FEATURE - Maleny Arts Alive – A Circus of the Senses

Saturday August 2 is going to be a sensational night in Maleny – there will be dancing in the street – so folks, put the date in your diary!

by Judy Fredriksen

As the moon rises over Maple Street, enchantment will take hold as music from dozens of talented musicians fills the air, joining the creative heartbeats of myriad entertainers: singers, dancers, musicians, comedians, circus performers, painters, sculptors, poets, face painters … there will be something for everyone of all ages. 

Hosted by the Maleny Arts Co-op, the evening will bring the community together for a fusion of fun, funk and festivities.

“The vision is to have the artists of Maleny and surrounds showcased and celebrated, and to shine a massive spotlight on the talent we have right here in the hinterland,” says Steve McLeish, event co-ordinator.

“The arts movement creates nightlife; creates an artistic environment with beautiful murals and art galleries that are full of incredible things; and musicians on the street. It brings a sense of attachment to the place and belonging.

“The idea of the event itself is to create something that feels like it's alive with activity and learning. A place where you don’t know what's going to happen next. It’s flowing and emotive.”

And alive and flowing it certainly will be!

The most novel event of the evening will be a panpipe pop-up orchestra, organised by Linsey Pollak, internationally renowned musician, instrument maker, composer, musical director and community music facilitator. Bringing a community together through music is one of Linsey’s favourite missions in life.

“Music can build a more creative society that enjoys and respects the contributions of many cultures. It empowers the marginalised and brings disparate people together,” says Linsey.

Linsey is not new to working with large groups of panpipes, having notably conducted thousands of audience members as part of the 1995–96 Woodford Folk Festival fire event.

At Arts Alive Linsey hopes to have hundreds of attendees join him in a specially prepared orchestral piece. An expert in making wind instruments, Linsey has been busy fashioning hundreds of colour-coded panpipes that will be handed out to anyone in the street who would like to participate.

“Stephanie Arlidge of Sweet Chilli, and Tom Richter who runs the Maleny Ukulele group, are writing unique pieces of music for us that will combine existing community music groups together with the panpipe orchestra,” says Linsey. 

“At 7.15pm all the music stages will take a break. We’ll have been distributing panpipes and teaching the various panpipe’s grooves for the previous two hours and we will all congregate near the IGA to unleash a massed panpipe orchestra – combined with local community music favourites – Mama Buluku; Sweet Chilli; Mouth Orchestra; and the Maleny Ukulele group.” 

Entertaining the hinterland for over 20 years, Sweet Chilli is an all-female a cappella choir, led by sensational songbird Stephanie. Sweet Chilli relishes any opportunity to uplift audiences with their soaring vocals.

“We love our music to move people, and to be relevant to their concerns and their hearts,” says Stephanie.

As the name ‘Mouth Orchestra’ suggests, Brian Martin’s amusing vocalists deliver beautiful strains of spiritually inspired harmonies without any accompaniment. The Arts Alive event will be a wonderful occasion to “bring to life pieces that come from different traditions and parts of the world,” says Brian. 

According to Tom Richter, Maleny Ukulele group will use the event to offer up some clever arrangements and quirky songs. 

It's easy to be entranced by the mesmerising beats of Mama Buluku, who are always proud to perform in their hometown. Their seamless blend of unusual choreography and

West African drumming is a sensory delight. 

Among the many other performers and of particular interest will be local award-winning youngsters: Shanleigh Rose, Phoebe Rose and Henry Catania.

Since winning the NAB Gympie Muster Junior Talent Search in 2023, Shanleigh has become a notable singer/songwriter. Shanleigh says it’s a big event for the community and she finds it gratifying to be able to perform in her hometown where her passions will be validated. 

“It (the event) is a great networking opportunity, a chance to meet with, be inspired by, and learn from other artists. It’s a powerful way of preserving the music industry.”

Although Phoebe is a rapidly rising country music singer who has won numerous awards and has opened for country and western luminaries Lee Kernaghan and Max Jackson, she too loves the idea of performing in Maleny. 

“To me, it’s about connection. Maleny is such a beautiful place, a happy place. It’s a place where artists can share their artistry and music.”

The night isn’t just about music though. Bookstores, cafes and restaurants will be open, hosting poets and authors. Local schools and community groups will come together to create spectacular lanterns to light up the streets, weaving magic into the atmosphere. 

There will be face painting, street theatre, artisan stalls, art installations, workshops and much more. So expect an evening of fun, creativity, culture, and community spirit.

All funds raised from ticket sales will go directly back into supporting the arts community and the artists presenting this spectacular event. 

The street will close from 5pm. Cost: $28 for Maleny Arts Co-op Members; $35 for non-members. Children under 16 free. Full program and tickets: artsalivemaleny.com.au