Cool Out Sun, THNDO, Immy Owusu, Ziggy Ramo, HALO Vocal Ensemble and more are joining program curator MzRizk at The Bowery Theatre in St Albans for two Fridays in May to celebrate local music and shared community as part of music series Resonate.
“The most special thing about curating Resonate at The Bowery in St Albans is that [it] is where I grew up,” MzRizk, program curator of Resonate, says of the lineup for this year’s edition of the music series.
A pioneering Lebanese Australian DJ, radio presenter, live performer, percussionist and event curator, MzRizk understands the power of music to connect to communities and encourage representation – and has created a program to suit.
Resonate – Bowery Music Series
- Friday 17 May and Friday 31 May
- The Bowery Theatre, St Albans
- You can buy tickets here
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“I did not experience live shows locally growing up, everything was in the city. [Resonate] is an amazing space for locals to experience the arts and music.”
Taking place at The Bowery Theatre in Melbourne’s western suburb of St Albans on Friday, May 17 and Friday, May 31, Resonate is a music series that welcomes both locals and visitors to the area with a spectacular program of both emerging and established artists.
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Alongside music, the space will be injected with visual arts and performance, as well as a selection of food curated by local Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and Pasefika eateries. A space for community connection through music, Resonate at The Bowery will be a way to discover new voices and music, and be inspired by local artists making soundwaves in the scene.
“Representation is important, especially for audiences to see themselves in spaces not commonly seen,” MzRizk says of her thinking behind the curation of Resonate’s lineup. “There are many talented collectives, artists and musicians in the region, and I wanted to showcase them while also introducing them to an audience who would appreciate them.”
With a focus on platforming MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) and SWANA (Southwest Asia and North African) communities and their intersections, MzRizk is able pass the microphone through the act of curation to make a space for a range of voices and talents from a significant part of the city’s diaspora, providing a platform of cultural celebration and musical feast.
“When people get together, music plays a significant role in our culture and the events that take place,” she says. The program for Resonate includes the likes of Soul and R&B artist THNDO, Afro-funk collective Cool Out Sun, singer-songwriter YARA, transcendental choir Halo Vocal Ensemble, as well as powerhouse storyteller Ziggy Ramo.
“I curated acts that all standout,” MzRizk says of the program. “Each artist has a different offering, they are not comparable, and the audience will appreciate the talent, originality and energy each act brings.”
THNDO at Resonate
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MzRizk describes having access to so many accomplished creatives in her vicinity as nothing short of a “blessing”, allowing a program like the one for Resonate to be full to the brim with brilliant musicians and artists. “I am grateful for the creative freedom to curate an epic line-up of extremely talented artists,” she says.
MzRizk herself is no stranger to the stage, having played everywhere from Glastonbury to Golden Plains, as well as running her own renowned community radio show Boogie Beat Suite on PBS 106.7FM.
A trailblazer of the Australian DJ scene, MzRizk’s whole career is centred on connecting people through sound. “Everything I do involves music,” she says. “I am obsessed with music, and I have dedicated all of my energy to making my life musical, and I intend to continue creating new experiences for my community and myself.”
MzRizk
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From never being able to frequent gigs as a young person in her home suburb of St Albans, to now running the phenomenal music series that is Resonate right where she grew up, it’s clear that there’s a growing enthusiasm for events like the Bowery Music Series.
With a brilliant range of food, music and art on offer, Resonate in May is best described by the program curator herself: “There will be something for everyone.”
You can buy tickets to Resonate – Bowery Music Series here.
This article was made in partnership with Resonate.
