A Taste of Italy in Mudgee Nov 15
Di Lusso Estate, one of Australia’s most picturesque wineries, hosted a sold-out evening of Italian food, wine and music featuring Mara! and Martenitsa Choir's flagship workTra Parole e Silenzio. This musical composition is the culmination of a project that began more than ten years ago, when Sydney based musicians Mara and Llew Kiek were introduced to the poems of Italian civil rights lawyer and poet, the late Eduardo Di Giovanni, by his son.
Di Giovanni wrote poems at a time of civil unrest in Italy after the end of World War II. His poems capture themes of love, loss and homeland. Mara and Llew collaborated with musicians Paul Cutlan, Andrew Robson and Steve Elphick, to produce a lush composite of songs and interludes, woven into an evocative suite that takes listeners on a journey of the heart that is ‘between words and silence’.
Mara! at the Bathurst Hub November 14
Mara! performed at Bathurst's hippest/cafe/restaurant for a sold out dinner/show concert. With a great menu, the Hub has become renowned in Bathurst as an excellent concert venue. The owners ran the SIMA venue at the Side-On cafe in Annandale for many years before moving to Bathurst. The Hub was a winner in the NSW Best Regional Restaurant awards 2012.
Mara! Western NSW region MVIS tour November
Mara! travelled the Newell Highway and surrounds for Musica Viva In Schools for nearly 3 weeks in November, visiting Wellington, Mudgee, Geurie, Dubbo, Orange, Blayney, Bathurst, Cooerwul, Quandialla, Forbes, Millthorpe, Middleton, Parkes, Trunkey, Coonabarrabran and Bunningyong, some towns several times!
Mara! at The Sound Lounge, Seymour Centre November 1
Mara! presented their acclaimed world/jazz/folk fusion for the Sydney Improvised Music Association in the Seymour Centre's intimate Sound Lounge, which is one of Sydney's premier jazz clubs.
Mara! and Martenitsa: Sezoni at Riverside Theatres Parramatta September 14
To celebrate their 30th Anniversary, the Mara! Ensemble presented a concert of some of their finest original Eastern European inspired Australian world/jazz music, with special guests, the Martenitsa choir. The programme honoured the life of the late Bulgarian/Australian poet Stefan Kozuharov, who was instrumental in the creation of their flagship work Sezoni. This ground-breaking suite has been performed around Australia, released by Real World Records, nominated for an ARIA award and synchronised with Legs on the Wall’s famous aerial spectacular Homeland which has been seen around the globe. The concert also featured two newer works by one of Australia’s brightest young composers, Laura Bishop, in which she set Stefan’s heartfelt poetry to music for Martenitsa and the Mara! band and included the world premiere of her stunningly beautiful and challenging Razdyala.
Coffs Harbour Conservatorium Mara! June 10
This special event at the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium of Music was part of Musica Viva's countrywide touring program.
Mara! presented a concert in the evening, and a workshop for students during the day.
Mara! Northern MVIS tour June 2014
Mara! traveled to the Northern areas of New South Wales for a packed tour of schools in June.
Regular Mara! members Sandy Evans, Paul Cutlan, and Llew and Mara Kiek were also joined by the wonderful bassist Brendan Clarke for this trip, presenting Mara!'s acclaimed performance for primary and secondary schools.
Delmar Gallery Mara! May 15
The Delmar Gallery program describes the event:
Fronted by the crystalline and powerful voice of Mara Kiek, Mara! melds modern jazz, Middle Eastern, Balkan and Mediterranean traditions in thrilling and flawless performances. The band line-up reads as a who’s who of Australian jazz and world music, with the five members notching up multi ARIA wins as improvisers and composers. Mara! has carved out an enviable reputation in the Australian music scene over three decades – their virtuosity is breathtaking!
Mara! and Martenitsa Big Dance at Club Five Dock May 10
The fabulous Martenitsa Choir and Mara! band presented a night of amazing East European dance with dance-meister Gary Dawson.
Humming Birds MVIS Riverina May
Humming Birds featuring Jarnie Birmingham, Lisa Spence, Kate Swadling and Mara Kiek toured the Riverina for 2 weeks for Musica Viva in Schools during May - from Griffith, through Wagga Wagga, and from Mulwala to Albury. The Humming Birds wowed audiences from kindergarten to senior high school with their charm, wit and amazing vocal talents.
Springwood Music Club Mara! Trio April 6
This has to be one of our favourite gigs!The Springwood Music Club runs several events a year, and we were delighted to be part of their program in April.
Fresh from a triumph at the Cygnet Folk Festival, Mara. Llew and Paul presented a program of traditional, original and early musics for the club.
Valentines Day Concert Blue Mountains
Music Hunter Projects celebrated Valentine's Day with a sold out concert of beautiful music from around the globe at the Blue Mountains Cultural Centre Katoomba, featuring Llew and Mara Kiek, Kim Cunio, Heather Lee, Vicki Hansen and Ron Ragel.
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