Woodfordia Inc
presents
Festival of Small Halls Resilience Tour 2022: New South Wales
featuring Melanie Horsnell (AUS) and Ash & Sara (AUS)
Officially, Melanie Horsnell lists her home as Candelo – one of those little townships speckled on the map through the far south coast of New South Wales. The kind of place we’ve probably all dreamt about running away to, where we’d indulge our creative sides and wake up to the sound of the currawongs or willie wagtails every morning.
Known for her emotive melodies and powerful lyrics, Melanie’s performances will thread together 20 years of or writing and performing for her first solo acoustic performance of all original material, delivered in the one-woman-and-one-guitar format that Melanie has taken to living rooms and street corners, festival tents and small bars, and theatre stages she’s shared with the likes of Glen Hansard, Jason Mraz, Bernard Fanning, and Sarah Blasko among others. She was also recently a part of the Golden Guitar nominated band The New Graces.
Her latest album Trobairitz very well be the first Australian record named for the 13th century female troubadours of Occitania – those weird and wonderful borderlands where French, Spanish, and Italian cultures overlap. These are late night lullabies and buskers dreams. Recorded by ARIA-winning Australian producer, Paul McKercher, ensuring the clarity of the emotions and messages being revealed. They are songs from from many times and places: Maybe just a little of that 10-year-old in an oversized Akrubra strumming on Manly Esplanade for tourists’ coins, some of the loneliness of being broke and eating Weetbix and cabbage mixed together as dreams were chased through Europe, loves coming and going, and perhaps even the odd thrill of hearing one your songs soundtracking a Bonds undies ad. But never less than honest, open, and feeling.
“It’s a joy to listen to because for this troubadour there’s nothing to prove, just stories to tell, and the pleasures of sharing them.”
Bernard Zuel
“Horsnell is a songwriting gem, shining light on everyday life with gentle accuracy.”
Stephen Fitzpatrick, The Australian
“Melanie creates great, even classic acoustic pop”
Michael Smith, Drum Media
Sara and Ash are merged from two enduring independent musical careers. When former Starboard Cannons frontman Ashley Bell and well-known independent songwriter Sara Tindley considered forming a musical duo, their only criteria was that the project must be fun and beautiful. The delicate, moving and thought-provoking songs performed by these two larrikins at heart delivers on both in spades – fun, beautiful, and truly moving.
The musical collaboration of these two friends was born out of a shared disillusion with the “music industry” and a love of singing together, and has given rise to their debut EP “Going Out Clothes”, which as landed them on stages across Australia, with only guitar and banjo in hand.
This is great storytelling, fine writing and bare bones instrumentation. At its heart, it is the magical interplay of two great vocalists stripping things back to only the essential. It’s a distillation of longtime friends that is a timeless and compelling balm for these strange days.
Lyrically, Tindley shows shades of Paul Kelly & Tim Rogers while sticking to a Lucinda Williams-esque sound that’s about as sweet as anything that’s come out of the country for quite some time… compulsory listening for all supporters of Australian roots music
Dan Condon, TIME OFF
Bell has a way of painting portraits that are genuine and familiar, you believe every word he breathes is out of personal experience – both his and ours
Martin Jones, RHYTHMS
Eureka , 25 May 2022
Eureka Public Hall, NSW, Arakwal Country Eureka Public Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Arakwal People. Eureka has a rich history of farming traditions, hard work and a caring and supportive community. Built in 1906, the Eureka Hall all has witnessed many community celebrations and commemorations. Young men were farewelled from the hall … Read more
Wooloweyah, 26 May 2022
Wooloweyah Hall, NSW, Yaegl Country Wooloweyah Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Yaegl People. The Wooloweyah Hall is truly the beating heart of the coastal communities of Wooloweyah and Angourie. Whether it’s a weekly yoga class or the annual Music In May events, celebrating the life of a close friend and neighbour or … Read more
Dundurrabin, 27 May 2022
Dundurrabin Community Centre, NSW, Gumbaynggirr Country Dundurrabin Community Centre stands on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr People. Dundurrabin Community Centre is a beautiful mudbrick hall built by locals 40 years ago. The hall is run by a very enthusiastic and diverse local committee who keep the hall busy, and full of lively memories. Festival … Read more
Dorrigo, 28 May 2022
J H Davis Memorial Hall, NSW, Gumbaynggirr Country J H Davis Memorial Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Gumbaynggirr People. Standing on lands traditionally owned by the Gumbaynggirr people, the J H Davis Memorial Hall at the Dorrigo Showground is nestled on the edge of the small rural town of Dorrigo, closely cradled … Read more
Stuarts Point, 29 May 2022
Stuarts Point Hall, NSW, Dunghutti Country Stuarts Point Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Dunghutti People. A riverside hamlet resting gently on the banks of the majestic Macleay River, Stuarts Point is a peaceful town surrounded by forests, farming land and beaches. Once the port for vessels entering the Macleay River, this silted … Read more
Hat Head, 1 June 2022
Hat Head SLSC, NSW, Dunghutti Country Hat Head Surf Live Saving Club stands on the traditional lands of the Dunghutti People. Festival of Small Halls rolls into Hat Head on Wednesday, 1 June 2022 with Ash Bell and Sara Tindley and Melanie Horsnell. Opening the show will be local act Heath Lancaster! Local sensation, Heath … Read more
Johns River, 2 June 2022
Johns River Community Hall, NSW, Biripi Country Johns River Community Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Biripi People. In Johns River, a small village bound by two national parks, lies the Johns River Community Hall. A typical great local, this weatherboard hall supports its local community, providing a central location for events and … Read more
Comboyne, 3 June 2022
Comboyne Community Hall, NSW, Birpai Country Comboyne Community Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Birpai People. This year, the simple, classic weatherboard Comboyne Hall celebrates its 100-year anniversary of serving the small agricultural village of Comboyne. Located atop the beautiful Comboyne Plateau, this lush, green landscape provides ample bushwalking with its pockets of … Read more
Pappinbarra, 4 June 2022
Hollisdale Hall, NSW, Biripai Country Hollisdale Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Biripai People. Founded by pioneer settlers in the 1850’s, Pappinbarra is located in a beautiful valley on the Pappinbarra River, with surrounding rainforested gullies providing for a diverse wealth of plants and animals. Originally focused on dairy farming and timber before … Read more
Yarrowitch, 5 June 2022
Yarrowitch Hall , NSW, Danggadi Country Yarrowitch Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Danggadi People. On the Northern Tablelands, surrounded by national parks, you’ll find the little town of Yarrowitch. Formal settlements of Yarrowitch began in 1840 and by 1900, the town was well-established, boasting successful farming industries in a variety of crops … Read more
Nundle, 8 June 2022
Nundle Community Hall, NSW, Kamilaroi Country Nundle Memorial Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Gamilaroi/Kamilaroi People. Nundle Memorial Hall has been the heart of the communities of Nundle, Hanging Rock and Bowling Alley Point, population 600, since it was officially opened in 1892. It’s the place where memories and community are made through … Read more
Yetman, 9 June 2022
Yetman Memorial Hall, NSW, Kamilaroi Country Yetman Memorial Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Kamilaroi People. Yetman sits on the Macintyre River just 30 kilometres south of the Queensland border. While the first station was established in Yetman way back in 1837, the Yetman Memorial Hall wasn’t constructed until 1935 and has remained … Read more
Deepwater, 10 June 2022
Deepwater School of Arts Hall, NSW, Ngoorabul Country Deepwater School of Arts Hall Trust stands on the traditional lands of the Ngoorabul People. The Deepwater Hall has been the hub of the amazing Deepwater community for over 100 years. It has hosted wakes, weddings, balls, art shows, cooking classes, fitness classes, seminars, church services and … Read more
Mallanganee, 11 June 2022
Mallanganee Memorial Hall, NSW, Bundjalung Country Mallanganee Memorial Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Bundjalung People. A gateway to the rainforest, Mallanganee is a truly charming little town nestled at the foot of the Mallanganee Range. At the centre of the village stands the Mallanganee Memorial Hall. Beginning as a small hall built … Read more
Collins Creek, 12 June 2022
Collins Creek Hall, NSW, Gullibul Country Collins Creek Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Gullibul People. The Collins Creek Hall was built in 1923 and has been in continual use, under volunteer management since that time. It has undergone many improvements and some additions over the years thanks to its many active volunteers. … Read more
MEDIA RESOURCES
Woodfordia Inc presents Festival of Small Halls Resilience Tour 2022: New South Wales featuring Melanie Horsnell (AUS) and Ash & Sara (AUS)
Festival of Small Halls has announced that celebrated songwriters Ash Bell and Sara Tindley and emotive troubadour Melanie Horsnell will feature on the upcoming Resilience Tour 2022: New South Wales
MELANIE HORSNELL (AUS)
Officially, Melanie Horsnell lists her home as Candelo – one of those little townships speckled on the map through the far south coast of New South Wales. The kind of place we’ve probably all dreamt about running away to, where we’d indulge our creative sides and wake up to the sound of the currawongs or willie wagtails every morning.
To download a high quality image, please click here
ASH & SARA (AUS)
Sara and Ash are merged from two enduring independent musical careers. When former Starboard Cannons frontman Ashley Bell and well-known independent songwriter Sara Tindley considered forming a musical duo, their only criteria was that the project must be fun and beautiful. The delicate, moving and thought-provoking songs performed by these two larrikins at heart delivers on both in spades – fun, beautiful, and truly moving.
To download a high quality image, please click here
Festival of Small Halls events take place in venues operating under current government Covid Safe regulations, and has stringent Workplace Health and Safety requirements for all travelling artists and crew. Under the terms and conditions of all events, you must not attend if you have any symptoms of Covid-19.
Please do your bit to protect others and keep your community safe.
This is a Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund project through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
“Although funding for this product has been provided by both the Australian and NSW Governments, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of either government.
