Women Weaving Stories with Song: featuring Maryen Cairns

Maryen Cairns
Singer - Songwriter - Performance Artist

Maryen Cairns has been releasing music as an independent Artist since 1991, but in many ways had 25 years off to raise her 4 children… although she did not stop creating music during those years, there were just longer gaps between releases, and less time to do all that needed to be done…

Recently returned to Australia and actively finding her feet again at home on Springbrook Mountain, with 4 children grown and 3 husbands gone, and having spent half her life on different continents, she is starting to crack open the chrysalis along with her heart, and find a new path forward.

A Scottish born Australian, Maryen is a performance artist - pivoting on a cajón between a guitar, piano & percussion, telling stories from the truth of her own life, of strong women and of hope for the future, with solo stripped back arrangements creating a primal and beautiful sonic backdrop.

Much of her work has been woman focused… she wrote an album & book "Femina Australis" telling the stories of 12 significant Australian women, and before that "Stories from the Red Tent" was a concept album based around a group of women talking… Maryen has written autobiographically and has been entrusted with the stories of others.

Mentored by Rolling Stone's producer Chris Kimsey; released 7 critically acclaimed solo studio albums and 2 live albums; toured 18,000 km through remote Australian communities with her family band; toured the UK solo in 2023, 2024 & 2025… where to from here?

"Here we have an artist pushing more traditional folk styles into a whole new ambient realm, an acoustic player who is as much about the spaces as the notes, but too a musician who relays her narratives like the troubadours of old."

Dancing About Architecture 2024

www.maryencairns.com

Women Weaving Stories with Song is a monthly series from Womenspace Sandgate, held on the third Sunday of each month. Each month a different woman takes the stage to share her story and her craft.

Sunday 18 October 2026
11 Second Ave, Sandgate
Doors open 2:30pm for a 3pm start
Performances finish 4pm... stay on for refreshments
Tickets are $15
Only 35 tickets available
Light refreshments, coffee and tea included

Part of proceeds go directly to the artist. The remainder supports Womenspace's ongoing work with women in our community.

This event is open to all genders.

Contact the host of Women Weaving Stories with Song - Maryen Cairns