Sydney
State Theatre- Fri 19 Jul 7:30 pm
Hear stunning performances of all their biggest hits including Carole King’s seminal album TAPESTRY, early collaborations with Gerry Goffin such as Up on the Roof and from the James Taylor catalogue Fire and Rain, How Sweet it is (to be loved by you), Carolina in my Mind and Shower the People to name just a few.
An unforgettable night of music and nostalgia.
Deborah Conway has been a musician for over 40 years. Innovator, motivator, role model, facilitator & entrepreneur, Conway is fearless in her risk taking, has pushed & pulled existing boundaries & has always argued her cause with integrity & intelligence to pursue the highest standards of whatever is in her sights. For the last 3 decades Willy Zygier, musician, songwriter & composer, has been her primary collaborator.
Aside from releasing a dozen studio albums and playing countless live shows, Conway has been a producer, festival director, actor and now a published author.
In 2020 Conway received Member (AM) of the Order Of Australia and Australia Council’s Don Banks Award given for outstanding contribution to music. In 2022 Conway was inducted into Music Victoria’s Hall Of Fame.
Conway’s 2023 memoir, Book of Life, has inspired an accompanying stage show, Songs From the Book of Life, currently touring nationally.
There is something sublimely distinctive about Deborah Conway. It is her voice, her songwriting, her attitude. It is a challenge to find any musical work Conway has been involved with that isn’t simply magnificent.
Darren Coggan is one of Australia’s most exciting and diverse artists, a masterful storyteller with a knack of weaving fascinating and perceptive tales through his songs.
Darren’s professional career kicked off in 1995 when he won the inaugural Trans-Tasman Entertainer Of The Year on Norfolk Island. He then went on to take out the prestigious Toyota Star Maker Quest in 1996, charting a course as a successful recording artist within the Australian Country Music Industry.
In January 2001 Darren was awarded his first Golden Guitar at the Toyota Country Music Awards of Australia. In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Darren was awarded the Centenary Medal – “For Services to Australian Society” in 2003. This same year, he released his second album, Balancing Act, for which he was awarded Australian Independent Male Vocalist of the Year. 2008 saw Darren release his fourth album, War Stories, a moving salute to the ANZACS for which he was awarded his second Golden Guitar.
Darren has been equally as comfortable in musicals and on screen having toured Australia extensively playing roles including Richie Cunningham in Happy Days the Arena Mega Musical 1999, Teen Angel and Vince Fontaine in Grease – The Mega Musical 2001-2002, Col Joye in Shout – the musical of the Wild One 2003, understudied John Farnham as Teen Angel in Grease – The Arena Spectacular 2005 and the lead role of Dad in the world premiere production of John Williamson’s musical Quambatook, 2008. Darren’s on-screen credits include hosting Foxtel’s Out & About – The Great Aussie Pub Tour, the award-winning Channel 7 drama All Saints 2001/2004/2005 and currently as a presenter on Sydney Weekender for Network 7.
Darren’s critically acclaimed production, Peace Train – The Cat Stevens Story, has inspired audiences in the most prestigious theatres around the world, including sell out seasons at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. In September 2017, Darren performed ‘Peace Train’ to standing ovations across the United Kingdom on 18 of the world’s grandest stages, including the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic & Manchester Bridgewater Hall.
Darren was awarded ‘Male Artist Of The Year’ for consecutive years at the Australian Celtic Music Awards in 2016 & 2017 and dominated the 2017 Australian Independent Country Music Awards taking home three coveted awards; ‘Single Of The Year’, ‘Male Vocalist Of The Year’ and the big one, ‘Album Of The Year’ for his album, ‘The Wide Horizon’.
In 2019 Darren returned to his country roots ‘Like A Rhinestone Cowboy’, delivering the vocal authenticity and guitar prowess of the great Glen Campbell for which he was awarded ‘Album Of The Year’ & ‘Male Vocalist Of The Year’ at the 2019 Australian Independent Country Music Awards.
In 2020, Darren teamed up with Damien Leith (winner of Australian Idol) to record an acoustic album of Lennon & McCartney treasures titled ‘Two Of Us’ through Ambition/Sony music and continues to tour this show across Australia.
Most recently, Darren has been starring in ‘Classic Country Gold’ a symphonic spectacular that celebrates four of the greatest country music performers of all time, backed by a symphony orchestra.
What is so impressive about Coggan is that he is able to channel authenticity and excellence at the same time. His mellifluous vocals are intoxicating. (Alex First, Australian Arts & Entertainment theblurb.com.au)
James Black was born in Adelaide and moved to Melbourne in the late 70s to play keyboards and guitar with Russell Morris and Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons. He was a founding member of Mondo Rock and enjoyed success in Australia with three hit albums. In 1982, James went to LA to mix their second album, ‘Nuovo Mondo’. In the mid 80s, he left the group and spent two years touring the world and recording with Men at Work. He became a founding member of GANGgajang and toured the West Coast of the US and recorded two albums with them.
In the late 80s, James returned to Melbourne to gain a degree in Economics and Philosophy at Melbourne University. During this period hecontinued to record with The Black Sorrows, playing on all their albums and producing ‘Beat Club’ in 1998. In the mid 90s, James produced and managed Things of Stone and Wood and took them to Canada, the UK and Europe. He was nominated for a second ARIA as Producer of the Year.
James was musical director for Deborah Conway’s annual BROAD festival and produced two of her albums. He performed on keyboards with Gurrumul and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera house and toured around Australia with the band. During all these periods, James has been involved in playing, writing and producing albums, film soundtracks, various artist recording sessions, commercials and corporate music tracks.
For 12 years James donned a white hat and became known as the musical director and music producer for the SBS TV show, Rockwiz and its spinoff live shows.
James also mentors young performers, delivering a course he wrote on the music business for the Monash University Music Degree. He regularly performs and tours with The Black Sorrows, Things of Stone and Wood and the Moonee Valley Drifters.
Dave Williams is one of Australia’s most accomplished musicians and in-demand drummers.
As a founding member of Melbourne five-piece, Augie March, Williams has established himself as a critically acclaimed musician, as well as a nationally-renowned drummer, singer, instrumentalist for hire and educator.
He’s recorded and performed with a raft of iconic Australian acts, including Chris Cheney, Laura Jean, Luluc, Josh Pyke, Dan Kelly, Mia Dyson, Jen Cloher, Liz Stringer, Bob Evans, Paul Dempsey and Australian rock royalty Deborah Conway and Paul Kelly.
Steven Veale is a Melbourne-based session musician and songwriter. In his 20 plus years he has written, recorded and toured with artists such as Dan Sultan, Bertie Blackman, Lior and as principal songwriter for his own project The Hello Morning.
He has performed at Splendour in the Grass, Meredith Music Festival, The Big Day Out, Golden Plains, Byron Bluesfest as well as Americana Fest in Nashville and the World Expo in Shanghai, China.
He currently tours regularly with Wilsn, Watty Thompson, James Ellis & The Jealous Guys and Freya Josephine Hollick.
I remember clutching my fistful of single dollar bills and walking down to the village record store to buy Carole King’s record. It is the first album I bought with my own money. I listened intently, I knew every word, every melody & counter melody, every piano lick. It was a sensational album & 53 years later it has stood the test of time with effortless grace.