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

 

Recent Festival performances in 2025 include Cygnet Folk Festival, Illawarra Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Blue Mountains Folk Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival and Cairns Festival.

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Current programmer for Island Vibe Music and Arts Camp Out on Noosa Northshore from 21 - 23 November.

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Currently organising and managing Australian Folk Festival tours for international artists from the regions of Canada, USA, UK and Ireland since 2023 through Peace Run Records and Agency.

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Has been part of the programming team at Woodford Folk Festival, Rockhampton River Fest and Caloundra Music Festival and has curated events for Sunshine Coast Council.

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Wrote and performed the Closing Ceremony song 'When A Village Dreams' for Woodford Folk Festival 2023/24.

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

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Founded Independent Record Label, Peace Run Records, in 2009. Self released 5 independent albums.

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