By Callum Ludwig
Velveteen Productions are bringing Byron Bay to East Warburton with a Small Hall Gypsy Cabaret at the East Warburton Public Hall on Saturday 28 May, 6.30pm to 11pm.
Andrew Darling and Szara Fox lived and performed in a number of small local halls in Byron Bay previously, with Mr Darling part of a popular band called Fatter Than Nusrat in the early 2000s.
Mr Darling said the pair wanted to see if they could bring down hall gig culture and help it kick off in the Yarra Valley.
“Back then we’d put up some posters and get 350 to 400 people crammed into the hall, dancing like there was no tomorrow,” he said.
“That culture up there was just an incredible scene that united and knitted together the community, and it was something we could do on our own terms.”
The event will be headlined by The Royal High Jinx who recently headlined the Healesville Music Festival as well as Ms Fox and Mr darling’s own gypsy fire-folk band Szara Fox and the Midnight Secrets, spoken word poet and internationally-renowned Ted-Talker Fleassy Malay. The Dinkum Bohos, Saoirse Clover Bellydance and a cabaret fire show from Torryn Draper will also be on show.
Violinist and vocalist of The Royal High Jinks Sarah Palmer said the event will be a party to the end.
“We come out at the very end I think and hopefully we’ll get everybody smiling, grooving, dancing, singing, cheering, just being happy to be alive and celebrating music again,” she said.
“When Andrew contacted us, we were so super excited to be able to be part of this event because small halls really are where a lot of magic happens. Just before the pandemic, we were at the very end of a small hall tour.”
The Royal High Jinks is a four-person act, performing Eastern-Balkan Gypsy Jazz music dressed in suits and corsets and fascinators. They have released three albums, and have toured festivals throughout Europe, and will be performing many songs from their latest album Murder Motel.
The event is supported by Yarra Ranges Council’s Art Attack Program, which targeted bing events following the ease of Covid-19 restrictions to areas of the Shire getting less traffic for art and performance events, laying the foundations for the use of the “beautiful” East Warburton Public Hall at 410 Woods Point Rd, East Warburton.
Mr Darling and Ms Fox hope the event will be a great opportunity for the community and artists alike.
“We just want a blazingly amazing performance night, all of the performances hit sixes every time. We want to bring the community together, there’s a sense of not just having a good night, but a real celebration of the community itself,” said Mr Darling.
“One of the things that I really enjoy is bringing creative people together so they can start collaborating, their energy grows from just only their performance or art but to bring it together into a whole unit, which becomes an even bigger, better experience and greater enjoyment of the collective energy,” said Ms Fox.
Mr Darling and Ms Fox have a broad vision of boosting local performance opportunities in the Yarra Ranges, with hopes of similar regular events, Ms Fox hoping to start up a fortnightly formal dance night in Healesville and the pair have spoken to YAVA about potential spoken poetry nights or singer-songwriter folk club events.
The event will be catered by Holy Cow Chai from Healesville, who will be providing food and their range of chai teas. It is an alcohol-free event.
Tickets are $11.64 and can be booked at smallhallgig.eventbrite.com.au
