Alejandro Escovedo is touring Australia & New Zealand for the very first time and will play the Thornbury Theatre on Tuesday 12th March. Escovedo is the recipient of the Americana Music Association’s lifetime achievement award, the Austin Music Award’s Townes Van Zandt songwriter award and No Depression magazine’s artist of the decade, the legendary Mexican-American singer-songwriter will tour on back of acclaimed new immigration-themed album “The Crossing”.
Alejandro (pronounced Al-e-han-dro) Escovedo is one of the most acclaimed songwriters of his generation. His songs have been recorded by the likes of Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Ryan Adams, Cowboy Junkies, andCalexico, and he’s shared stages with everyone from Bruce Springsteen to John Prine to REM’s Peter Buck to the Velvet Underground’s John Cale. Legendary Bowie and T.Rex producer Tony Visconti has produced three of his albums. A troubadour-like figure with an ever-expanding clutch of classic and evocative songs, Alejandro Escovedo first came to attention in Australia as a member of Austin-based-based alt-country rock pioneers, Rank & File, whose Slash Records debut Sundown found a home in many Australian record collections in the early ‘80s cowpunk days.
This Friday
On Friday 23rd November the Thornbury Theatre hosts a folk and country triple album launch. Three brand new albums – Gina Jeffreys’ “Unravel”, Rod McCormack’s “Fingerprints”, and a tribute album to one of Nashville’s all time greatest songwriters, “Country Folk Sing Mickey Newbury”. Gina Jeffreys was a four time winner of the Female Vocalist of The Year Gold Guitar at the Australasian Country Music Awards, with a steady stream of gold and platinum albums. Rod McCormack is best known as a record producer and songwriter, with over 400 titles recorded by an array of top artists, and as a multi-instrumentalist he has worked with a host of Australian and international artists including Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Trisha Yearwood and LeAnne Rimes. Gina and Rod are also key players in Country Folk Sing Mickey Newbury, and for this concert celebrating all three albums they will be joined by several other notable singer songwriter who appear on the Newbury tribute including Greg Champion, Khristian Mizzi, Suzette Herft, Peter Daffy and more.
This Saturday
Scarlet Stiletto Awards will be held at the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday 24thNovember. Presented by Kate Atkinson, star of Wentworth and Cate Kennedy, short story guru, in collaboration with crime author and performer Jane Clifton.
This year, 201 short stories written by Australian women compete for $9760 in prize money. The first-prize winner will also take home a spectacular scarlet stiletto trophy. There are 23 shortlisted authors from all over Australia.
Kate Atkinson has a long criminal record – as an actor, that is. This year she received a Logie Award nomination for Most Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Governor Vera Bennett in the Fremantle production of Wentworth.
In honour of the 25th Scarlet Stilettos, Sisters in Crime has befittingly asked Cate Kennedy, winner of the first two Scarlet Stiletto Awards, to give a short talk.
Jane Clifton, author, actress, singer and registered marriage celebrant, is still most famous for her 1980s role as bank robber Margo Gaffney in Prisoner, the show upon which Wentworth is based.
This Sunday
Slow Fades are a new project with an impeccable Australian indie pedigree. Led by songwriter Ben Birchall (Klinger) and multi-instrumentalist Dave Rogers (Ben Lee), Slow Fades is the widescreen sound of four musicians who know each other inside and out, but are still searching for something just over the canyon. Their debut EP ‘Canyon Songs’ uses their well-worn indie rock as a starting point, but has one eye on the bittersweet sound of the 70s rock of Tom Petty, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen. ‘Canyon Songs’ is a debut brimming with confidence. ‘Canyon Songs’ was released independently on November 15, and being launched on the afternoon of Sunday 25th November at the Thornbury Theatre with support from Amarillo and Georgia Fields with John Palmer. A limited edition 10-inch vinyl version will be available at the launch.
On Saturday 8th December we celebrate “Carnivale” A 10 Year Anniversary Extravagnza! Hosted by Bottoms Up Burlesque & Pole School, at the Thornbury Theatre. Bolder and darker than ever this is the Bottoms Up! Dance end of year show to end all shows. We’re throwing back to our first show at the Thornbury in 2008 and making it bigger and better than ever! Join us for this very special evening to celebrate 10 years of Bottoms Up. See acts that laugh in the face of gravity, death-defying sideshow stunts, oditities, rides and burlesque beauties that will steal your heart (and wallet). Join us in celebrating a decade of incredible pole and burlesque! For one night only at the Thornbury Theatre the carnival is here!
Join Jamila Rizvi and Clare Bowditch for an afternoon of honest conversation and song, exploring the subject of female friendships, with another pair of best buddies, comedians Cal Wilson and Claire Hooper. Cal and Claire are some of Australia’s best known and loved funny people. They make us laugh but they also make us look inward, reconsider ourselves and our own absurdities. Together they will make the perfect pre-Christmas treat. Clare, Jamila, Cal and Claire each promise to bring the best of themselves for this hilarious, outrageous, feminist and theatrical event. There will be personal truths laid bare, difficult questions posed and the silliest of provocations offered. Plus, Clare will bring the music with songs to remind us just what it is that makes friendships between women so special. This event is one for the girls. Tea with Jam and Clare will be at The Thornbury Theatre on Sunday December 9, where the seats will be cosy, the tea will be sweet and the room warm and welcoming. There will also be free chai from Calmer Sutra Tea
Musical favourite Ben Abraham returns to the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday December 15th for his annual Christmas show. After another big year Ben Abrahams will return with special guests, LEGO creations and good cheer. The singer has toured with Emmylou Harris, collaborated with Gotye and supported Missy Higgins.
In what is becoming an annual celebration, Claymore are bringing together some of their musical mates for a special evening of entertainment at the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday 22nd December in A Celtic Christmas. Last year Claymore kicked off their inaugural A Celtic Christmas show, anticipating a small get-together. It ended up being a packed house of hundreds. A Celtic Christmas in 2018 looks set to follow suits with fantastic special guests Colin Lillie, Saoirse, the Hawthorn City Pipe Band and the Glenbrae Celtic Dancers. With the addition of the Hawthorn City Pipe Band, it is going to be huge. There will be a small set from each act, with a bit of a super band at the end for everyone to get involved.
Linda Ronstadt is a name familiar with many and one that spans many genres. She is one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time. Linda’s voice and naive sex appeal have sold her in excess of 100 million records globally. She has released over 30 studio albums, is the winner of 11 Grammys, three American Music Awards and one Emmy award. On Saturday 16th February 2019, acclaimed singer/songwriter, Bloom, brings the music of Linda Ronstadt to life with an incredible band featuring some of Australia’s most respected musicians to the Thornbury Theatre’s Velvet Room. Expect to hear tracks that made up the 1979 tour set list including timeless hits as “Blue Bayou”, “When Will I Be Loved”, “It’s So Easy”, “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby”, “That’ll Be The Day”, “Just One Look”, “Back In The U.S.A”, “Poor Poor Pitiful Me” and many more from the Linda Ronstadt Songbook.
One of the great storytellers, Ralph McTell (Streets of London), returns to Australia, playing the Thornbury Theatre on Thursday 1st March with new album ‘Hill of Beans’. With a songwriting style that invites you into a unique world, he weaves a narrative that is both significant and poignant.
Sharon Shannon & Susan O’Neill (aka SON) play the Thornbury Theatre onWednesday 6th March. Multi award-winning accordionist Sharon Shannon has a legendary reputation. She is famous for bringing together a wide variety of musical genres, allowing her to weave her own unique style into the fields of African, Country, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Blues, Jazz, Dance and Classical Sharon is one of Ireland’s best-known musicians, a former member of the Scottish-Irish band The Waterboys and a gifted solo artist. Sharon has worked with many celebrities from the world of music, including world stars such as Bono and Adam of U2, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne and Nigel Kennedy. Also from Co. Clare, Ireland, the prodigiously gifted Susan O’Neill’s soulful & husky-voiced performances are truly something to behold. Using guitar, harmonica, trumpet and a loop pedal, Susan delivers a timeless and powerful blend of the old & new. Her inspirational fusion of soulful Irish folk & her own acclaimed original material makes for an entertaining & enchanting musical experience. Sharon Shannon & Susan O’Neill (aka SON) will also appear at the Port Fairy Folk Festival 2019.
THE THORNBURY THEATRE gig guide:
Fri Nov 23 Triple album launch: Gina Jeffreys and Rod McCormack
Sat Nov 24 Scarlet Stiletto Awards
Sun Nov 25 Slow Fade (Canyon Songs launch) with Amarillo and Georgia Fields
Sat Dec 8 Carnivale: A 10 Year Anniversary Extravagnza! Hosted by Bottoms Up Burlesque & Pole School
Sun Dec 9 Tea With Jam And Clare – with Cal Wilson and Claire Hooper
Sat Dec 15 Ben Abraham’s Christmas Special
Sat Dec 22 A Celtic Christmas
Sat Feb 16 The Linda Ronstadt Songbook
Sat Feb 23 Wendy Rule
Thu Mar 1 Ralph McTell (UK)
Wed Mar 6 Sharon Shannon Band & Susan O’Neill aka SON (IRE)
Tue Mar 12 Alejandro Escovedo (USA)
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