A free outdoor concert celebrating the diversity and brilliance of female musicians from the local to the global stage closes WOW Melbourne 2017, with a focus on artists who drive social change through their music. Featuring Sampa the Great, Mojo Juju, Electric Fields, The Black Sistaz, Sugar Fed Leopards, MzRizk and Thando.

Full WOW Melbourne Program HERE

WHEN: Saturday 25 March 2017, 5:30pm
VENUE: FCAC Riverside Lawn
TICKET: FREE

Download the WOW Melbourne festival schedule:

WOW MELBOURNE SCHEDULE PDF
Download a printable program here

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Sampa the Great

The rise of Sampa the Great has been spectacular to watch. A young woman hailing from Africa and based in Sydney, she has set about making music that artfully combines her natural style and energy with thought-provoking, socially-conscious themes. She views music as the language of the soul, transcending borders and acting as an agent for positive change.

Like her many influences – both musical and political – Sampa hopes to inform and inspire, delivering her message in a way that is bold yet inclusive. “I’m great,” she proclaims, not as a boast but instead a rallying call. “You’re great. We’re great.” Sampa has won over a wave of adoring fans having been chosen to support Kendrick Lamar, Thundercat, Hiatus Kaiyote, Ibeyi, Little Simz and Fat Freddy’s Drop along with her sold out headline shows and festival slots at Golden Plains, Sugar Mountain, WOMAD & VIVID Live. 

Mojo Juju

Mojo Juju is 5’3″ of wise cracking, sass mouthing, jump-jiving attitude wrapped up in a zoot suit and propped up on a Cuban heel. A dynamic vocalist, entertainer and songwriter, forever difficult to pigeonhole, Mojo is versatile and unafraid to challenge the boundaries of genre and style. In 2012 she released her eponymous debut solo album, an offering of lyrical blues & noir soundscapes, to 4 & 5 star reviews. Rhythms Magazine called it a “velvet smooth triumph”. Her most recent work, due for release early 2015, is a collaboration with producer Ptero Stylus (Diafrix/Mantra), and Mojo has hinted that it will be an exploration into ‘pop songwriting’ with throwbacks to Soul, R’n’B and Funk. A seasoned touring act and a natural showman, Mojo has been selling out National headline tours as well as opening for acts such as Tony Joe White (USA), Reverend Horton Heat (USA), Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (UK) and Imelda May (UK).

The Black Sistaz

Born into a movement, The Black Sistaz – Lea, Rosa and Petra Rumwaropen, three West Papuan singers with a powerful message – stand strong for a free West Papua. Upful Island Reggae and Soul meets traditional sounds, language and sweet harmony. Arriving as one of the first West Papuan refugee families, the now Australian based group musically communicates the journey of living a life in exile. A celebration of identity with a strong legacy to continue, their music comes with a message, and with their message comes a movement. 

Sugar Fed Leopards

Sugar Fed Leopards are a blazing sextet from the bright side of the disco globe. They have been igniting dance floors all over the world with their heady cocktail of doo wop, disco and rock n roll, for nearly four years and things are just heating up. Expect a cranking rhythm section, bold costumes, sweet dance routines and melt in your mouth harmonies.

Electric Fields

In a seamless merging of pop, electronic and soul music, Electric Fields features the beautiful voice of Zaachariaha Fielding  ‘takes soul to the stratosphere’  with the brilliance of  producer Michael Ross. Their mesmerising performances hold audiences spellbound, Electric Fields being winners of the 2016 Emily Burrows Award presented by APRA/AMCOS.

Thando

Thando is an evocative singer songwriter raised in the suburbs of Canberra. After relocating to Melbourne in 2011, she has fronted Dub Reggae outfit Echo Drama and played in Sol Nation with members of Painters and Dockers and the Dili Allstars. She has set out to create a live show that pulls audiences in and leaves them wanting more. Her onstage presence is “worth the ticket price just to witness the soaring voice and audacious performance” (Herald Sun). Audiences can expect modern soul and R&B mixed with raw funk, heavy bass lines and a three-piece backing vocal ensemble.

Thando made her professional theatre debut as Effie White in StageArt’s Dreamgirls, and returned to the stage in StageArt’s Australasian Premier of The Color Purple playing the role of Shug Avery. 2016 saw the release her long awaited debut EP Digital Love Letters in June 2016.

Citing Jill Scott and Alicia Keys as major influences, Thando’s electronic take on R&B ballads compliment “evocative song writing that has placed her in a league all her own” (Ms Hennesey Speaks Blog).  

MzRizk

Melbourne-based DJ, event curator and radio presenter, MzRizk, is renowned for her ongoing contributions to Melbourne’s rich cultural and music landscape. Her many projects are a distinct blend of music knowledge, creative diversity and cultural and community engagement.

As one of Melbourne’s busiest DJs, MzRizk has supported Australian acts such as Remi and Hiatus Kaiyote; as well as international artists Badbadnotgood, Mos Def, Public Enemy, Jill Scott, Snarky Puppy, The Daptones, John Morales, Bilal, Cody Chestnut, Maseo (De La Soul), Common, Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5, Maxwell and many more.

MzRizk curates the Block Party and Hip Hop High Tea events as a platform to showcase emerging and established artists to a wider audience, and in 2014, even the modern-day King of Block Parties, Dave Chappelle, stopped in and gave massive props for the quality of MzRizk’s music and event.  MzRizk co-presented the Melbourne Music Week Lunch Box series with the City of Melbourne in 2016, showcasing diverse local talent, including label mates House of Beige. 

Presented as part of WOW – Women of the World Festival Melbourne.