2019 and 2020 in review
Kim Sanders Book Launch
The much awaited launch of the magnificent new book containing scores, arrangements, biography and photos of the great World Music innovator Kim Sanders was held at Camelot Lounge on Sunday October 27 2019. The book was put together by Kim's long-time partner Linda Dawson. Mara Kiek worked with her to produce scores of a wide variety of Kim's tunes and arrangements. For more info
Mara! celebrate their 35th anniversary
Joined by Martenitsa Choir and Silvia Entcheva on Sunday 24 November 2019, Mara! took a look back at their extraordinary musical journey over the past three and a half decades.With Camelot Lounge packed to the rafters the band and choir played up a storm that lasted nearly 3 hours. Special guests included kaval player Ivo Karamanliev, and long-term collaborator bassist Steve Elphick.
Mara tours with Perth ensemble Eastwinds
In late May 2019 , Mara performed with Perth based Eastwinds ensemble for their inaugural Musica Viva In Schools tour of schools in Melbourne's metropolitan region. She replaced Eastwinds singer Kristiina Maalpas, who was in Estonia having her new baby boy (Congratulations Kristiina!) Eastwinds also features Yoshitaka Saegusa on didgeridoo, Esfandiar Shahmir on daf and ney, and Mark Cain on reed instruments.
Mara! at the Sydney Folk Festival 2019
Festival director Warren Fahey invited Mara! to open this auspicious event - the first folk festival in Sydney in many years, and the first to be titled Sydney Folk Festival- with a concert in Pitt St Uniting Church on Friday August 16. (pic: Mara, Llew, Sandy, Lloyd and Paul)
Mara and Llew last played Pitt St Uniting in 1986 when the Mara! band included Jim Denley, Mike Haughton and Danny Thompson.
Love’s Caprice
With a Valentines Day theme, Mara! returned to the Foundry on February 16 with 2 sets of love songs drawn from the Mara! songbook. There were performances of several pieces not aired for some years, with the sets drawing on Persian, Hungarian, English, Portuguese, Sephardic, Italian, Bulgarian, Turkish and French songs.
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