Heroes @ The Melba Spiegeltent
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Heroes @ The Melba Spiegeltent

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As a part of Melbourne’s Leaps & Bounds festival, Heroes was a one night only show that saw five of Melbourne’s independent singers and songwriters take to the stage and sing two songs by kickarse women that have inspired them to create their own music. 

 

The show was the brainchild of Anna Jacobs, who received so much praise from acts during the show that her attempts to inconspicuously blend in failed dismally.

 

Filled with anecdotes, love, and vulnerability, the show was incredibly uplifting, and an utter joy to witness.
Leaps & Bounds is all about community, with many of the performers stating how much they love playing in rooms like this. And since that room is the Melba Spiegeltent, who could blame them. The wooden walls of the circus tent creates an intimate, cosy atmosphere felt by everyone in attendance.

 

The first of the five women who graced the stage was soul singer Stella Angelico. With her wide smile and Amy Winehouse vibes, she gave a beautifully vulnerable performance of Winehouse’s Wake Up Alone, before launching her powerful voice into a rendition of Ani DiFranco’s Pretty Girl.

 

Next was Jemma Rowlands, of Jemma and the Clifton Hillbillies, who dedicated Strange by Patsy Cline to her grandma, who had introduced Rowlands to Cline’s records during her childhood in Broadmeadows. Next was Irma Thomas Take a Look, with Rowland’s silky smooth voice echoing throughout the tent gracefully.
Emily Ulman walked onto the stage in a sequinned jacket and disco pants, asking for the footy scores, delivering the night’s biggest sing-a-long with the Patti Smith Group’s Because the Night, with everyone from a group of elderly women dancing in the front row.

 

Ella Thompson honoured her singing teacher Renee Geyer, who had instructed her to scream for warm ups to ‘get that rasp’, by singing the Melbourne legend’s Stares and Whispers. This was then followed with a sexy rendition of Etta James’ Fool That I Am.

 

Emma Donovan was a fitting final act, with strength in her voice that was awe inducing for everyone present. Showing off her incredible voice with the Aretha Franklin version of Change is Gonna Come, her interaction with the talented house band and mesmerising stage presence closed the show in a way that had me dancing my way out.

 

WORDS BY CLAIRE VARLEY

IMAGE BY TONY PROUDFOOT

 

Loved: The rocking girl power vibes and sense of community.

Hated: Walking around the very back of the tent into another building to find the bathroom.

Drank: Champagne.