Shark & Fox, an irresistible Canadian-Australian post-folk group, together with the ever captivating We Mavericks, are bringing the most riotous folk festival spirit to The Music Lounge. From Appalachia to Sweden and Ireland to India, this evening’s musical palate shall be vast and truly the most sonically delicious.
Shark & Fox are Emily-Rose Sarkova (AUS) and Jaron Freeman-Fox (CAN), debuting their newest collaboration with a tour of Australia. Expect frenetic Bulgarian dances, haunting Appalachian twangs, droning Irish reels, Swedish polskas and original songs that speak into existence the ephemeral mysteries of life, all effortlessly yet meticulously woven together by the vast shared history of the fiddle and accordion as musical companions. These award winning musicians shape-shift between traditions, occasionally to the point that the instruments themselves transform; a fiddle to viol d’amore or fretless guitar, an accordion to modular synthesiser, all driven by the infectious clatter, thunder and swish of a drum that serves as both a trampoline for the imagination, as well morse code from the brain to the body. In this performance they will be joined by Rose Callaghan on percussion.
We Mavericks are musical twins and mavericks besides, they’re folk that resembles everything else. Originally from the NSW Riverina and NZ respectively, Lindsay Martin’s masterful strings and vocal meets songstress Victoria Vigenser’s magnificent voice and driving rhythms in a connection which births uniquely gritty, evocative songs that echo their love for Americana and Celtic traditional music.
Their original collaboration has been making a bold mark on both sides of the Tasman after only a couple of years performing – a steep and fast rise to Australasian festivals and shows has seen the duo selected as a showcase artist for Folk Alliance International, twice nominated “Te Kaipuoro Taketake Toa | Best Folk Artist” in the Aotearoa (New Zealand) Music Awards, twice nominated “Best Contemporary Duo/Group/Ensemble” in the Australian Folk Music Awards and recipients of Australia’s Troubadour Foundation Award.