TOUR DATES

Aug 2 – Redland Performing Arts Centre (QLD)

Aug 9 – Senior Citizens Centre Gympie (QLD)

Aug 16 – Araluen Arts Centre, Alice Springs (NT)

Aug 18 – Darwin Fest (NT)

Aug 24 – Tastes of the World Festival, Rockhampton (QLD)

Aug 25 – Yeppoon Town Hall (Concert version) (QLD)

Aug 31 – Blue Mountains Theatre (NSW)

Sept 6 – Bondi Pavilion Theatre (NSW)

Sept 7 – Bondi Pavilion Theatre (NSW)

Sept 8 – Riverside Theatres, Parramatta (NSW)

Sept 14 – Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour (NSW)

Sept 15 – Brunswick Picture House (Concert version) (NSW)

Sept 19 – New England Regional Art Museum (Concert version) (NSW)

Sept 20 – Capitol Theatre, Tamworth (NSW)

Sept 26 – North Australian Festival of Arts (QLD)

Sept 28 – New Annual Festival, Newcastle (NSW)

Oct 3 – The Wedge Performing Arts Centre, Sale (VIC)

Oct 5 – Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds (VIC)

Oct 12 – Stanthorpe Civic Centre (Concert version) (QLD)

This breathtaking show is poised to break boundaries and plunge audiences into an unparalleled fusion of music, history, and culture. MZAZA, celebrated for their mesmerising vocals in three languages, electrifying live music, and innovative collage animation, invites you to embark on an awe-inspiring cosmic voyage to explore what links us to each other and the world around us.

Blurring the boundaries between music and theatre, this production is a testament to the boundless creativity forged by director Benjamin Knapton, Finnish animator Laura Matikainen, the ingenious writer Pauline Maudy, and the visionary designer, Alison Ross who skilfully merge the show’s award-winning soundtrack into a thrilling display of lights, projections, and captivating performance.

James Lees of Brisbane Powerhouse says, “MZAZA’s stunning show, The Birth And Death Of Stars, reminded me of two things – the profound value of music and art to take us out of our daily lives, and also to remember to look UP and away from our screens and pressing demands. Above us is the sky, the stars and the cosmos unfolding in an aeon’s old story that we are just a tiny part of. This beautiful perspective was playfully and elegantly conveyed in the show which combined virtuoso playing, stunning vocals and gorgeously atmospheric visuals and lighting. We are all stardust indeed!”

In each town, MZAZA will conduct free workshops for local musicians and singers of any age and skill level that are a fun introduction to French, Ladino and Balkan music.

Take a leap away from the ordinary and immerse yourself in this feast for the senses conjured by some of Australia’s most uniquely diverse storytellers, musicians, and composers.

Presented by Human Symphony & Nicholas Clark Management, MZAZA: The Birth and Death of Stars is written by Pauline Maudy, directed by Benjamin Knapton, and features a soundtrack by MZAZA

Acknowledgements
This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.
This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.

Date: Fri 1 December
Location: Ipswich Civic Centre, 50 Nicholas St, Ipswich
Workshop time: 6-6:50pm
Concert: 8pm (doors 7:30pm)

Register here for the free singing / instrumental music workshops

World Singing Workshop
Embark on a journey through the poetic world of Sephardic music and join Pauline Maudy and Ricardo Bona for an uplifting vocal workshop aimed at sharing technique and getting you singing quickly.

MZAZA Instrumental Workshop
Join Greta (violin), John (guitar), Goran (double-bass) and Malindi (darabuka) to learn a traditional Sephardic tune with unique rhythms and ornaments. Bring your strummed, bowed, blown or percussive instrument of choice. Learn by ear or with the guitar tabs/sheet music we provide.

Follow this link for more info:
MZAZA_Workshop_Invitation_Ipswich_1 Dec

Workshops are free for MZAZA concert ticket-holders.

Tickets for MZAZA’s show on Fri 1 Dec are available here.

Singers who’d like to learn a French song can join Pauline’s workshop. Anyone who plays guitar, uke, fiddle, harmonica, accordion, brass, wind, percussion, nose flute or any other instrument is welcome to learn some French and Balkan tunes. For more info about the workshops see: <a href=”MZAZA Music Workshops Flyer – Tenterfield 2023”

Register for MZAZA World Singing Workshop – 12:30-1:45pm 15 April

Register for MZAZA World Music Instrumental Workshop – 12:30-1:45pm 15 April

Then in the afternoon MZAZA and Paddy McHugh perform and we invite workshop participants to join us for a song or two if you feel like it. Book your concert tickets here.

These workshops and show are kindly supported by Harrigans Lane Collective.

The Accidental Tour Dates (www.mzaza.com/shows)

Thu 1 September | Home of the Arts, Gold Coast (QLD)

Sun 18 September | Brisbane Festival Art Boat (QLD)

Sat 24 September | Reload Espresso Bar, Salisbury (QLD)

Fri 7 – Sun 9 October | Blue Mountains Music Festival (NSW)

Fri 21 October | MZAZA Music Workshops – (Tenterfield NSW) – POSTPONED TO 14 APRIL 2023

Sat 22 October | Picnic at the Piano Mill, Willsons Downfall (NSW) – POSTPONED TO 15 APRIL 2023

The tour consists of shows that were cancelled during the pandemic, such as the Blue Mountains Music Festival, along with return appearances at some popular venues and festivals for the ensemble’s fans such as Brisbane Festival’s Art Boat, Reload Espresso Bar (Salisbury) and Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast.

In Tenterfield MZAZA have postponed to April due to inclement weather and are facilitating free music workshops – more info and registration here: MZAZA Music Workshops Flyer – Tenterfield 2023This is a tried and tested community program that the group has delivered around the country. Workshops cater for a range of community members and participants will be invited to join the band on stage during the show.

We look forward to seeing some of you very soon and if we haven’t got a show near you yet please feel free to write to us or, even better, recommend to your local festival or theatre that they book us!

MZAZA gratefully acknowledges the support of Harrigans Lane Collective.

After three cancellations over the past two years we finally got to East Gippsland to deliver workshops to fire and flood affected communities. The workshops were incredibly well attended and featured moments of joy, musical connection and we were overjoyed to have many join us on stage for a song. We had a great impromptu jam after our Bruthen show!

Photo Joe Ciemcioch

It wouldn’t have been possible without our wonderful Australian Cultural Fund supporters, the ACF Boost funding and the support of the East Gippsland Shire Council (props to the amazing Andrea!), Stretch from Bruthen Inn, Hilary from Crashendo! and Paula from the Orbost Exhibition Centre.

Some of the best moments of tour are when our workshop participants join us on stage to perform during our show.  Here are the guitarists of East Gippsland performing Ratevka a Macedonian dance tune in 7/8!

The tour finale was our return to the National Folk Festival in Canberra (after 11 year away) as part of a stunningly diverse lineup celebrating all things folk!  As always jamming in the session bar late into the night was a highlight.  Check out the Balkan Dance circle with Malindi, Linsey, Garry.

For a sneak peak behind the scenes of the Into the Ether tour check this quirky collection of Instagram stories.

Then we head to the hills where we play Katoomba’s Blue Mountains Music Festival.  MZAZA performs on Fri 18, Sat 19 and Sun 20 March and catch our very special guest, percussionist Andy Busutil!

Your support is crucial. 2020 has been very hard for artists and many have decided not to release music until they can tour extensively again. Releasing new music is a huge financial investment and the way we sell our work is through touring, which is currently limited. Streaming and digital music sales alone are far from sustainable for artists. By purchasing through this sale and encouraging your friends to do the same you will be ensuring that we can keep making music in the future. Make an additional donation to help support MZAZA here.

To all of you who support us, and those of you who have done so for a long time – we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and look forward to sharing many musical moments with you. In the meantime – enjoy our new album, it was made over two years, recorded in Greece, and is filled with stories to feed your imagination. Read about it here.

Stream Lucifer on your preferred Streaming sites.

Read the Scene Magazine review which quotes Pauline:

“In this song, I explore how something like spirituality can be a positive part of human existence, yet humans have used institutionalised religion as a conduit for division and hurt, for the creation and reinforcement of hierarchies between people of different genders, cultures, sexual orientation, social standing.

“I also explore the idea that people who are protected within hierarchies, institutions or belief systems can be excused from owning their own actions against others.

“These negative consequences are our own creation and I believe that, just as we have the ability to construct systems of oppression, we can create systems that support equality and harmony.”

Stream Lucifer

The song is about how we have the ability to make our human turmoil fade away by remembering the much bigger context we are part of, that we are essentially all made of the same stuff and inextricably connected to everything around us. For me the song captures those moments when something so simple as the sun coming through a window reminds us that we belong, that beauty exists and for an instant… nothing else matters.

Stardust is the first track to be released from our third studio album The Birth and Death of Stars which we recorded at Sierra Studios in Athens with Greek engineer Vangelis Lappas. This tied in very well with the themes of astronomy, philosophy and Greek mythology referenced throughout the album lyrics. Thank you Double J, 3CR and Rhythms Magazine for your support in this first week of release.