Rhythm and Life (VIC) and Womadelaide and many more.


FESTIVALS PERFORMED AT IN 2022

National Folk Festival (ACT)

Offbeat Festival (QLD)

 

FESTIVALS PERFORMED AT IN 2021

Festival of Small Halls, Woodford Folk Festival (QLD)
Caloundra Music Festival (QLD)

Live and Local Festival (QLD)
Regional Flavours Festival (QLD)
Festival of Water (QLD)
Noosa Eat and Drink Festival (QLD)
Melt Queer Festival (QLD)
Sunshine Sounds Festival (QLD)
Sunshine Coast Mardigras (QLD)

FESTIVALS PERFORMED AT IN 2020
Bushtime, Woodford Folk Festival (QLD)
Blooms and Tunes, Brisbane (QLD)
Bushtime, Woodford Folk Festival (QLD)

Toured regional QLD with Katie Noonan and Louise King October-November
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FESTIVALS PERFORMED AT IN 2019
Noosa Food and Wine Festival (QLD)
Horizon Festival (QLD)
Space Girls (QLD)
Brisbane Festival (QLD)
Booin Gari (QLD)
Fibre Arts Festival (QLD)
Pride Festival Sunshine Coast (QLD)
Regional Flavours Festival (QLD)
Pomona Music Festival (QLD)

FESTIVALS PERFORMED AT IN 2018
Artisan Weekend Songwriting Facilitator, Woodford Folk Festival (QLD)
Noosa Food and Wine Festival (QLD)
Noosa Festival of Water (QLD)
Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival (NZ)
Brisbane Festival (QLD)
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FESTIVALS PERFORMED AT IN 2017
National Multicultural Festival (ACT)
Fairbridge Folk Festival (WA)
Wintermoon (QLD)
Palm Creek Folk Festival (QLD)
Echuca Winterblues Festival (VIC)
Sunshine Coast International Readers and Writers Festival (QLD)
Horizon Festival - Dawn awakening (QLD)
Caloundra Music Festival (QLD) *With Thump and Bearfoot
Island Vibe Festival (QLD)