Robbie Melville’s Secret Trio
Robbie Melville’s Secret Trio is the latest project from the guitarist and composer, winner of the Instrumental Category of the 2018 International Song Competition. Featuring Sophie Dunn on violin and viola and accordionist Phil Mcleod, the trio explore a juxtaposition of heavily structured arrangements with free spirited extemporisation, informed in equal measure by contemporary jazz and Norwegian folk, the sparse and playful writings of Richard Brautigan, the photography of Viktor Kolář, the film soundtracks of Mark Orton.
Saturday 5th April – Tempo Rubarto
Noria Letts Presents: The Songs of Édith Piaf
“Absolutely authentic… A voice like Cognac.” – Hannie Rayson, The Age.
Acclaimed French chanteuse Noria Letts brings the timeless songs of Édith Piaf back to the stage, taking audiences from the gritty streets of Paris to the nightclubs of the Champs-Élysées and Broadway.
With a rich and powerful voice, Noria breathes new life into Piaf’s classics, including Non, je ne regrette rien, La Vie en Rose, Hymne à l’amour, and Sous le ciel de Paris, along with rare gems from the Piaf songbook.
Interwoven with poignant narration, the show captures the triumphs and tragedies of Piaf’s extraordinary life. Noria has performed extensively across France, NYC, and Canada and was recently honored to sing La Marseillaise at Marvel Stadium before the Matildas-France football international.
“An absolutely unforgettable evening… Noria gave all her heart and soul!” – Forever French, Eastside FM 89.7, Sydney.
Saturday 5th of April – Foundry 616, 616 Harris Street Ultimo, NSW
Accordion Workshops with Sofia Chapman
Transylvanian Music Camp 12–16 April, Heathcote, Sydney.
In this music camp Sofia passes on techniques and tunes learnt directly from
folk and Roma musicians in Eastern Europe, as well as tips and tricks gleaned
and devised over 30 years of accordion playing. In Transylvania, Sofia learnt
from Berki Béla in Méra amongst others, and will be focussing on accompaniment
styles, harmonic variations, form and the role of the accordion in this region.
Sofia Chapman trained as a classical pianist until discovering and running away with the piano accordion in 1993. In 1998 she joined the band VARDOS and has made seven study trips to Eastern Europe with Alana Hunt as well as performing internationally and appearing in film and television. Sofia also writes and composes for theatre and film and her compositions are published through Wirripang.
Sofia has given workshops at the Illawarra, National and Port Fairy Folk Festivals as well as Turramurra Music Camp and the Balkans and Beyond music camp at Queenscliff 2023.
Music Camp 12–16 April, Heathcote, Sydney
Bach in the Dark – Playing for Parkinson’s Fundraiser
Cellist Rachel Scott will be joined by David Pereira (on cello), Anthony Schulz (on accordion), Damien Ryan from ‘Sport For Jove’ (spoken word), Rosie Gallagher (on flute) and Duo Agostino (on classical guitar) for a fundraising concert.
A ‘ticket’ to the concert is by donation – pay what you would like to give. Every cent of it will go to Shake It Up Australia – an organisation that accelerates research in Parkinson’s Disease and acts as an advocate and information service about it. No one is being paid tonight, apart from Shake It Up!
Ticket sales will close at 4.30pm on the day of the concert. The stream will also stay accessible for a week after the concert, so if you have plans on this particular night, you can always watch it a few days afterwards.
The live stream will be broadcast on the YouTube platform. You will need a link to access the stream – this link will be emailed to all ticket purchasers 2 hours before the event. If you have not received the link by 6.30pm (Sydney time) on the day of the concert, please email bachinthedark@gmail.com so it can be sent to you directly.
For the best listening experience, it is recommended that you listen to the stream through headphones or external speakers. It’s best to check your setup before the concert by playing another video from YouTube. Bear in mind that video and audio quality may vary depending on your internet connection, network congestion, and other elements outside our control.
7pm – Saturday April 12 Live Stream Tickets
Accordion Society of Australia
The Accordion Society of Australia is a thriving not-for-profit organisation that embraces the diversity of accordion music. Our mission is to provide a supportive network which nurtures a vibrant community of players, performers, and music lovers and to promote the accordion’s cultural, artistic and contemporary significance. Together, we aim to inspire, educate, and share the joy of accordion music in Australia and beyond.
