In the Round - where each musician shares a song in turn, and talks a bit about the story behind song and their inspirations. It's a magical evening of sharing with four amazing song writers

Here are the musicians -

MATT CAL

WA award winning musician, Matt Cal, describes music as like breathing, something he has always known yet remains a mystery…At 46 he has been writing songs for over 30 years.

Matt presents groovy song writing and guitar sounds with an engaging story telling nature. The music flows with an ease and confidence that draws you into his whimsical world of folk/ blues and roots crafting lyrics of truth, fable and fiction to accompany his acoustic guitars and band.

At his heart Matt is a story teller thru song crafting lyrics of truth, fable and fiction to accompany his acoustic guitar along with special guests on Didgeridoo, Sax and Bass during the evening

Original songs with acoustic guitar, dobro slide guitar, Cigar box blues guitar, stomp box, live looping and storytelling combine for a thoughtful, unique musical experience that’ll have your ears, hearts and souls warm and toasty

SABRINA IVES - an interview with Tim

I met Sabrina Ives when she was performing at a winery in the hills outside Perth. I was immediately struck by her beautiful singing voice and her charmingly cheerful bubbly chatter. The way her singsong voice slipped seamlessly from story to song and back again left me feeling that I had been invited into her world and wafted under a warm blanket with a cup of coco. So I’m really excited to be able to host her in this upcoming concert.

Listening to her I assumed that Sabrina was Irish. She is actually Australian but, coming from Northern Irish parents, she grew up in a chaotic and rowdy (and Irish lilting) household which prepared her for the rambunctious students that she now teaches music to at TAFE when she is not writing or performing.

Interestingly Sabrina herself struggled as a student. She told me that as a child she used music as a way of understanding the patterns and structures of maths and also helped her to deal with anxiety and being a bit hyperactive. Her mum used to play classical music throughout the house to help chill her out. Sabrina credits this immersion in music with helping her get into WAPPA (Left school after finishing year 11) where she studied for 5 years. She says that music continues to be pivotal in her life, giving voice to her stories and emotions and helping find clarity and calm in a busy and overstimulating world.

Sabrina tells me that her musical journey has been a series of doors slamming shut and then windows bursting open. Earlier this year she had the exciting opportunity to open for Boy and Bear. (I didn’t actually know who they were so I looked them up and apparently, they’re pretty famous). I guess this is good for me (and you peeps) because it means we get to see her perform up close. Despite this snakes and ladders career she is incredibly enthusiastic and positive and I am really looking forward to hearing her lyrical songs and having a chat over a cup of tea.

JESSICA DEPIAZZI (from Littlefair)

For Jess from Littlefair, music has always been a constant in her life. Whether that be writing songs in her bedroom with her sister Kira, playing Sunday sessions together in pubs as teenagers (their parents drank the rider), moonlighting as a wedding singer, or busking for a living on the streets of Perth after moving out at 18, she’s done it all. Of why she keeps coming back to performing, Jess reckons it’s all about the feeling; ‘when I’m singing, I feel completely at peace and like I’m where I’m meant to be.’

But the dream was always to have a band- ‘a proper rock band’ as she puts it. It took being fired, a pandemic, and some liquid courage to approach a group of musos at The Aardvark in Freo on a night out, and ask if anyone wanted to take a chance on starting a band with her. And thus Littlefair was born. Now a 5-piece, and despite playing together for a number of years, Littlefair feels like it is just getting into its stride. They took out the Emerging Artist Award at Nannup Music Festival earlier this year, and are currently using the prize winnings to record their debut EP. Of the band, Jess says ‘I feel like moving to Perth really helped me find my people, and the band is definitely emblematic of that. They’re my closest friends (and family members) and I just love them.’

At our upcoming show Jess is going back to her roots to play us an intimate solo set. With a mix of songs- new, old, some never before played in public- it is sure to be special.

TIM DARBY

Tim Darby writes and performs original songs that fall somewhere in the folk/roots/blues genre. His lyrically driven songs invite the audience to join him in the sometimes humorous, sometimes serious, always thought-provoking journey of life. These stories are accompanied by a sound track picked and strummed on banjo, ukulele and guitar and dulcimer. His openness and honesty connect with the audience while the variation of styles and themes keep the performances engaging and listeners wanting more. When not performing solo gigs Tim funks it up with String and Bone or croons with Alfalfa Males. Quirky, funny, heartfelt and always interesting he will leave you with happy ears, a warm feeling in your belly and catchy earworms rolling around in your brain long after the performance echoes fade away. A prolific song writer Tim’s songs have been shortlisted for both WAMI and ASA Song Writers’ Competitions.