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Martha Marlow: Queen of the Night

29 May 2023

In the Drama Theatre | Contemporary Music

Spellbinding singer-songwriter Martha Marlow and virtuoso pianist Chris Abrahams perform a special preview of their collaboration on her forthcoming album Queen of the Night, the highly anticipated follow up to Medicine Man.

Arresting vocals, poignant lyricism and cinematic orchestral arrangements.

Time Out

Hauntingly exquisite music from two of Australia’s most mesmerising performers

With her luminous vocals, arresting lyricism and lush orchestral arrangements, Sydney singer, songwriter and composer Martha Marlow has fast become one of the most acclaimed new artists on the Australian music scene. After a rapturously-received performance at the Sydney Opera House in 2022, the ARIA-nominated musician returns to make her Vivid LIVE debut, performing songs from her forthcoming album Queen of the Night alongside collaborator – and The Necks’ beloved pianist – Chris Abrahams.

Marlow, whose father is renowned jazz bassist Jonathan Zwartz, grew up surrounded by music, aspiring to the storytelling power of her heroes Nina Simone, Nick Drake and Billie Holiday. Deftly navigating folk, jazz and ’70s-inspired orchestral pop, her accomplished debut album Medicine Man (2021) – with its radio hit, “I Don’t Want To Grow Up” – stunned audiences and critics alike, earning her an ARIA nomination, the Best Emerging Artist prize at the Australian Women in Music Awards, and a spot on the prestigious Australian Music Prize shortlist.

For her highly anticipated second album Queen Of The Night, Marlow enlisted none other than virtuoso pianist Chris Abrahams, the man behind the keys in the legendary jazz-rock trio – and Sydney Opera House faves – The Necks.

Together with narrator Nadia Townsend, guitarist Ben Hauptmann, drummer Hamish Stuart and Jonathan Zwartz on double bass, Marlow and Abrahams will perform a very special preview of tracks from the forthcoming record. Like the flower of the album’s title, it’s a performance that promises to be a hauntingly exquisite evening of music and storytelling – and bloom for just one night of the year. 

Presented by Sydney Opera House

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