Ryland Moranz (Canada) w/ Andrea Kirwin & Claire Evelynn & Those Folk - Point Lookout Community Hall

Peace Run Records presents a triple-headline folk/americana/soul concert coming to Point Lookout Community Hall on Sunday 3 November featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Ryland Moranz, Australian/Fijian singer-songwriter Andrea Kirwin & Celtic Harpist Claire Evelynn and American/Australian husband and wife duo Those Folk (Clare Quinn and Lawrence Menard). With doors opening at 2.30pm for a 3pm picnic matinee show, this 3 hour show will be akin to a mini folk festival with each act performing their original songs and telling stories from their own unique musical journeys plus a few acoustic covers for good measure. Tickets are $35 + booking fee and please pack a picnic to enjoy while you listen to the beautiful sounds of guitars, cigar box guitar, celtic harp, accordion, mandolin, harmonicas, banjos and vocal harmonies. There will be an all in finale which you are encouraged to join in with and we look forward to seeing you all on Sunday 3 November for this very special touring show featuring 3 great acts! Read more about the individual performing acts below;

RYLAND MORANZ (Alberta, Canada)

Since his last Australian tour in 2023, Canadian Singer-songwriter and clawhammer banjo afficionado Ryland Moranz has been busying himself with recording his 3rd album, Better/Worse, which he has recently released his first single, 'When I'm Gone', and official video for which you can view below. Ryland's enthralling live shows featuring vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica and mandolin wax and wane between stories and songs which feature his poignant lyricism influenced by his favourite literary giants like Kurt Vonnegut and Ernest Hemingway. His original songs are compositional templates determined by Townes Van Zandt, John Prine, or Blaze Foley, whose tragic demise is recalled in Ryland's song, 'There Ain’t New Songs', which, like the ragtime-style 'Run Rabbit Run', is one of many sublime highlights featured on Ryland’s beautiful January 2021 sophomore release, XO, 1945. You can expect a more steeped and refined offering in Ryland's upcoming album soon to be released later this year. His solo shows are punctuated with quick wit and even quicker banjo picking and filled with humorous renderings of tales and songs based on true and imagined narratives. This all makes for a highly entertaining live show whether you are a fan of the banjo or yet to be convinced of it's beguiling sound, don't miss Ryland while he is visiting Straddie and performing with Andrea, Claire, Lawrence and Clare of Those Folk.

Andrea Kirwin & Claire Evelynn

'Unique' is often a word that is used to summarise a new sound, something unfamiliar and completely it's own. This is the sound of Andrea Kirwin and Claire Evelynn's duo show merging Andrea's rich folk/soul originals performed on guitar, cigar box guitar, harmonica and stunning vocals with the depth and beauty of the Celtic Harp played by her wife Claire Evelynn. Having performed on the Australian Festival circuit for almost 20 years, Andrea's talent as a songwriter shines through her melody driven style where she weaves together lyrics and notes in her own signature laid back way. Raised on Gospel and discovering hip hop, rnb and soul in high school, Andrea found folk music while studying Arts/Law in Canberra and picked up a guitar at age 21 and started writing in her then duo Andi and George. Back in 2008 the duo had expanded into a sometimes 17 piece party band which performed at Woodford Folk Festival, Dreaming Festival, Folk Rhythm and Life and had their final band show at Womadelaide. Almost 20 years later and 5 official independly produced albums under Peace Run Records, Andrea has again amassed a 13+ piece band which she presents at larger Festivals but continues to tour as a Folk duo with her wife Claire to Festivals across Australia and New Zealand. Recently they've performed at Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival in NZ, Maleny Music Festival and are booked to perform at Cygnet Folk Festival, Illawara Folk Festival and Port Fairy in 2025. Their Spring/Summer tour runs alongside Ryland's tour and they will be travelling together. Andrea discovered Ryland at Break Out West Music Conference in Calgary back in 2022 when she was invited to see 50 artists showcase. Having witnessed Ryland's engaging and highly entertaining live performance first hand, Andrea knew she had to bring him out for his debut tour in 2023. Now a year later, Ryland has a brand new album and is embarking on his second independent Australian tour with Peace Run Records, an artist run initiative with the aim to bring great live music concerts to predominantly regional small halls very much inspired by the Woodford Folk Festivals Small Halls concert series. Andrea and Claire certainly will add some ethereal energy to the event and have also been collaborating with the third performing act, Those Folk on the Sunshine Coast and are excited to be bringing them on tour for select shows with Ryland!

THOSE FOLK

One of Australia's rising talents on the Folk Festival circuit is an enchanting duo known as Those Folk. Truly authentic, naturally charismatic and delightfully entertaining, Lawrence Menard (USA) and Clare Quinn (AUS) are the transpacific troubadours that are fast gaining a following of lovers of their well crafted and beautifully performed originals. With Lawrence’s Cajun beginnings and Californian upbringing melding with Clare’s grounding in Australian folk music, their musical inspiration is diverse and ever expanding. Their worlds collided on the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland in 2012 and the pair have been an inseparable duo ever since. 

Their intimate stage show is constantly evolving with the introduction of new instruments. Vocal harmonies are featured alongside guitar, mandolin, banjo, accordion, harmonica, and percussion. Clare has an effervescence that is contagious and her vocal range is extraordinary. Lawrence is a talented multi-instrumentalist, with an intuitive musical ear. Lawrence and Clare have an on-stage chemistry that is radiant and audiences can appreciate the connection between them and the way that it influences their musical harmony. 

Lawrence and Clare write thoughtful lyrics that tell tales of travels, love, nostalgia and hope. Their musicality and heartfelt, compassionate view of life shines through in each and every original composition. Their genuine stage presence and joyful melodies will have you smiling right from the start and all the way through the encore. Known for their diversity and on-stage charisma, Those Folk are an unforgettable act! 

Their career highlights include independent touring of intimate concert venues around the US as well as performances at the Woodford Folk Festival, The Gympie Music Muster and Caloundra Music Festival. In 2022 Those Folk performed to a full house at the prestigious historic venue, Brisbane City Hall. 2023 saw Those Folk kick off the year performing a coveted tour of theatres and town halls of South East Queensland.  

Lawrence & Clare have been compared to the likes of Simon & Garfunkel, Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings, and Johnny & June. Those Folk make not just folk music, but music for all sorts of folk. Having released their latest album this year, Lawrence and Clare have really honed their sound and it's a joy to witness them live in concert. They will be closing out the concert on Sunday 3 November with Andrea, Claire and Ryland joining for the last song.

Thankyou for checking out this event, we are independent artists and as such are self funded. We would love if you could help us spread the word about this concert and encourage one or two extra people to join you. As our Festival industry is currently struggling we hope to offer a more intimate music experience and we are committed to bringing live music to regional towns. Thankyou for your support and we look forward to serenading you on Sunday 3 November!

As always, if you would love to come but can't afford the ticket, we always need a couple of volunteers to help set up/pack down. Please reach out to us if you would be able to assist with either. We'd love to have you at the concert. As always, our events are family friendly and all ages. We are looking forward to connecting with your community and cannot wait to see old friends and make some new ones!

Andrea Kirwin - Artist and Director at Peace Run Records