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visit the new cloudstreet website for the latest Contact cloudstreet | The Folk Rag | 7th Dimension Music |
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Cloudstreet
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Cloudstreet touring the UK in 2003-2004 !! If you would like to know what Cloudstreet got up to in 2001- 2002, read on !! For up-to-date information, news, cd's available and more, please visit the new cloudstreet website.
"…a
delightful duo who not only inspire one another but put an indelible
smile on the faces of their audiences. Strong harmonies, side-splitting
stories and ballads brought to life in a way we hadn't seen before.
Heartily recommended."
With their warmth, talent and loving stage presence, Cloudstreet makes their audience feel that they are the privileged viewers of something very special. A collaboration between John Thompson, and Nicole Murray, Cloudstreet began performing at Australian festivals in 2000 and has rapidly gained a following around the country as one of the most exciting new acts on the Australian folk scene. Their material is drawn mainly from the Irish, English and Australian traditions, sung acapella or enhanced by instrumentation of guitars, flutes, whistles and percussion. Fascinated by ballads, Nicole and John captivate audiences with their interpretations of story-songs of kings, goats, witches, cross-dressing serving men and true love, reviving the soap operas of a former age! Keeping an ancient storytelling tradition alive, they remind us that love, betrayal, deceit, loss and laughter are universal aspects of the human story. Their work includes new interpretations of traditional songs and tunes, original music and silly banter, and despite the tragic story-lines of many of the songs, their act is uplifting, joyous and very funny. As Cloudstreet have taken their ballads to folk festivals and concerts around the country, they have surprised and delighted audiences with their tales of magic and wonder. In 2002, they have played at the National Folk Festival (A.C.T), Chewton Folk Festival (Vic) and been invited back to Woodford Folk Festival, Wintermoon Festival, Yag’ubi Multicultural Festival, and Major's Creek Music Festival, as well as launching their latest CD and supporting the Wrigley Sisters at the Powerhouse in Brisbane.
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Well known on the Queensland folk scene for her gorgeous voice and passionate performances, Nicole is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has worked with many Queensland bands,ranging from the exacting combination of vocal and instrumental music which is Cloudstreet, to pantomime and celtic concerts with Baldrick and the Cunning Plans, acapella harmonies with The Pirate Brides, The Gritty Pearls and Drunk on the Moon, and irish pub rock with Rockin’ Molly and Hot Toddy, amongst many others. She adores harmony singing but can usually be stolen away by a good trad tunes session. She has run a festival choir in Townsville, taught a group of over-50s to play tin whistle (for which they gave her rave reviews), and participated in a Bulgarian choir for the Brisbane Festival. She plays flute, tin whistle and guitar, and writes songs and flute tunes.
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Famous for his beautiful tenor voice and inventive harmony singing, John developed a love of harmony singing and unaccompanied vocals during his time in St. Stephen’s Boys’ Choir in Brisbane, and is a singer of some renown, with a strong and unique vocal style. Winner of the inaugural Lis Johnston award for vocal excellence at the National Folk Festival, he developed his reputation with tight harmony groups No Right Turn and One Step Forward in Brisbane. Much loved at festivals around Australia for his witty part in comedy duo Never the Twain, John has also taken roles in the Queensland Folk Federation’s production of Boadicea: a Celtic Folk Opera, and a cabaret production, The Cappuccino Cowgirl. In recent years he has performed as a solo artist at the National and Woodford Folk Festivals, and has proved himself to be a devastating debater at Woodford’s hugely popular folk debate. John’s remarkable vocal range provides some enthralling listening in Cloudstreet’s arrangements.
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"Violet Sarah and Muckle John" Our brand new cd is available now!! It was given the launch of a thousand lemons at the National Folk Festival at Easter (it all started in fun, just a bit of juggling, how do you spell melee?) and is creating great excitement, specially with us! 1. Violet Sarah |
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"Swallow the Concertina" Our popular first release is still available. It created a stir and received great reviews - read the review in the December 2000 Folk Rag. 1. King Willy |
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Violet Sarah and Muckle John was launched in Brisbane at The Winery, Davies Park, West End on 29 June. The fab support act was Brisbane trio "Ragged", featuring Jenny Fitzgibbon, Jevan Cole and Jan van Dijk, and it was a treat for all lovers of trad and ballads and dress-ups. If you'd like to see some pretty pictures of the launch, including one of the Best Dressed Jester, just follow this link and click on the Violet Sarah and Muckle John folder. How can I get one delivered to my door? Send a cheque or money order made out to Nicole Murray, for AUS$25 (including postage and handling) to PO Box 5921, West End, Qld, 4101. Please tell us which cd title you would like. We will promptly post your order to you if you mark your return address clearly. If you come and see us face to face, we'll sell you one for only $20!
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The Folk Rag, December/ January edition Have we got a good Christmas present for you!!!! Among the latest Folk album releases for the Christmas market is Cloudstreet's Debut album, Swallow the Concertina, (not so named because they hate concertinas but from their set of tunes The Swallow's Tail and the Concertina Reel).Cloudstreet have a good explanation for their name in the cover notes, which I think is very appropriate, I'll let you find out for yourselves when you get your hands on their CD. Cloudstreet is Nicole Murray and John Thompson, good performers in their own right but together they are superb. Vocally they are well matched and musically their arrangements are magical. A good example is the opening track King Willy,(version of Child Ballad no. 6 Willie's Lady - original 44 verses) a brilliant mix of flute and whistle in a mediaeval style harmony which lends to the authenticity and enjoyment of this long traditional ballad. Five of the twelve pieces on this album are traditional, three are their own original songs and tunes written in traditional style. There is some very impressive whistle and flute playing and great harmony singing. They have added nothing on the CD which cannot be duplicated in a live performance. Among my other favourite tracks are a version of Child Ballad no. 10 The Twa Sisters and Annan Waters for their harmonies (both quite different) and John's original The Green Man, a very powerful song with a great chorus, really deserving to be sung in the midst of a large singing session so that we all can join in with the multitude of harmonies which are available. The album production is clean and uncluttered and the treatment of the material is well thought out and just downright good. All this is bound up in a very attractive cover, designed by Nicole herself with the photography, recording and mix by Matthew Moline. Not to detract from the above review I must admit that Cloudstreet is even better live. Their energy and dynamism and sheer joy of performing together before an audience is an added factor which I feel cannot be adequately conveyed on a mere audio CD - perhaps a video would be the answer? Or better still for an extra fee they could perform for you live in your lounge room, according to an informed source!!
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OUR NEXT GIGS... stay tuned......
Where we've been this year... Music at the Creek, Major's Creek, New
South Wales, 14-17 November Where we went in 2001... How can you get in touch with us?
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Contact cloudstreet | The Folk Rag | 7th Dimension Music
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