COPACABANA COMES TO YOU
FREE SUNSET SONGS AT NORTH COTTESLOE
FRIDAYS 4 DEC 2020 – 26 FEB 2021 (except Christmas Day).
Perth-based Brazilian Jazz singer Juliana Areias, “The Bossa Nova Baby”, brings Copacabana to Perth, presenting her “Sunset Songs” at North Cottesloe over summer. Free open air performances will be given every Friday from the 4th of December 2020 to the 26th of February 2021 (except Christmas Day) – 6-8pm at the public platform at Marine Bay, North Cottesloe, between Barchetta and The Blue Duck Cafes.
After moving to Cottesloe some twelve months ago, Brazilian Jazz Singer Juliana Areias, is now inspired to produce a free public performance series by the sea called “Sunset Songs”, at North Cottesloe.
Internationally known as “The Bossa Nova Baby”, Juliana’s artistic vision is to re-create in North Cottesloe the magical atmosphere of Rio de Janeiro in the 60s when bossa nova was born at the iconic beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana. To fulfil this vision, Juliana Areias will perform songs from her bossa nova and Brazilian Jazz repertoire in duo format with superb young talent and WAAPA-graduate seven-string guitarist Joshua de Silva.
“It has been my dream to sing gentle bossa nova and bring a bit of the Copacabana 60’s atmosphere to North Cottesloe. North Cottesloe is my favourite beach in Perth – I have visited it for many years and now I walk along it every day. I think these performances will have a special meaning this particular summer holiday season when, due to Covid risks and restrictions, we are not encouraged to travel outside Western Australia. I am so looking forward to sharing my passion, making people feel on holiday without travelling and helping us to appreciate and celebrate even more this extraordinary city we live in. North Cottesloe in many ways is more beautiful than iconic beaches such as Malibu, Bondi, Copacabana and Ipanema. I hope our Sunset Songs will contribute to enhance this perception”.
The Sunset Songs at North Cottesloe Project receives much-appreciated sponsorship from local business Barchetta, and Juliana’s wardrobe, with a different dress for every Friday over summer, is generously supplied by her dress sponsor Melko of Melbourne. Juliana was delighted when she was issued with an unprecedented official permit from the Town of Cottesloe to present this series of performances on the North Cottesloe platform. She then applied for a state government grant to support the project, but was not successful in that round of funding. Despite the lack of grant funding, Juliana has decided to go ahead with the project on a substantially self-funded basis.
“I understand it isn’t always easy for people to appreciate the value of something that’s unfamiliar, something they haven’t experienced yet – but coming from a culture where music is an essential part of everyday life, I am a true believer in the importance of live performance, musical and cultural diversity and the role of the arts generally to inspire one’s sense of identity, happiness, and feelings of mutual understanding and belonging. Apart from my gratitude for the enthusiasm and support of my love, artist Geoffrey Drake-Brockman, my kids Jobim and Lilas Areias da Mata, friends and fans, my special thanks go to Brazilian fashion outlet Melko (Totem Australia) that has been dressing me for over ten years, for the pivotal support offered by Jane King, director of the Barchetta restaurant, and also to Louise Howden-Smith OAM, founder of Ochre Contemporary Dance Company and 2014 Western Australian of the Year for Arts and Culture – for bravely sharing and believing in this artistic vision. We hope to see people of all ages, coming to enjoy the music and sunset with us and feeling free to interact and enjoy anyway they like, by dancing, watching, swaying, walking, dating, bringing a picnic, having a drink or meal at the cafes alongside or just stopping by for a moment.”
Juliana Areias is an award-winning Brazilian singer-songwriter. Her debut original album “Bossa Nova Baby” won “Best Brazilian Album” at the US Focus Brazil Awards in 2019 and spent five weeks in the US Jazz Top 100. Juliana has been nominated five times for Western Australian Music Awards including Best World Music Act and Best Song. Dubbed the “Bossa Nova Baby” by iconic Brazilian journalist Ruy Castro, Juliana has performed across Europe, USA, Japan, Latin America and Australia – including shows at the Sydney Opera House, Montreux Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s in London, the Green Room in New York, Fukiagi Hall in Japan, Auckland Festival, and Beco das Garrafas in Rio de Janeiro. Now it is your turn to feel spellbound by the Bossa Nova Baby, Juliana Areias.
–“The idea of mixing styles and cultures is reflected in Areias’ life and her music.”, Daily Record – USA
–“Rhythmically perfect and passionate vocal delivery. The toast of the Perth Jazz Scene. The release of Bossa Nova Baby has elevated her above a mere covers singer or bossa specialist. The singer excels in an elegant co-composed duet (Belas Artes) with Australia’s finest Brazilian-oriented 7-string guitarist, Doug de Vries” – The Australian
–“We celebrate the changing face of Australian music with Brazilian-born, Perth based singer Juliana’s excellent, Bossa Nova-centred album.” – ABC Radio National
–“It’s bossa that plays soccer with Jazz – as it has since the 60’s – and scoring a goal.” – O GLOBO – Brazil
–”A wonderful Brazilian-Australian bossa nova baby with contemporary bossa nova songs.“– Key and Chords – Belgium
For more information visit: www.JulianaAreias.com
Juliana Areias - The Bossa Nova Baby 