New Concert Series at Adelaide Festival Centre Brings Music @ The Maj

Adelaide Festival Centre is welcoming more audiences back to Her Majesty's Theatre with today's announcement of a new concert series - Music @ The Maj.

Tickets are now on sale for four stunning shows beginning with The Cowgirl & The Showgirl Ride Again, a thrilling evening of songs from renowned cabaret performer Libby O'Donovan and country music icon Beccy Cole.

As a sequel to their acclaimed 2014 Adelaide Cabaret Festival appearance, O'Donovan and Cole are back to take audiences on a new journey of intertwining genres - swapping songs, sharing stories and breaking musical stereotypes. O'Donovan and Cole were to perform the show at Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2020 and will now bring it to the newly redeveloped Her Majesty's Theatre stage on October 9 and 10.

"These two highly professional performers have such joy in their work and in their time together that the audience is instantly caught up in the fun." - The Advertiser

Adelaide Guitar Festival will showcase more than 20 South Australian musicians with The Backstage Sessions Live on October 23, featuring sets from established and emerging local artists including Cal Williams Jr, Django Rowe, Kelly Menhennett, Mike Bevan, Alain Valodze, Tom Kneebone and The Yearlings - all of whom recently appeared in online event The Backstage Sessions. Now they will bring these performances to the stage for a magical night of live music including a closing medley performed by the entire line-up.

Music @ The Maj will also present Legato, bringing together some of Australia's most sought-after classical musicians for an unforgettable evening of guitar, piano and string music on November 4. The program features award-winning pianist Konstantin Shamray, who is originally from Russia but is now based in Adelaide and whose accomplishments include First Prize at the 2008 Sydney International Piano Competition and performances in orchestras and festivals around the world.

Shamray will share a double bill with acclaimed classical duo Slava and Sharon Grigoryan on guitar and cello respectively. The Grigoryans will perform a series of captivating duets including classical, tango and folk.

Rounding out the Legato line-up is the incomparable, critically acclaimed Australian String Quartet (ASQ) with its unforgettable ensemble performances and dedication to musical excellence. The performance is likely to be Sharon Grigoryan's last with the ASQ as she recently announced she would be departing the internationally renowned music ensemble later this year.

A truly rare treat, this triple act will present highlights and favourites from their distinctive and diverse classical music from acclaimed composers such as Boccherini, Dvorak, Piazzola and more.

Completing the Music @ The Maj series, A Night of Jazz with Lyndon Gray and Friends on November 25 will feature a stellar line-up of South Australian jazz luminaries curated by renowned musician, composer and ARIA award winner Lyndon Gray.

The concert will feature acclaimed international vocalist Jo Lawry and composer and musician Will Vinson, who have both recently returned to Adelaide from New York. Lawry has performed alongside stars including Sting, Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel. Described by The New York Times as a "singer of dazzling self-possession," Lawry also featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom.

Joining them to perform toe-tapping improvisations and familiar jazz standards are accomplished Cuban-Australian trumpeter and composer Lazaro Numa, pianist David McEvoy, guitarist Django Rowe, drummer Joshua Baldwin, bassist Bonnie Aué and foyer act The Boys Club.

Adelaide Festival Centre CEO & Artistic Director Douglas Gautier AM: "We are very excited to be presenting the first music programs to be held in the stunning new Her Majesty's Theatre. By launching this new series, we are creating opportunities for local musicians while also doing our part to protect and continue to celebrate Adelaide's important standing as a UNESCO City of Music. We hope this series becomes an annual event with even more Music @ The Maj performances in 2021."

Music @ The Maj is proudly presented and produced by Adelaide Festival Centre and follows the recent announcement of further public events at Her Majesty's Theatre including Curtain Up tours and State Theatre Company's production of Gaslight from September 4 to 19.

Attendees of Music @ The Maj events will be seated in a checkerboard format, meaning patrons will have at least one empty seat between them and the next person.

All events at Adelaide Festival Centre venues are being held in accordance with SA Health direction and the South Australian Roadmap for Easing Covid-19 Restrictions. The Adelaide Festival Centre website offers Event Guidelines in response to the most current information.

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