The Backstage Sessions Live

As with many artists and artistic ventures in 2020, Slava Grigoryan’s Adelaide Guitar Festival was halted by the impact of Covid19.  They did, however, conceive of and produce The Backstage Sessions, presented as a series of virtual concerts and broadcast from the wings of The Adelaide Festival Theatre featuring a stellar cast of Adelaide’s guitar legends - you can still catch the recordings online. 

The Backstage Sessions Live was a one-night-only concert bringing these same legends to Her Majesty’s stage in front of an actual (checkerboard spaced) audience, and a very appreciative one at that. I was awed by the array of sublimely talented musicians on stage and privileged to be attending as I pondered the predicament of isolated friends and colleagues the world over, but particularly in Melbourne. 

Hosted by Sam McMahon from ‘the couch’ at stage left with witty asides, we had the opportunity to listen in on informal interviews he conducted with some of the artists during the show. We were privy to Slava Grigoryan’s thoughts about the challenges this year has brought to the Festival and his re-invigorated and enlightened plans for 2021, including a longer season, regional touring and important community outreach.

Mike Bevan & Alain Valodze took to the stage first with two pieces flavoured by jazz, Brazilian and Flamenco styles. There is a moment as an audience member when you breath out and relax into your seat because you know you are in the hands of masterful artists and that was definitely the case with Bevan and Valodze.  The second work they played, called ‘Not Yet’ was written by Mike Bevan in a cheeky fifteen-eight time signature. The title refers to Valodze anticipating the down beat during rehearsal, and failing, causing Bevan to exclaim “not yet”!

The Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition is held each year under the Guitar Festival stewardship. This was also conducted through an online process this year and the South Australian finalist Connor Whyte was invited to perform at The Backstage Sessions Live, playing ‘Free Range 2016’ by Ken Murray.  At 17 years of age, Whyte is clearly a prodigy with superb control, finesse and beautifully nuanced dynamic range. His playing and his presence created a charged atmosphere of utter stillness followed by much applause.

Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson are The Yearlings, an alt country / acoustic and electric duo featuring smooth rhythm and lead guitar, heartfelt vocals and sublime harmonies. The duo has travelled nationally and internationally, released five studio albums, and have a knack for poetic lyrics with a distinctly Australian feel, yet with a nod to Americana noir.

Since winning the national Telstra ‘Road To Discovery’ song-writing award, Kelly Menhennett has gone from strength to strength, releasing two albums and touring nationally and globally. Her music is of the soul/roots/alt-country variety and her voice is a deep, husky treasure.  Her songs ‘Cannibal’, ‘Lone Tree’ and ‘Come On Over’ were a toe-tapping success.  Her band was also ‘gobsmacking’, as my plus one put it, shining talents in their own right.

This variety concert offered a mighty cross-section of styles and The Django Rowe Quintet did not disappoint with an atmospheric set of blues/jazz/avant garde music lifted from his two albums. ‘Distant Darkness’, ‘Big City, Small Freedom’ and ‘Bloom’ are originals by Rowe, with ‘Bloom’ featuring Sharon Grigoryan on cello and Jason McMahon on saxophone. Other members of the quintet were equally impressive, with Kyrie Anderson on drums and Dylan Kuerschner on upright bass, two more Adelaide musicians to watch.

The next set featured Slava and Sharon Grigoryan presenting a virtuosic Mark Summer (Turtle Island) cello work using percussion and pizzicato techniques combined with bowed jazz and fiddle phrasing. It was rearranged by Slava (with permission) to include a guitar pairing, and was a remarkable performance on every level.

The Tom Kneebone Trio took the stage, again featuring Kyrie Anderson and Dylan Kuerschner. Kneebone is a founding member of the Bearded Gypsy Band and has performed with many other groups around Adelaide since graduating from Heathfield High School and the Elder Conservatorium (Jazz Performance). Clearly this artist has a very bright future, his guitar prowess definitely comparable to the more experienced talent on the programme, soulful yet technical and with tremendous musicality.

The blues reigned supreme with Chris Finnen, Cal Williams Jr and Kory Horwood tearing up the stage prior to an all-star finale with Count Basie’s ‘Every Day I Have The Blues’.  Finnen is a multi-award winning legend of the Adelaide blues scene and despite his advanced years his voice is still unbelievably strong with a jaw-dropping range. Cal Williams Jr gave a dazzling slide guitar performance on ‘Honey Child’, leaving you wondering how he physically plays what he does.  Double bassist Kory Horwood likewise shone in these blues tunes, making you want more bass in your life.

Relaxing in the very beautiful, newly refurbished Her Majesty’s Theatre witnessing this array of remarkable South Australian talent made me very proud to call this place home. Despite all the phenomenal visiting international artists we are blessed with during a ‘normal’ year, it is wonderful to be reminded of the gifts we have here at home. 

Lisa Lanzi

Images: Slava Grigoryan (photo by Nate Schilling); Alain Valodze and Mike Bevan (photo by Kris Jenkinson); Robyn Chalklen and Chris Parkinson (photo by Nate Schilling); Kelly Menhennett (photo by Nate Schilling); Sharon Grigoryan (photo by Nate Schilling); & Cal Williams Jr Trio (photo credit Kris Jenkinson).