Just about to board……

Just about to board the plane to China. Aaron and I met up in Sydney yesterday, ran through our set list and caught up after almost two years…. Very exciting to be playing music together again….xo

stringmansassy at World EXPO 2000 (Hanover)

So, with 5 days to go until we depart for Shanghai, perhaps a visit to our first EXPO experience is in order.  Ten years on we are a little more polished and hopefully more mature, but from one EXPO to another, I am sure the infectious excitement and energy this event brings to a city will be the same….

stringmansassy spent five months performing at the Australian Bar at the Australian Pavilion at World EXPO 2000 Hanover, Germany.  And what an experience that was!!  We arrived as fairly naive jazz musicians in our early twenties.  At the end of five months, we had braved the cold, the late nights and the huge crowds at one of the most popular bars on site.  We grew up as individuals and evolved as musicians, expanding our repertoire and performance and leaving as touring artists with a more defined idea of the musical journey we were headed on.

For those of us that were there at EXPO 2000, Hanover came alive and certainly embraced the energy of the Australian Pavilion.  Aaron and I will be forever grateful to John Morris and the crew at the Australian Bar and Peter Tesch and the Pavilion staff, for giving us the opportunity to be a part of such an extraordinary event.  We are especially grateful to the German (and international) audience who really challenged us to become performers. Thank you for your enjoyment of and passion for music and most of all, for your support and belief the we had a special musical experience to offer.

This video is ‘All I Want’, our first original song written by Aaron.  Featuring River Petein on saxophone (who joined us in Hanover for three months) and the staff and guests at the Australian Bar.  Recorded by Jens Berkmann (Thank you Jens!) on October 25th, 2000.

Less than 2 weeks to go until China….

Aaron and I are what you would call EXPO veterans!  We began in 2000 with Hanover, went to Aichi in 2005 and have once again been invited to participate in this illustrious world event.  This year, it’s Shanghai and our first trip to China.

It is not without a certain level of excited anticipation that I say that I cannot wait to be a small part of the cultural events on offer at the Australian Pavilion. I am beginning to understand what it must feel like to be an Olympic athlete (minus the years of strenuous training) returning year after year in their bid for gold.  Perhaps a little less dramatic than that, but as close as I am ever going to get…..

So….with less than two weeks to go, I am dusting off the vocal chords, organising everything in minute detail for my loved ones left behind and revisiting the idea again and again, that for 9 days I will be a singer and not a mother.  Aaron and I have a night in Sydney to regroup and revisit all the songs we wish to share.  This will be an exciting process in itself.

The details we know at this stage, two performance per day at the Australian Pavilion from June 14th to 20th.  Performance times to be confirmed.

If you have any friends in Shanghai or are venturing there yourselves in the next two weeks, please come, visit and share the EXPO experience with us…xox

“My Favourite Things”

Oh, how I have always adored Julie Andrews!!!  The irony of performing this song for 12 years – I don’t think Aaron has ever made it through the entire movie.

The final song of a long and magical night from our performance at the Uki Hall (Northern NSW) in February 2008.  Enjoy!! xox

My Favourite Things (Rogers/Hammerstein)
Scarborough Fair (Simon/Garfunkel)

Hi…..from Kacey

For both Aaron and I, music is does not solely dwell in the realm of entertainment.  It is a transporting and emotional experience and as musicians, we always tried to transform the energy within a space.  It was always a pleasure and an honour to share our passion with an audience and especially magical, if that audience allowed us to take them on a journey.

Although life has led us both down different paths for the past few years, we have always talked of regrouping stringmansassy and creating more music together.  In a sense, I think we have always felt that there was more to say, more to experience and more to share and that the ‘life’ of our duo is far from over. So then, begins our journey into the cyberworld…..perhaps as a precursor to the next stage of the stringmansassy journey.

As touring performers, we were never great at this side of our industry. Far too ‘left-brained’ for both of us. But…..there is so much to share and how could we possibly begin the next stage without revisiting the adventure that preoccupied most of 20′s.  It was an adventure and an incredible life with moments of pure magic.  For those of you that joined us then, we hope enjoy this little retrospective.  For those we have yet to meet, welcome to the world of stringmansassy and we hope to see you on our future travels……..Kacey xox

stringmansassy are going to China

So…..after 12 years of performing and 2 years of semi-retirement, one marriage, 2 children, moving interstate and time to contemplate life beyond living out of suitcases, stringmansassy has (quite out of the blue) been invited to perform at World EXPO 2010 Shanghai China.  What a thrill!!!!  Still in the process of getting visas and accreditation approved, but all going to plan we will be at the Australian Pavilion from June 14th-20th.  Please stay tuned…..xox

The music of stringmansassy!

Welcome to the world of stringmansassy!

A brief introduction to the world of stringmansassy……xox