Front cover Emily Maguire performing with Christian Dunham on bass.
S
UPLIFTING SPRING HINTERLAND MUSIC TOUR
inger-songwriter Emily Maguire pictured above used to make goats cheese in the Obi Obi valley before being plucked from obscurity to perform on the biggest stages in Europe as the opening act for American legends Don McLean and Dr Hook and Eric Bibb. Originally from the UK, Emily first came to Australia for a short holiday in 2003, fell in love with old friend Christian Dunham, a bass player and producer, and made her first two albums in a forest near Conondale. Determined to remain independent of the music business, Emily and Christian set up their own record label Shaktu Records, financing it by taking over the family goats cheese business. Best known for her thought-provoking lyrics and hauntingly beautiful voice, Emily's songs have been widely played on ABC radio stations, with the title track of her second album 'Keep Walking' playlisted on national ABC Radio. With a remarkable, inspiring story to tell, she has also been featured many times in playlists and interviews on UK national radio.
D
FESTIVAL OF WATER TO MAKE A SPLASH
ive into the Noosa Festival of Water on Sunday 13 June at the Noosa Botanical Gardens, Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy, give us your feedback about the Festival, and be in the running to win a two night getaway in an eco-luxe Yurt at the Noosa Eco Retreat, set in the heart of Noosa’s iconic hinterland. The retreat is the perfect place to exchange the concrete of the city for grass beneath your feet! Festival visitors also have a chance to win an eco-hamper from the Noosa Landcare Hinterhub, and a copy of the Queensland Museums’ Wildlife of Greater Brisbane. Organised by the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC), the festival features an array of talented Sunshine Coast musicians, incl. Emily Maguire and local favourite Andrea Kirwin. Festival crowds will be serenaded from 10am to 3pm in the glorious Amphitheatre, overlooking the serene lake waters. • Celebrating the diversity of life in and around our waterways, the festival will be full of information and displays from community groups and organisations including Seqwater who will have representatives on hand to provide information about the dam wall reconstruction at Lake Macdonald in 2022. • Little ones will also be able to enjoy the Creative Kids marquee, face painting by the whimsical Teeny Weeny Faeries, a jumping castle and wildlife displays.
The Mary Valley Voice
Now with six albums and three books to her name and after 12 years away in the UK, she has returned with Christian to the Obi Obi valley to record her seventh album. Described as “exhilarating and transformational” (RnR Magazine), Emily's songs have the power to uplift, comfort and inspire in equal measure. She is usually defined as a contemporary folk artist, her acoustic style of music influenced both by her classical training as a cellist and pianist and by Christian's background in jazz and blues. • After completing their recording schedule, Emily and Christian are touring the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in September with renowned string players Sarah and Louise King at Eudlo Hall (11 September), Maleny Community Centre (18 September) and The Majestic Theatre, Pomona (25 September). Tickets for these shows will go on sale in July. For more information, please visit www.emilymaguire.com • Emily will also play at Noosa Festival of Water (13 June), Crystal Waters Music Club (Sat. night 26 June) and The BUg - Brisbane Unplugged Folk/Acoustic Night, New Farm (Tues. night 29 June). • The Friends of the Botanic Gardens will be offering a tour of the gardens in the morning, providing information about their history, species planted, the work that they do to support the Botanic Gardens curator and staff and will also be showcasing the new shade garden. As well as the tour, the Friends will also be busy selling plants from their propagation house at the gardens. • Identify waterbugs with MRCCC staff in the community groups marquee, or bring your creek, dam or bore water samples to be tested for agricultural and horticultural suitability. • Noosa & District Landcare will be giving away free trees to Noosa residents who bring along a current rates notice. • The Noosa Integrated Catchment Association will be selling botanical books and merchandise and the Freshwater Fish Stocking Association of Queensland will have live native and pest fish displays. • A selection of food and drink vendors will be there to quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger, including the Tewantin Noosa Lions, Dhoms Kitchen, Whippy Sunshine Coast, Coffee and a Cookie and Woodfire pizza. The Noosa Festival of Water is a free event supported by Noosa Council, Seqwater and by the staff at the Noosa Botanic Gardens, Noosa Landcare and hundreds of volunteers dedicated to caring for our natural environment. For more information, call the MRCCC on 07 5482 4766, email mackenzi.finger@mrccc.org.au and visit us on Facebook for festival updates. 9 JUNE 2021 |
3
