Originality plus with The Coathangers

Kangaroo Island songsters, The Coathangers, will sound off on the Life on the Edge theme to open the exhibition of the same name.

The EcoAction exhibition will be staged on the shores of the fragile environment of Pelican Lagoon during the two weekends of Art Feast 5–6 October and 12–13 October. The opening concert begins 11am on Saturday 5 October.

All of the music you’ll hear is original and new – it’s a world premiere concert from start to finish.

Les Montanjees and Scott Macdonald write the music and lyrics. They work separately and bring their songs to the band which arranges them together.

So how would we describe them and their music? The group is all acoustic and their music is in the vein of singer–songwriter to folk. Les said that he has spent about 6 months to produce seven or eight songs.

“The lyrics are very important, said Les. “We are all dedicated environmentalists and want to get message across.”

“But we know we have to be entertaining. So the lyrics have humour, as well as pathos. We have tried to make it as musically interesting as possible.

Les has no one method of composition. “It depends how it goes – sometimes words come into my head and I write a tune for them. Sometimes, I’m walking along the beach and a tune will pop into my head.

“Having the theme does help to focus the mind.”

The band is fortunate to have a range of instruments, the fiddle (Doug) and mandolin (Les) for melodic interludes, and guitars (Scott and Les) for harmonic structure and rhythm. Fouth member Tony Geyer has to miss this gig.

 

The Coathangers: Scott Macdonald, Les Montanjees and Doug Grey (absent: Tony Geyer)

“We are putting all the lyrics in a booklet. It will be available after the concert – we don’t want to give the punchlines away before the event.

“All the songs pretty well have a Kangaroo Island theme. The major environmental issues on KI, particularly of the past few years, are all in the lyrics.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s one of the most significant Art Feast events ever for me. It deals with issues that are so core to what this island stands for.

“And I’m so excited to write music for it.

“I really enjoy the process of writing songs – using the software, playing myself and focusing on Kangaroo Island themes.”

Space is limited for the concert and bookings are essential. To book, phone Joan on 08 8553 7463 or 0417 052 040.

Thirty artists will be exhibiting, or playing, at Life on the Edge, Pelican Lagoon. You’ll see textile art, painting, sculpture, installations, found object art, prints, stunning photography, and original, entertaining music.

Friday on my mind

After a day off the trail it was a pleasure to get out to some more Art Feast venues today and gear up for the weekend’s festivities.

I dropped into Teasdale’s on Pelican Lagoon to scan the impressive range of work by members of the Ayliffe family. Jenny and Bob were enjoying the first quiet day they’d had since Art Feast began.

Over at The Shed at American River the woodwork was a quirky treat in among the cakes, paintings and giant doll house.

Paul Zabukovec’s small table

And outside the installation looked like the sort of place that will generate stories, companionship and play. It was a work of community and it’s sure to be a place of community.

And so to the Spirit Feast and guest choir, Young Voices of Melbourne. What a joy to hear skilled, joyous, disciplined young voices with instrumental interludes. Just lovely. And those youngsters tucked into the country supper afterwards with just as much gusto as they’d put into their singing.

Young Voices of Melbourne (not in KIngscote)

And towards the end of the day I had good news about further substantial sales from Art Feast artists. Excellent news for our hardworking and talented Island artists.