‘House Full’ sign expected at Mary Brand Park this Saturday
SINGER-songwriters Merri-May Gill and Fi Claus will on Saturday evening officially launch their debut album Sunday Heart Parade at Mary Brand Park in Moree – and they’re inviting the entire town to come along and enjoy a night under the stars.
Sunday Heart Parade features 16 original songs penned by Fi and Merri-May as well as Leonard Cohen’s timeless classic, Hallelujah, and was recorded at Melbourne’s Sing Sing Studios using some of Australia’s most talented singers and musicians.
The launch includes film and photography by a group of talented local artists, including Amanda Humphries, Kylie McNamara, Michael Boudreaux, Melanie Jenson, Annabelle Hickson, Sascha Estens, Fiona Lysaught, Kerrie Matchett and Belinda Williams.
Moree soloist Jacqualyn Drenkhahn will open the evening with a selection of her own songs – live for the first time in Moree.
Sunday Heart Parade was made available for pre-order on iTunes late last month and will be fully available – also in iTunes – tomorrow, Friday, November 3.
There will also be CDs available at the album’s official launch – Fi and Merri-May’s Listening Party – at Mary Brand Park in Moree at 7.30pm on Saturday, November 4.
Fi and Merri-May encourages Moree families and visitors to bring along a blanket and hamper to the premiere and enjoy some truly inspirational music and visuals.
“We are stoked that Jacqualyn will be our support act on the night, performing a full set of her own beautiful songs – rather than covers – live for the first time in Moree,” Fi said.
“And we have some amazing local artists, film-makers and photographers who are giving us their work for people to view on an outdoor screen as the visuals for our Sunday Heart Parade songs.”
Merri-May Gill and Fi Claus encourages everyone to bring their own picnic to Mary Brand Park on Saturday evening and enjoy their debut album Sunday Heart Parade (Image: Michael Boudreaux).
Fi and Merri-May teamed up with some of the biggest names in the Australian music industry to produce Sunday Heart Parade.
The new album features vocals by Angie Hart, whose alternative pop group Frente! rose to prominence in 1992 when hit single Accidently Kelly Street rose to No.4 on the Aria charts.
Angie is joined on vocals by Melanie Horsnell, whose hit Sometimes was featured in the Canadian TV series Flashpoint as well as Something Urban’s lead singer Rachel Holmshaw.
(from left) Dan Luscombe, Bill McDonald, Pete Luscombe, Fi Claus, Sam Swain, Anthony Lycenko, Merri-May Gill, Melanie Horsnell during the production of Sunday Heart Parade (Image Supplied).
Pete Luscombe and Bill McDonald, accompanying musicians to Aussie legend Paul Kelly, feature on drums and bass, with Dan Luscombe, from The Drones, on electric guitar.
Sunday Heart Parade is also accompanied by a violinist and cellist from Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, with sound engineer-mixer extraordinaire, the late Anthony Lycenko and Los Angeles-based mastering engineer Gavin Lurssen at the head of production.
“We don’t want to give too much away, but, in addition to our aim of getting some of these songs on films and TV shows, it look like one of the tracks has hit-single potential – it’s very exciting,” Fi said.
Words: Bill Poulos
Image: Michael Boudreaux
