The Whitlams frontman embraces his love of cabaret for a special solo Tim Freedman event this August.
Tim Freedman knows his way around a piano and a song, and this isn’t really news to anyone.
With a 30+ year career behind him, The Whitlams frontman is enjoying the do-what-makes-you-happy stage of life that only a handful of legendary Australian songwriters, such as he, have earned.
For Freedman, that means getting up close and personal with his audience for a little cabaret.
Tim Freedman’s Moonlit Deck
- Saturday, 15 August at 7.30pm
- Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds
- Tickets here
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“A lot of my songs are about intimacy and poignancy. They’re little understated stories, and that’s the basis of that old-fashioned art form, cabaret,” he explains.
“Sitting around a piano while someone sings on a Saturday night, it’s the most meaningful thing you can do, I think.
Australia had the greatest per capita rate of pianos in households in any country in the world at the start of the 20th century. We loved our uprights.”
A solo Tim Freedman show is more than just a night of great music.
Sure, you’ll hear some hits and hidden gems in an intimate, unique way, but you’ll also hear some rare stories from an artist who has achieved something that few do – a long career in Australian music.
“Music was a lot more important to people in their 20s back in the 90s. There was less streaming television, and the pub scene was pretty good,” explains Freedman.
“I played whatever I wanted on my first three albums. And then I joined the majors for three, just to try and become a little bit more broad in terms of how it is. I put out a big album, and because it was back when people still listened to the whole album, they got invested in the deep cuts in a way. And that suited me, because we were always an album band, not a singles band.”
Singer-songwriter Rob Snarski of The Blackeyed Susans will also be along for the ride to warm up the crowd at the Clocktower Centre.
“He’s a lovely craftsman,” states Freedman, “He’s got a beautiful voice. He reminds me of the tone of Nat King Cole. A lovely, round voice and very classy opening package.”
Freedman’s solo run will be a great precursor to The Whitlams’ full band return to The Corner Hotel in October, which could be your last chance to catch them for a little while, according to the frontman.
“I’m going to do some more cabaret next year, I’m going to write a new artist profile show (following up his 2014 Harry Nilsson tribute). That’ll give me a chance to give The Whitlams a rest for a year or two, which I always like doing because when we come back, we can do bigger shows and bigger shows are exciting.”
Tim Freedman’s Moonlit Deck takes place on Saturday, August 15th at the Clocktower Centre, and The Whitlams will play two shows at the Corner Hotel on October 9th and 10th.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Moonee Valley City Council’s Clocktower Centre.
