 

Alanna & Alicia are twin sisters who blend folk, jazz and roots in their original, acoustic songs. Known for their sweet, sibling harmonies and fine songwriting, the sisters have charmed audiences from Port Fairy to Fairbridge with their onstage warmth and sense of fun. Their lyrics, equal parts heart and humour, sparkle with an original, intimate voice that is rare in songwriters today. .
They have had considerable recognition for their songwriting, winning awards at several national festivals. Both have been finalists in the Australian Songwriting Awards and Alicia won Best New Talent at Port Fairy Folk Festival early in her music career.
As identical twins, they share a uniquely intuitive, creative partnership and have a natural musical rapport. 
Their band features the fine talents of Damien Neil (guitar) and Silas Palmer (piano, violin). 

Alanna and Alicia have  played most of the major Australian folk festivals, including  Port Fairy FF 2013, 2010, 2006,  the National FF 2010 & 2011, Fairbridge WA, 2012, Cobargo FF, NSW 2012 & 2014,  the Tablelands FF, QLD 2011, Maldon FF, Vic 2011 & 2008,  Brunswick Music Festival, Vic 2010,  Woodford, WA 2010, Kangaroo Valley FF, NSW, 2012, 2013, Music at the Creek, NSW 2011, Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival, Vic 2012 & 2011, Newstead Live, Vic 2013, 2010, St Albans FF, NSW 2013, The Basin, Vic 2009 & 10, Gorgeous Voices Festival, Bendigo Vic 2010 and Darebin Music Feast  Vic, 2009, 10 & 11; and at folk clubs in all states such as the Merry Muse, Canberra, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai, Illawarra, Newcastle/Hunter Valley, Humph Hall, The Shack, Narrabeen, NSW,  Melbourne, Selby, Burrinja Ranges, Bendigo, Victoria, X-Ray, Fremantle, WA and at many venues around Melbourne and regional Victoria, their home state. 

They have shared the stage with many talented acts including opening for Eddi Reader (Scotland) in Melbourne 2010 and Madison Violet (Canada) in 2009,  Kristina Olsen (USA), Eleanor McEvoy (Ireland), Kim Richey (USA),Ruthie Foster (USA) The Waifs, Jeff Lang, Clare Bowditch, Kavisha Mazzella, Mike McLellan, Kerrieanne Cox,  Jordie Lane, Kate Miller-Heike, Christine Anu, and Tinpan Orange. 

In Jan 2012 they were awarded an Arts Victoria Touring Grant and toured WA, SA, ACT and NSW from Feb to May 2012.
Their much anticipated third album ‘Twinlines’, recorded and produced by Craig Pilkington at Audrey Studios in Melbourne, was launched at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March, 2013.
Alanna & Alicia  received an Arts Victoria Grant to make their second album, 'Two in a Book', 2010, and their independent debut album, ‘Funny She’s So Much Like Me’, with eleven original tracks, was released in 2006.

In 2010 they were invited to be part of a Joni Mitchell tribute album, ‘Festival folk sing Joni Mitchell’ which features several wonderful singers including Chris While, Julie Matthews, Kristina Olsen and Kate Fagan. This album was launched at the National Folk Festival, Canberra in April 2010 with another show at Woodford Folk Festival and the National in 2011.

‘In concert Alanna and Alicia are entertaining and lively characters with an unpredictable, unscripted natural humour inspired by close observations and wry story telling. They are brimming with talent, a free spirit and endearing charm.
I recommend them as an ideal, unique and very successful act ideal for clubs and festivals. It would not surprise me if they ended up on almost any stage in the world.
Jamie McKew, Festival Director, Port Fairy Folk Festival. Jan 2014

‘deliciously idiosyncratic and saucy songs….wry, frank observations of life and love……quality quirky lyrics ….delivered with verve and the kind of close harmonies you’d expect from sisters….consummate backing…’ 
Tony Hillier, Rhythms magazine.

‘They were cheeky, adventurous, funny and commanding. They are a joy and a must see for anyone who thinks, listens, laughs and sings.’ 
(Mel Robertson, Melbourne Folk Club.)

They spin heartfelt lyrics with toe tapping tunes such as ‘When You Come Back’ with a truthful earnestness. There is an honest and unaffected beauty about their folk – jazz style and sweet, harmonious vocals.
Anna Rodway, Herald Sun, May 30th 2010

Alanna & Alicia….beautiful singers, stunning harmonies, fantastic songwriters with one of the best set of accompanist musicians you’re ever likely to hear. 
Together, the Alanna and Alicia Band have been THE big new act at folk festivals across Australia for the past two years. 
A touch of jazz, a drop of folk, a bit of the Everly Brothers and the McGarrigal Sisters lurking round there, a lot of special magic in their performance.
Michael Fine, president Troubadour Central Coast Folk Club, July, 2013

The way their voices blend together is uncanny. It reminds me of the sound that you get when a singer harmonises with themself on a recording using multi-tracking techniques yet we are hearing it 'live'! And of course their sense of humour and stage presence combined with their remarkable musical talents and those of their band, adds up to a very enjoyable show indeed!
Wayne Richmond, Humph Hall, Sept 2012

 ‘Alanna and Alicia Egan’s songs are timeless and delivered from the heart, a rare trait for singer/songwriters in this day and age. ’
(Marcello Lo Ricco, LSS Productions)

‘Twin sisters Alanna & Alicia Egan kicked off  the night ~ sultry sounds with a jazz twist was a real crowd pleaser….a perfect start to a perfect evening.’ 
Steve Kendall, Bendigo Weekly , Jan 2011, review of ‘Summer in the Parks’.

 ‘They put on a great show – lyrically very inspiring and they are right on the edge of where all lyricists aim to be.’
Graham Dodsworth, singer/songwriter, Melbourne Folk Club. 

‘…..those seeking some exquisitely folk tinged material were treated to the sublime performances of Alanna and Alicia…’
Mike Griffin, reviewer, Bendigo Blues & Roots Festival, ‘bentertained’, Bendigo Weekly, 
Dec 2, 2011

   
 



 



   
 





“I am my music, and my music is me.” – Cali J

Nashae Kimbrough was born and bred in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Aliquippa is a suburb outside of Pittsburgh, PA where survival isn’t just taught, it’s a natural born instinct. This mindset enabled Nashae to succeed in many aspects of his life such as taking care of his family by any means necessary. However, this need to survive also caused him to get into some legal issues that took him away from his family via incarceration in the prison system
for over 10 years. Though deeply saddened to be away from experiencing first hand his family growth, the time away from his family gave him time to think about how he will never put himself in the same situation or anything like it again. 

Nashae finally paroled out of prison in Houston, Texas which was a long way away from his hometown of Aliquippa. Even though he was a long way from home, he was thankful to be a free man. Little did he know, he was about to be hit with yet another jab that could possibly take away his freedom for a second time. About a year after his prison release, Nashae caught wind that there was a shooting that took place all the way in Aliquippa, and somehow someway, his name was involved as a suspect in the crime. He had already promised himself that he would never be in prison again, so as a result, he immediately fled and went on the run for over 3 years. In the early stages of his fleeing, he realized he couldn’t go by Nashae anymore. He needed a name, an alias, something that had no link to him or his past. While sitting with some friends he met in Houston, one of his friends that was aware of his current situation, a man named Shice came up with a perfect name, Cali J. Originally this name was selected because he was going to tell people he was from California in order to throw the authorities off as far as possible. But after 3 years utilizing it as his name with no one even knowing him as Nashae, THATS WHEN THE STORY GROWS! STAY TUNED! CALI_J IS THE DOPEST ARTIST TO SPEAK FOR THE STREETS SINCE JEEZY!
 It’s Now or Never!

Every once in a while, the warring worlds of fact and fiction come together in peace. Almost 10 years ago, I was tasked with telling my little brother bedtime stories to calm his nightmares. It was critical to our task that we bring novelty and inspiration to his nervous system, which like lots of kids these days, had some yet undefined and generational traumas to calm. 

To do this, I explored the infinite world of storytelling as a healing force. We delved into underwater festivals where turtles judged joke-telling competitions; we travelled through ancient earth treasure hunts for the origin of crystals; and we even saved the future from doomsday with our invisible weapon called “laughter music!” This was the beginning of an adventure in my reimagining basic assumptions about life and healing, like for example, how the world of opposites actually need each other.

Having been born in Michael Douglas' basement from parents who gardened and cooked for his estate, I was always keenly aware of the social inequities and paradoxes of my California upbringing. When I was 8, my mother took me to Nicaragua and I witnessed the poverty and wars that upheld our affluence back home. I became obsessed with how creativity and other everyday common expressions of love - like sports or healthy food - could bring people together to heal judgements and make change. From teaching in inner city American schools to performing on solar-powered stages to Get Out The Vote, from laying bricks or forest seedlings in Haiti after the earthquake to catching Bono for 3 days straight at a music video / Super Bowl commercial shoot, it's all been part of this larger questioning of how my imagination can help heal our world in crisis. Since then, I've won awards, published a bestselling book and am enroute to hosting a fresh TV series. But it's all with a grain of salt: for no man is an island and our greatest bridge to cross the shark-infested divide might actually just be a song, some seeds or a loving embrace. 

More info @ aaronableman.com

User 345648908 is following