Monthly Live Music

WHEN: 4th Friday of the month. Bar from 5pm. Music from 5:30 – 7:30pm

WHERE: The Lodge, Tuggeranong Arts Centre

NEXT EVENT: Friday 26 May featuring Bella Groove

COST: Entry by donation

Bella Groove

Blending funky jazz and upbeat grooves, Bella Groove creates a fun and relaxed vibe. With over 30 years’ experience performing in Australia and USA, Elise Walsh (Vocalist//Flautist) now calls Canberra home. She was a recipient of a Canberra Critic’s Circle Music Award in 2017, for leadership as a vocalist, flautist, and songwriter. Her original music reflects her eclectic appreciation of many styles and years of experience.

For the gig at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Elise has assembled a band of fine musicians, who will perform a range of music from her groovy originals to some all-time favourites!

Toby Hall (drums) is a highly regarded Australian drummer, featuring on over 30 Australian CDs. He works with many of Australia’s finest jazz and contemporary musicians, including Alister Spence, Sandy Evans, James Greening, Dale Barlow, Mike Nock, Lloyd Swanton, Dorian Mode and Vince Jones.

Matt Lustri (guitarist/vocals) is a sought-after live and recording artist. He has toured throughout Australia with various bands, performed internationally in Malaysia and Singapore, and featured on over 20 albums and at many notable festivals.

Chris Pound (bass) studied Music at the ANU. He has performed with a diverse range of artists from Australia and abroad, spanning a wide range of musical disciplines. His strong fundamental sound and feel have rendered him in high demand upon his return to the Australian Jazz scene.

Recent performances:

TWO BLONDES + A BLOKE

Canberra’s very own ‘TWO BLONDES + A BLOKE’ present their entertaining show of iconic hits stirred with jazz, blues and pizzazz.

Featuring the formidable talents of Blues mama Gaye Reid, songstress Lisa McClelland with pianoman extraordinaire John Black, their distinctive vocal stylings bring to life their own take on popular songs that have contributed to “The Soundtrack of Our Lives”.

Endearing audiences with their performance, get set to enjoy a thoroughly entertaining show of soul stirring songs, beautiful harmonies, piano mastery and cheeky fun.

These seasoned entertainers have known each other personally and professionally for 30 years. They have performed in many combos including the Marvellous Miz Demeanours and the BlackSchu Band, in musicals, cabaret shows and at jazz and blues festivals across Australia, plus on international stages from China to Samoa to Europe.

Rachael and Friends – Friday 24 March

Versatile vocalist, Rachael Thoms will be joined by two of Canberra’s most sought-after musicians, guitarist Lachlan Coventry, and bassist Chris Pound to present a program of beautiful songs spanning time and the wonderfully rich tapestry that is ‘jazz’. Old meets new, vocal meets instrumental, American meets European, and Frédéric Chopin meets Wayne Shorter in what promises to be a diverse and enchanting showcase of moving and meaningful music, interpreted in unique and transformative ways by three of your favourite Canberra jazz musicians. 

Rachael Thoms (voice): A graduate of the ANU School of Music with degrees in jazz and classical vocal performance, Rachael is one of a new breed of uniquely versatile vocalists.

She is the recipient of multiple awards and scholarships and has performed in many of Australia’s cultural institutions. She is currently completing her PhD, researching jazz vocal pedagogy and improvisation at the Australian National University School of Music where she is a lecturer and voice teacher.

Lachlan Coventry (guitar): Regularly seen playing gigs in and around Canberra, wielding a guitar or bass, Lachlan’s versatility, creative freedom, and technical mastery is widely known. His creative projects as a freelance musician span jazz, folk, rock and country music. A graduate of the ANU School of Music, Lachlan is now on staff as a guitar tutor and a PhD researcher.

Chris Pound (double bass): Bassist Chris Pound hails from Canberra where he studied Music at the ANU. He has performed with a diverse range of artists from Australia and abroad, spanning a wide range of musical disciplines. His strong fundamental sound and feel have rendered him in high demand upon his return to the Australian Jazz scene.

The Leisa Keen Trio – 3 February

The Leisa Keen Trio is one of Canberra’s busiest and most popular jazz combos, performing a smooth blend of well known jazz tunes, and pop tunes with their own “jazz treatment” of “Postmodern Jukebox” styled arrangements. Equally at home playing Rock’N’Roll, Soul and Disco, this diverse outfit consists of piano/vocals, drums and a horns. In constant demand for weddings and parties, Leisa also brings 25 years of musical theatre and cabaret experience to the trio, adapting it to suit both cabaret and corporate events. Expect an evening of good fun, groovey tunes and a touch of improvisation that will take you to a place beyond the mundane. You’ll be surprised, challenged, invigorated, stimulated and all together inspired.

Leisa Keen – piano and vocals.

John Mackey – Sax

Steve Richards – drums

Pachamama – 24 February

This month, Lakeside at 5 invites you to celebrate Latin American style with Pachamama. Pachamama, meaning Mother Earth in Quechua, is a Canberra quintet of accomplished musicians who all sing with a shared love of Latin American popular folk music. . They will inspire you with music both familiar and strange, speaking of love, longing and the fragile earth. The band includes: Cicilia Kemezys on flutes & melodica, Jorge Bontes on guitar & vocals, Marisol Pacheco on charango & percussion & vocals, Tony Hunter on mandolin & bouzouki and Mathew Armstong on bass. Their music weaves the textures, colours and cultural richness of South America with 4 part vocal harmonies and a colourful platter of exotic folk instruments: the charango, tres, guitar, flute, zampona, mandolin, bouzouki and percussion.