Adelaide Festival Presents MEET ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AIR

In a rare collaboration, iconic Australian singer/songwriter, Paul Kelly, teams up with internationally renowned jazz musician Paul Grabowsky, to create Meet Me In The Middle of the Air - a musical triumph of heavenly proportions! The two esteemed musicians will be joined on stage by members of the Australian Art Orchestra, Vika and Linda Bull and the Choir With No Name for these unique performances.

The concert event, only performed three times before to sold out crowds, will this time take in five cities throughout July starting in Melbourne and moving on to Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide at the Adelaide Festival Centre's Festival Theatre on Saturday July 30. Tickets for Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air are on sale Monday May 2nd.

These remarkable concert events delve into Kelly's spiritually themed songs from his 30 year catalogue including songs such as ‘Be Careful What You Pray For', ‘God's Hotel' (lyrics by Nick Cave), and the specially written, ‘Meet Me In The Middle of the Air'.

Grabowsky, with his sensational arrangements, leads the charge with members of Australia's pre-eminent contemporary music ensemble, the Australian Art Orchestra. Kelly shares lead vocal duties with soulful sister singers Vika and Linda Bull supported in unison by the breathtakingly beautiful backing vocals of the Choir With No Name.

Kelly's biblically themed songs are delivered with sweeping rhapsodies, soaring ragtime jazz and even sassy Cuban salsa. ‘God Told Me To' is shaped as a spaghetti western, ‘48 Angel' hovers in a golden glow while ‘Gathering Storm' suggests a New Orleans funeral.

Paul Kelly comments about his selection of songs for the concert,
"I started a list and roped in a few secular hymns under the Mavis Staples, Prince principle - God and Sex are all mixed up. Stacked together they stand as Songs of Praise with ‘God Told Me Too' the snake in the pile."

Paul Grabowsky reflects on his arrangements,
"Each song is cast not only for the glorious voices of the Bull sisters and the definitive delivery of the St. Kilda bard (Paul Kelly) but for the musicians who have their own drama and personal poetry to lend to the songs."

The result is an unforgettable night of stunning music of immense power, a testament to Paul Kelly's songbook as one of the richest in contemporary Australian music.

Meet Me In The Middle Of The Air is a rare concert event and it might take some time for two of Australia's greatest musical minds to meet again, to avoid disappointment ensure tickets are secured quickly!

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