AUSSIE DIVAS SING BLUES FOR BILLIE

Seven great Australian female singers come together for a very special one-off event at The Sydney Opera House to pay tribute to the late Billie Holiday, otherwise known as ‘Lady Day’. The concert Ladies Sing the Blues, will feature Lady Cool, Amanda Easton, Liza Ohlback, Lucinda Peters, Lindsay Drummond, Joy Yates and Dahlia Dior. They will be backed by a live band consisting of Rick Mellick on Piano, John Maddox on Bass, Chris Fields on Drums and Tim Rollinson on Guitar.

The 2 hour show will tell the story of Holiday’s highs and lows but mostly celebrate her music, with each artist performing individual sets with a live band. It will feature classics Holiday wrote, such as Strange Fruit and God Bless The Child alongside standards that she made her own.

2015 marks 100 years since the birth of Holiday, one of the greatest influences on singers of all races and genres, and known as the 'mother of jazz'. As famous for her music as for her tragic life, it is fitting that the concert will raise awareness and funds for beyondblue - an organization working to reduce the impact of anxiety, depression and suicide in the community by raising awareness and understanding, empowering people to seek help, and supporting recovery, management and resilience.

Ladies Sing the Blues will be held on Thursday July 23, 2015 from 7.30pm at The Studio at The Opera House. Tickets are $75/$65 (concession) plus booking fees (inclusive of GST) and are available from The Opera House or Ticketmaster. www.sydneyoperahouse.com.auwww.ticketek.com.au

$5 from every ticket goes to beyondblue www.beyondblue.org.au

THE ARTISTS

Lady Cool:

Named after 'Lady Day', Lady Cool has held stage in Australia, Europe, Asia & the U.S.A. She has since launched her Debut E.P Chillaxing & Music Video Simply Irresistible. While performing the lead female role in Valentino The Musical in Manhattan, John Jordon a New York reviewer wrote “when she was not on stage I missed her.. simply beautiful was she”. www.ladycool.com.au

Joy Yates:

Her international career includes a long successful run with vocal group Bones in the UK, a period of progressive pop with Esperanto (a highly acclaimed rock orchestra), the formation of jazz-fusion band Pacific Eardrum with Dave MacRae, and her performance as Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill. http://www.joyyates-davemacrae.com/

Amanda Easton:

Amanda has toured Australia as well as Europe and Asia, with her own theatrical pop garnering national TV and radio airplay. With 5 commercial releases under her belt, she has also performed alongside artists like Richard Clapton, Marcia Hines and Powderfinger. www.amandaeaston.com

Liza Ohlback:

Winner of 3 Chain Awards from the Australian Blues Awards in 2013, Liza has a voice that can ‘howl, growl or soothe your furrowed brow’ (99.3fm). She is a constant performer at major venues and festivals and has toured with artists like John Paul Young, Jade Mcrae, Tony Neville (Neville Brothers) and Regina Velasquez. www.lizaohlback.com

Lucinda Peters:

This jazz artist has appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, toured in Paris and New York and has even attracted the support of the famed national treasure and jazz icon, Don Burrows. Academy Award winning film maker, Jane Campion, choose one of Lucinda’s original tracks for her 2003 film, ‘In The Cut’. www.facebook.com/lucindapetersmusic

Lindsay Drummond:

Lindsay is an award winning songwriter and performer. In her music comedy duo ‘The Pointless Sisters’ she has supported Will Anderson, Jimmy Barnes and the Radiators and as a soloist has supported artists like Brian Cadd and Jose Feliciano www.lindsaydrummond.com

Dahlia Dior:

Dahlia began her international career at the Paris Olympia and prominent West End London clubs, and has worked Tokyo, Hong Kong, and throughout South East Asia. She has performed on the same bill with legends such as Ray Charles, Matt Monro, Blood Sweat and Tears, and Metropolitan Opera star Jan Peerce. www.dahliadior.com