William Stuart Adair Magee: 1933 - 2022

 

Deeply moving concert by Fred Smith

Fred Smith Charity Concert

Hosted by Canberra Rotary Peace Bell

Canberra Playhouse

February 17, 2022

by David Atfield

LAST night I was privileged to see the brilliant Fred Smith performing at the Canberra Theatre Centre, in a special concert to welcome Afghan refugees to Canberra. 

Singer songwriter Fred Smith

It was a sometimes funny and often deeply moving experience as Fred recounted, in both spoken word and song, his experiences in Afghanistan and the recent history of Afghanistan more generally. 

His words were accompanied by beautifully curated projected images and videos that enhanced the power of his lyrics. 

A splendid ensemble of musicians, including my old mate Mitch Preston, provided Fred with virtuosic support. 

Many of the refugees were in the audience, and the most moving moment of the night came when Fred started to sing a well known Afghani song about attachment to land, and several audience members spontaneously joined in. 

Rehearsal shot from the perspective of the drums! Photo: Mitch Preston

The whole experience truly brought home the tragic recent events in Afghanistan and reinforced that we are all in this experience of life together. 

Fred is a remarkable songwriter and performer, as well as being a thoroughly decent human being. 

His show deserves to be seen by every Australian.

Omar’s taking new poems from the page to the stage

Omar Musa...taking new poems from the page to the stage. Photo: Cole Bennetts

ACCLAIMED poet, author and performer Omar Musa will bring “alive” new poems, taking them from the page on to the stage for the first time on Thursday, February 24, at The Street Theatre.

Musa says the performance, titled “Killernuevo”,  will be an opportunity to test fresh work with a hometown audience in order to build a new repertoire of original work that traverses Australia, south-east Asia, oceans, rainforests, family history and love. It’s also a chance for an audience to enjoy an insight into a process that is risky and exciting.

Queanbeyan-based Musa will tour  the UK and Europe to promote his critically acclaimed book “Killernova” later this year.

First published in Canberra City News, February 14, 2022