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Pictured: Stephen Grady, Dan Kelly, Husky Gawenda & Hannah Cameron / Image by Maximum Person

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Following soul-stirring sold-out shows in Melbourne last year, Songs From the Canyon returns for a second year, expanding with two dates across Melbourne and a debut Brisbane show presented by Brisbane Festival.

Featuring an ensemble of talented musicians and vocalists, including Husky Gawenda, Dan Kelly, Charm of Finches, Hannah Cameron, Stephen Grady and Dan Challis, Songs From The Canyon will transport audiences back to the golden age of music, where melodies and stories come together in perfect harmony. The performance will bring to life the sounds of Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and many other influential artists who called Laurel Canyon their home, with songs like ‘California Dreaming’, ‘River’ and ‘God Only Knows’.

Nestled in the Hollywood Hills of LA, the neighbourhood known as Laurel Canyon was home to a rich tapestry of singers and musicians. Songwriters came from everywhere to this little place of hidden hills just five minutes away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. In a time of peace, love and understanding, the counterculture of the Vietnam War, a modern musical village was born. The likes of Neil Young, Carole King and Joni Mitchell played songs for one another with acoustic guitars in all-night jam sessions in each other’s houses, moving from house to house, writing songs, trying out harmonies, forming and reforming themselves into new groups. Songs From The Canyon is a celebration of the songs and the profound cultural influence of this era and serves as a reminder of music’s ability to transcend time.

Of his involvement in the project, Husky Gawenda shares, “The Laurel Canyon was a place, a time, a wellspring of near-perfect songs and golden harmonies that live and breathe today with the same beauty and lucidity as they did fifty years ago.  Every folk singer since the sixties has grown up dreaming of Laurel Canyon, not as a place or a time that’s passed, but as a way to live and make music.  Bringing this to life with Melbourne’s best folk artists is something like the fulfilment of this dream.”

Songs From The Canyon is the vision of artist manager Rick Chazan who first had an inkling for the show 17 years ago after watching one of his artists, Chris Pickering, perform at Brisbane’s Troubadour. At the end of the night, a few artists came together to cover a Crosby, Stills and Nash song. “I’ll never forget it, the whole room collectively dropped their jaws and gasped. Half the room had never heard of CSN. It was a magic moment and I got thinking about how good it would be to hear those harmonies in a beautiful seated venue. Leap forward to Melbourne 2020, lockdown and lots of time on my hands and the idea came up to do a show around this incredible era of music. The show itself isn’t musical theatre, it’s really a gig with some of the best songs of all time. I am so happy with the artists that will come together for the show, they are the best of the best! The premiere shows at Chapel Off Chapel were incredible. We sold out 4 shows in the Covid era, and the response was amazing. After each show, the foyer was packed and buzzing with animated discussions of favourite performances and how much they loved the show. It feels good to be stepping it up a bit this year.” 

Join us as we celebrate the timeless music and unforgettable melodies that continue to resonate with music lovers of all ages. Tickets are on sale now.

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AMNPLIFY – DB