Stiff Gins, Anna Smyrk & Zailya

Stiff Gins
Stiff Gins, comprised of Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman Kaleena Briggs and Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson, stand as Australia's longest currently performing all-Indigenous female group. With a rich history of music spanning over two decades, Stiff Gins share their love for music, culture, and language with audiences worldwide. Recognised for their outstanding contributions, they continue to evolve creatively, with Kaleena and Nardi actively involved in nurturing upcoming First Nations musicians. Their musical journey reflects a blend of cultural depth and artistic growth, paving the way for impactful connections in the music industry globally. Their live show combines stunning harmonies and wicked senses humour to transport listeners to a world of joy, spirit and song. Three albums and countless breathtaking shows later, the name has become synonymous with musical excellence. As they approach their 25th anniversary, they soar into their most intriguing music-making yet with a new album in development which they are releasing and touring in 2025. This will be an album launch show at Avoca Beach Theatre.

Anna Smyrk
With a voice described as ‘truly astonishing’ by Rolling Stone, Anna Smyrk is a powerful singer and songwriter from Australia. Her songs are indie-pop bombshells, pairing vulnerable lyrics with explosive arrangements and undeniable hooks. 2024 has already been a huge year for Anna, with highlights including official showcases at SXSW (Austin, Texas) and touring the US for the first time as well as her second European tour. Anna’s recent EP was recorded in Nashville with award-winning producers Jake Finch and Collin Pastore (boygenius, Lucy Dacus). The record explores themes of fight or flight, the push and pull of relationships. She’s toured widely around Australia and Europe, supporting artists like Birds of Tokyo and Tim Rogers and performing at festivals such as Port Fairy and Woodford. Described by Backseat Mafia UK as “a significant songwriter with an exceptional voice,” Anna Smyrk is a formidable artist on the rise. She is also in the studio currently recording her debut album which she will release and tour in 2025.

Zailya
Zailya is an Australian/Swiss/Congolese singer-songwriter, producing music with a mix of Pop, Soul, RnB and Folk influences. Zailya’s influences include Ed Sheeran, Jessie Reyez, Dennis Lloyd and Amy Winehouse. These solo artists and their distinct sounds have contributed to Zailya’s songwriting style. Moving from Switzerland to Australia at the age of 8, Zailya combined her native French with Australian English. This cultural diversity is evident in the unique quality to her singing voice and sound. Zailya’s love of music and performance, combined with the ability to compose original melodies and lyrics provides Zailya a natural outlet for her emotional experiences. Zailya’s musical talents continue to evolve resulting in an impressive range of original songs to be released throughout 2025.