Live music back in the Cross
The dwindling live music scene in Sydney is undergoing a revival with a Kings Cross restaurant hosting funky yet mellow jazz sessions every Sunday.
Music director at Concrete Blonde, Warren Fahey has welcomed contemporary jazz masters to the venue and will feature Melbourne-raised Jeff Duff on July 8. The famed musician has toured the nation’s jazz festivals and released 25 albums during his four-decade career. His latest is a collaboration with members of British band Deep Purple.
The program director also took the spotlight himself last weekend, as part of the Warren Farey’s Australian Bush Orchestra. Others who have passed through include Conscious Pilots, Jacki Cooper Jazz and Mackenzie & Pacey Have Soul.
Mr Fahey is known for his musical label Larrikin Records, established in 1974, and the retail outlet Folkways Music. He is a musical jack-of-all-trades devoting his life to broadcasting for the ABC, writing, and being one of the most pre-eminent experts on bush ballads and Australian folklore.
His latest project will support local music amid an atmosphere that has become both unwelcoming and disappointing for some music lovers in Sydney. He is focused on promoting adult music in a sophisticated venue to entice an older crowd back into the district which has become dominated by drunken chaos and ‘doof doof’ beats.
“Frankly, I think we ran out of steam because the venues were policed heavily. Really, we’ve had to overcome a despondent attitude to live music because venues have put in a lot of ‘doof doof’ DJs … when they’re dealing with one person, it’s cheaper,” Mr Fahey said.
There is no doubt that for those wanting to go out and have a cultural and stimulating experience the options are limited, and things are looking worse lately with the last remaining venues such as the Basement up for sale or closing down.
Mr Fahey thinks it has a lot to do with authorities making it too difficult for those trying to support these kinds of venues as opposed to dance clubs: “There’s no doubt that venues have been over-policed by the local council, because it’s a case of a few bad apples spoil the whole lot … and it has more of an effect on the small venues.”
“I’m trying to provide some intelligent live music, that means with words, that we can connect to,” he says. People can expect an adventurous haven with bands playing anything from jazz, Latin, blues, flamenco, world and classical music.
Mr Fahey envisions Concrete Blonde bringing in intelligent and culturally aware music aficionados of all ages.
“I’m not age-ist, young people will come if the music is interesting. The bands we have play are basically young, one was all Conservatorium students, and they played soft rap with a jazz influence … That’s what I’m after. That’s why I say expect the unexpected. I want it to be unpredictable,” he said.
By Marilyn Hetreles
