Julia Toaspern & Tony McManus
Guitar Brisbane presents Tony McManus and Julia Toaspern; leading guitarist in Celtic Music with multi-talented classical violinist and vocalist. Their treatment of traditional music is unique and each supports the other in exploring the harmonic possibilities of old, and not so old, tunes. Having met over a conversation in Berlin about J. S. Bach, together they play and sing music that speaks to them and hopefully through them to a wider audience.
About Tony McManus
Tony McManus
Conjuring a unique but universal language from that most ubiquitous of instruments, the acoustic guitar, Tony McManus has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic diaspora - Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Asturias, Cape Breton, Quebec - along with still further-ranging flavours, such as jazz and east European music. Long applauded for his uncanny ability to transpose the delicate, complex ornamentation characteristic of traditional bagpipe or fiddle tunes - even the phrasing of a Gaelic song – onto his own six strings, McManus is increasingly being acknowledged also as a pioneering figure in bridging the realms of Celtic music and other guitar genres.
“Tony’s music is beyond beautiful, it’s perfect.” - Tommy Emmanuel
Few guitarists can present Celtic music with the gusto and nuance they possess when played on fiddles or bagpipes. Tony McManus is one of those few." - Acoustic Guitar Magazine
About Julia Toaspern
Julia Toaspern
Julia Toaspern is a multi-talented musician from Berlin who combines classical training on violin and voice with a wide interest in genres such as jazz, baroque and traditional music. She has released two albums of original songs and has performed in both classical and singer/songwriter modes on both sides of the Atlantic. On top of all this her skills as a guitarist are prodigious and make an exciting fit with Tony’s work.
“Julia’s bell like voice and her filigrane fiddle playing are thrilling. She moves effortlessly from fiddle to guitar, her solo is impressive.” - SalonFestival
About The Duo
Their twin guitar treatment of traditional music is unique and each supports the other in exploring the harmonic possibilities of these old, and not so old, tunes. Each of the pair both flatpicks and fingerpicks at the highest level but always at the service of the tune rather than a display of technique. Her violin can effortlessly morph into a fiddle as she weaves from Italian madrigal to Scottish reel. Julia’s songs go to the heart of love and loss, hope and survival and are inflected with musical input from a wide and eclectic experience of musical life. Tony’s and Julia’s arrangements are rooted in deep musicality and heartfelt expression.
Prebook Special:
Show your Trybooking pre-paid ticket to Keng (aka Kathy) at Spicy I'm Thai (100m from BrisWest Community Centre), and receive a 10% discount on a wonderful, pre-concert meal. Eat in on the night of the concert only. A great way to start a fabulous evening!
Prebook tickets online*:
$25 - Adult
$20 - Concession (Pensioners and Health Care Card holders only)
$15 - Student (Fulltime tertiary or secondary students over 13)
$70 - Family Concession (2 Adults + 2 Students)
Children 12 and under free
*CutCommon subscribers receive a 20% discount on tickets. Please refer to your subscriber's package for the discount code.
Tickets at the door:
$30 - Adult
$25 - Concession
$20 - Student
Children 12 and under free