10 JUNE 2022 | FRIDAY | 8.00PM
EVIL GAL BLUES
“I just want to feel as much as I can. That's what Soul is all about."
- Janis Joplin
"That's what Tina Turner did... she just sang the Blues up tempo and they called it Rock 'n' Roll!"
- Little Richard
I've got men to the left and men to the right,
Men every day and men every night.
I'm an evil gal, don't you bother with me,
I'll empty your pockets and fill you with misery.
Written by Leonard Feather and Lionel Hampton, the song ‘Evil Gal Blues’ was first made famous by Dinah Washington in 1943 and later recorded by the incomparable Aretha Franklin.
This show, EVIL GAL BLUES, is the songbook of the Female Pioneers of Blues & Soul music, performed by two of Australia’s greatest female vocalists LIZA OHLBACK and KATE LUSH together with an all-star band.
You’ll hear great songs originally performed by Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin, Billie Holiday, Mavis Staples, Big Mama Thornton, Sister Rosetta Thorpe, Tina Turner, Bonnie Raitt, Nina Simone and more!
These are the women who shaped Blues, Soul and Gospel Music bringing their incredible talent, passion, grit, determination, sensuality and strength to the stage as they paved the way for all future Roots, Blues Jazz, Funk and Soul artists.
KATE LUSH and LIZA OHLBACK are both huge forces on the Sydney Blues and Soul scene. A Triple Australian Blues Chain award winner and finalist as Australian Blues Artist of the Year, Liza has previously performed at the Sydney Opera House celebrating the music of Billy Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald and has shared stages with the likes of Richard Clapton, Ian Moss and Jon Stevens. She has released four original albums achieving No. 1 on the Australian and U.S. Blues charts.
Kate is also an Australian Blues Chain award winner and won Best Female Artist and Best International Artist at the U.S. IAMA & SAW Awards. She achieved consecutive No. 1 Albums in Australia and the U.S. as well as hitting the European charts. At one stage she sat at No. 11 on the main U.S. Blues & Roots Music Report alongside no less than Norah Jones, Tedeschi Trucks, Taj Mahal, the Rolling Stones and Robert Cray!
Both Kate and Liza have played all over Australia at our major festivals and venues. In this show, their powerful, soulful voices are backed by an amazing band featuring Guitarist/Singer Eric Rasmussen (Doug Williams, First Ladies of Soul), George Bibicos on Keys and Organ (Hucker Brown, Pearl – The Janis Joplin Show) Mick Malouf on Bass (Genevieve Chadwick, Glenn Cardier)and Greg Ohlback on Drums (Julian Lennon, Pearl – The Janis Joplin Show).
Collectively these amazing talents will present a night filled with classic steamy Blues and Soul songs, funky grooves and a heap of stunning Gospel Harmonies.
TILLI KAY
"Tilli's performance in the Final of the most recent Northern Composure Unplugged competition was beyond amazing!"
- Sydney Vocal Arts Centre
Described by many as a teenager with “an old soul”, Tilli Kay delivers a vocal performance beyond her years. The Northern Beaches 17 year old singer / songwriter delights, with rich tones, insightful and introspective original compositions and clever interpretations of classic covers.
Equally comfortable busking on the street or performing on the stage, Tilli’s achievements include First Place - Sydney Junior Singer of the Year 2018, Busking by the Beach 2019, Take the Mic Australia 2019 and most recently Second Place at the highly contested Northern Composure Unplugged 2021 behind The Rions, who were so well received when they played Eastern Lounge last year.
In Tilli’s own words: “I have a passion for performing and I love seeing the happiness that my singing brings to an audience. I have performed on stage with a full live band and separately with a complete orchestra, but have also performed solo, as part of a duet, in small groups and choirs. I really look forward to seeing where my voice may take me.”
She has had great success in Eisteddfods, performed in Pagliacci with Opera Australia for 3 months and has shared the stage with The Voice finalists Prinnie Stevens and Jack Vidgen. (Remember, she’s only just 17!) Inspired by Blues, Jazz and Folk legends, Tilli Kay combines her youthful energy with mature insight as she revels in delighting an appreciative audience.
13 MAY 2022 | FRIDAY | 8.00PM
JOHNNY G & THE E-TYPES
“Johnny G & The E-Types is Sydney's finest and most authentic Soul band!"
- The Basement
"With expert musicianship and plenty of gritty energy, Johnny G & The E-Types create a hard-driving sound, led by the inimitable Hammond Legend, Johnny G. Guaranteed to make you get down and start to sweat."
- The Metro Theatre
"Johnny G & The E-Types' 'Women of Soul Revue' is all Killer, no filler!"
- Eventful.com
You will not want to miss this show, when Johnny G & The E-Types present a celebratory tribute to some of the most powerful Women of Soul to ever grace the stage. This is a supreme band with two of Australia’s very best female Soul Singers out front in Julz Di Sisto and Sarina Jennings.
This stunning show honours some of the greatest female voices ever, from Etta James and Dusty Springfield to Carla Thomas and Mavis Staples. And of course, there’s a special salute to the undeniable Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. (And no woman in this country sings Aretha better than ‘Soul Sista’ Julz Di Sisto!)
Other formidable females whose songs you’ll hear brought to life on this special night include Laura Lee, Linda Lyndell, Jean Knight and Sugar Pie De Santo. The Set List includes Soul classics like Respect, You Make Me Feel Like A Natural Woman, Chain Of Fools, Rock Steady, Say A Little Prayer, Mr Big Stuff, Son Of A Preacher Man, What A Man, I’d Rather Go Blind, Tell Mama, Baby I Love You, I Can’t Stand The Rain, Do Right Man Do Right Woman, I Ain’t Never Loved A Man and more.
The 8-piece Johnny G & The E-Types, driven by Johnny G on Hammond organ and complete with horn section, is Sydney’s premier Soul band. Let me introduce you.
- Johnny (G) Gauci on Hammond and Piano (Ed Kuepper, Leonardo's Bride, Dom Turner)
- ‘Soul Sista # 1’ Julz Di Sisto – lead vocals (Ngariie, David Campbell, The Voice)
- Sarina Jennings – lead vocals (Love is a Rose, The Australian Fleetwood Mac Show, Woodstock Festival Tribute)
- Nick ‘The Colonel’ Meredith on Guitar (Cotton Keyes & Morris, Tim Finn, C, Matt Finish)
- Antero ‘Skinny’ Ceschin on Drums (Continental Blues Party, The Mighty Reapers)
- Emile ‘The Bottom Line’ Nelson on Bass (Delta Goodrem, Christine Anu)
- Murray ‘Satisfaction’ Jackson on Saxophone (Jersey Boys, The Mothership Orchestra)
- Simon ‘Mr Fabulous’ Ferenci on Trumpet (Watussi, King John Cleary)
I promise you, these guys will have you dancing all night like it’s Memphis in 1967!
13 APRIL 2018 | FRIDAY | 7.30PM
V TRIBE
"A highly energetic and enthusiastic band that just
makes you smile."
- Organisers, The Gum Ball Festival
"V Tribe is non-stop Polynesian dance music at its best."
- Proprietor, The River Canyon Restaurant, Parramatta
Filled with energy and a real love for 'Tongan backyard tunes' (as they put it), smooth Reggae & Roots outfit V Tribe has been influenced by the band members’ Polynesian heritage, together with all the great Reggae, Roots, Ska, Dub and Dancehall Masters from Bob Marley onwards.
Performing together since 2005, V Tribe has been trimmed from its original 11-piece line-up of brothers and cousins to a tighter six-piece, full of rhythm, percussion and horns. It still contains four of the Vaivao brothers and two close family friends, considered ‘brothers’ by the others.
The family-based group has come a long way since inception. They’ve supported Julian Marley (son of Bob) at Sydney’s ‘Stir It Up’ Festival… opened for Maxi Priest on his big ‘Easy To Love’ Australian tour… and played The Enmore theatre with Kiwi roots rockers Katchafire (nominated for Best International Band at the British Reggae Music Awards).
The band has also shared stages with Guy Sebastian, Grammy-nominee JBoog, Fiji and Stan Walker.
Though with plenty of wonderful original material in their repertoire, V Tribe also performs covers of songs by heroes such as Bob Marley, Blackstreet and Bruno Mars.
Regardless of origins, you can bet V Tribe will be cooking up some sweet Reggae vibes… and we’re going to party, Island style! So wear your loudest shirt or skirt and we’ll dress the room and provide the coolest cocktails to match the upbeat mood sure to pervade the room.
Don't miss out when ‘The Tribe’ comes to Eastern Lounge, pouring their love and good vibes into Roseville like none other has. If you want to dance, and you want to dance with a smile on your face, come party with V Tribe.
Read more about VTribe at: https://www.facebook.com/VTribeMusic/
LINES OF FLIGHT
“From the first note, Lines of Flight owned the room
and treated us to a delicious musical narrative."
- Calvin Welch, iHear Music @ Lazybones
Since ‘Lines of Flight’ last played Eastern Lounge in 2016, supporting Gypsy Jazzmen Arabesk, (coincidentally ALSO on a Friday the 13th), the band’s fortunes have continued to rise… (lucky for some)!
They’ve since performed alongside the likes of multi-award winning Canadian Folk duo Madison Violet, as well as Folk Alliance Artist of the Year, Monique Clare, Victorian Festival regular Nigel Wearne and all the way from Mauritius, Kool Vibration (who we’ll see here at Eastern Lounge in July). They’ve played at venues across Sydney from Lazybones Lounge in Marrickville to Fairlight Folk, The Music Lounge and Kave Bar on the north side, as well as Festivals from Cessnock to Collaroy.
And they’ve had Chart success too… Lines of Flight has the distinction of having held the No. 1 spot on Reverbnation’s Sydney Folk Chart for no less than 10 months straight! As a result, the Reverbnation team selected two of the band’s songs for curation and their track ‘Oceans Calling’ is featured on a Reverbnation promotional playlist of ‘Top Emerging Folk Artists’ released just this month.
The band’s name describes the creative potential of not just breaking away from the norm but shooting in an unexpected and refreshing direction. This is the approach taken by Brent Keogh (vocals, guitar, mandolin and oud) and Katie Anderson (b/v, flute, Irish whistle, percussion) to their music. The line-up now also includes regular appearances by outstanding guest Tabla player Shaun Premnath who will again be joining Lines of Flight at Eastern Lounge.
With their unique and earthy fusion of Folk, World, Classical, Celtic and Pop influences, Lines of Flight is all class, yet retains a sense of fun within every performance. The band unearths hidden gems among the world’s acoustic sounds, taking us on a sonic journey that is at once familiar, yet completely unpredictable.
Check out Lines of Flight online at: https://www.linesofflight.info/