ArtsWise Consulting

04/12/2024

Tonight's "gig": Mastodon and Kerry King. I'm not a huge "metal person" in general terms but these guys sure know how to Do The Thing and put on a helluva show. 🤘🏻 Definitely time to get those proper fancy earplugs though.

(Also we had 97% attendance, only about 40 out of 1,325 people didn't turn up which hardly ever happens. Metal fans are definitely commited 😆 And we got em all in the door so efficiently we were just a lil bit pleased with ourselves, hence the happy team snap at the end)

23/10/2024

Big yay for my sister Lucy Wise Music ! Solo Artist of the Year at the Folk Alliance Australia Australian Folk Music Awards last night 🤩

Enormous congratulations also to Evan & Mischa for getting Traditional Folk Album of the year! 🎉

My congratulations and good wishes to all the other amazing nominees and the winners in other categories 💜 xoxo

🪅 Last night I won Solo Artist of The Year in the Australian Folk Music Awards! 🎉

I am so honoured to receive this recognition.

Performing has been a long journey for me, not without its hard times. Eight years ago I experienced a time of mental ill health that made performing really difficult for me, for many years. This experience has required me to completely change the way I approach making and performing music.

It’s been an incredible learning process, and I’m so grateful to be where I am now, where music and performing is a fun, inspiring, lifegiving place to be in. This recognition means a lot to me. It’s a spark to keep going, keep writing, keep performing. ✨

Thank you Folk Alliance Australia, and to all my friends, family and community who have supported me on this journey 🧡

19/09/2024

This is devastating news. We have lost a soul who was so beautiful inside and out, on-stage and off. She was not only an abundantly talented musician, but also a professional arts organiser in more recent years and her legacy extends beyond her musical output.

I remember seeing her perform for the first time as a young child and being spellbound. Her voice will live on in hearts and minds around the world, and so on after our time has come and gone, thanks to the power of music.

My thoughts and condolences are with all who loved her and all who worked with her, and particularly those who did both. 💜🥀

Vale Zulya Kamalova 🖤

Announcement from The Boîte.

It is with profound sadness that the staff and Committee of The Boîte announce the passing of our beloved Director Zulya Kamalova yesterday evening. Zulya had performed many times for The Boîte with her acclaimed outfit Zulya and the Children of the Underground before becoming our Director early in 2022. She was an obvious choice for the role, with her exhaustive first hand experience within the Australian multicultural music sector, and her bold innovative vision for our future. We will feel Zulya’s impact in everything we do at The Boîte for years to come as we continue on the course she has set for us, nurturing communities, elevating the marginal, and challenging the boundaries of genre, culture and tradition. She was an incandescent and magnificent force who engaged and inspired everyone in her orbit, and we were privileged to work alongside her.

We send love to Zulya’s partner and daughter, and her family abroad. You are in our hearts and minds as you navigate this overwhelming loss.

We will be taking a short break while we process this news and regroup. We know our wonderful dedicated and supportive community will also be feeling this loss profoundly, and we hope to see you and share music with you again soon.

From the Staff and Committee of The Boîte

10/04/2024

Was on the phone with mum, she said "make sure you get a photo with all your gear on!" and Melbourne Ceili Camera was already doing exactly that, through the window as we spoke 😂 Cheers Adam!

Beautiful painted fiddles by Bernadette O'Neill of Saoirse.

CresFest

22/12/2023

A merry bass-mas to all! 🎅🏼🎻🎄

Appropriately enough, this big-bellied "Santa bass" in the foreground is actually the biggest bass in the shop - a 4/4 size (most "normal" basses are only 3/4, as I learned!). String length of 46" which if you know bass talk you'll immediately know is GIGANTIC.

We called it the "Russian Beast" (originally the "Bavarian Beast" and then "Moscow Monster" before its true point of origin became clear!). If you know any Tall Bassists, I truly feel like I'm in an animal shelter trying to find the perfect home for this slightly-too-big Irish wolfhound of a thing. This is not a sales push, but if you know someone who might know the Right Person for it, nothing would bring me more satisfaction than to unite this instrument with an owner who will adore and appreciate it! 🎻💜🎶

More info including measurements at https://www.atelierpuglisi.com/product-page/zimmerman-4-4-the-russian-beast

11/12/2023

(edited) FESTIVAL FOLKIES - Curious Question: Considering 1. not everyone uses them & 2. there can be major costs; As a PUNTER, would you consider a pay-as-U-feel donation/ small one-off fee for use of: (A) instrument lockup?
(B) shuttle bus between venues?
TIA 🙏🏻