Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Thursday 24 April
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
All of our lives have soundtracks. We cherish certain songs that have meant something to us in our lives, lyrics that have helped us through tough times and inspired us to do better, or think differently. Similarly, everyone has a shortlist of seminal books, or short stories, or poems that have made a difference to them – pieces of writing that have formed who they are.
Who do our favourite writers listen to? What do the musicians we admire love to read? In the first of a brand new ongoing series, legendary cartoonist and cultural treasure Michael Leunig, and much-loved singer songwriter Katie Noonan discuss their inspirations. Michael will highlight two pieces of music that have inspired his writing and illustrations, while Katie tells us about two pieces of writing that have helped shape her musical direction. We eavesdrop on their exchange of treasures, and the conversation that ensues.
This event is hosted by Genevieve Lacey, at The Substation in Newport.
Featuring
Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig has been drawing and writing for Australian newspapers since 1965. He was born in Melbourne and now lives on a farm in north-eastern Victoria. His work has been widely published overseas and has been adapted in Australia for television, theatre and radio.
Leunig’s many books include The Penguin Leunig, Ramming the Shears, Everyday Devils and Angels, Short Notes from the Long History of Happiness, Why Dogs Sniff Each Other’s Tails, Goatperson and Other Tales, The Curly Pyjama Letters and Strange Creature and The Lot.
Katie Noonan
Katie Noonan’s technical mastery and pure voice makes her one of Australia’s most versatile and beloved vocalists.
A mother, singer, producer, songwriter, pianist and business woman, this 4 x ARIA Award winning and 7 x platinum selling songstress first received widespread praise as the angel-voiced songstress of indie-pop band George and has since taken audiences on sublime excursions through jazz, pop and classical music.
Her various releases include her folk trio’s self titled album Elixir, the top-selling classical album Two of a Kind with her mother Maggie, her gold-selling top ten solo album Skin and the acclaimed Songs of the Southern Skies. She has also worked with the country’s top orchestras including her fruitful collaborations with Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Noonan’s affinity with jazz shone through on the ARIA award-winning album, Before Time Could Change Us. Recorded with revered pianist Paul Grabowsky, it captured the breathtaking beauty and emotion that characterises her work. In Noonan’s 2009 ARIA winning release Blackbird, she collaborated with an historic ensemble of iconic jazz players including Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, Lewis Nash and John Scofield.
With her band The Captains (Cameron Deyell, Stu Hunter and Declan Kelly) Katie’s 2010 release Emperor’s Box saw the songstress sail towards a lush and organic band sound, with her trademark strong and inspired personal stories.
Genevieve Lacey
Genevieve Lacey is a recorder virtuoso, serial collaborator and artistic director, with a significant recording catalogue and a career as an international soloist. She creates large-scale collaborative works across radio, film, dance, theatre and public art, and has premiered scores of works, written for her.
She’s represented Australia as a cultural ambassador at the Lindau International Convention of Nobel Laureates, played for the Queen in Westminster Abbey, performed as a concerto soloist in the BBC Proms, in prisons and communities in remote Australia, and at the opening night of the London Jazz Festival.
Genevieve is Chair of the Australian Music Centre, Artistic Director of FutureMakers, artistic advisor for UKARIA and Melbourne Recital Centre’s 2018 Artist in Residence.