The Northern Rivers Conservatorium (The Con), in association with Musica Viva Australia, is pleased to present a special event in its Concert Room on Friday 28 April – Women of Song.
This innovative new show developed by the acclaimed Jessie Lloyd of Mission Songs Project includes themes of intergenerational practices, singing on, and from, Country, commitment to community, and preserving knowledge in song. It’s an intimate celebration of the ‘here and now’ of Indigenous culture, a rare mix of spontaneous conversation and songs exploring the modern-day practice and living heart of the world’s oldest living culture.
As creative producer, Jessie Lloyd brings together the artists for each tour, uniquely shaping the performance to the location: some will be well-known, others are exciting new talent.
Women of Song is an amazing opportunity to experience First Nations cultural practices in music from the women who practise them: this culture exists in contemporary music, and these First Nations women are leading it.
The audience listens in as three First Nations singers and a moderator have a conversation. Someone’s story may remind someone else of a song, or a favourite popular song might start a discussion among them all. Each conversation and each performance will be unique, as the women explore live-on-stage how their songs preserve the social, cultural, and environmental shifts of a community, deepening connections to Country, genealogy, and custom.
Hailing from a musical family, Jessie’s father, Joe Geia, is a pioneer of Aboriginal protest songs and composed the Aboriginal anthem ‘Yil Lull’. A composer, performer and creative entrepreneur, Jessie is a committed song-keeper of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music, dedicated to the continuation of song traditions through these presentations.
Jessie has travelled Australia consulting with elders, collaborating with peers and nurturing Indigenous songs that reflect a 21st century Indigenous narrative.
Additionally, the artists welcome the opportunity to attend a meet and greet with the elders of the local community. During this activity, the artists will be performing some of the songs from the show.
The Northern Rivers Conservatorium will continue to offer free tickets to flood-affected members of our community through 2023. The Con has many more fantastic events lined up in the Concert Room and other venues in Lismore. Stay tuned!
Women of Song – The Northern Rivers Conservatorium Concert Room, on Friday 28 April at 7pm. Tickets womenofsong.eventbrite.com.au.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
