Darcy Gilkerson

An exciting new talent, cellist and composer Darcy Gilkerson is releasing his single On the River from his debut album Acteon. The album is the culmination of a long period of experimentation and exploration in coupling together classical compositional techniques and jazz improvisation. At its strongest, the ensemble comprises both a string quartet and a jazz piano trio, as well as a tenor saxophone and guitar. By playing with different textures within this instrumental configuration, Darcy’s music focuses on simple ideas that are expanded and stretched into broadly layered multi-faceted conversations between multiple artists.

As a queer composer and performer, Darcy's music explores themes of self-discovery, empowerment, trans love and the ever-present ebb and flow between pain and joy. His single On the River, one of the first pieces he wrote for this project, brings to life these ideas through a heartfelt and colourful soundscape and warm, honest melodies. 

Darcy and his band will be supported by Mia Barham, performing a solo set of music, inspired by her time spent in the British Columbian Rocky Mountains in the rugged Canadian winter. Mia has performed with renowned jazz artists from around the globe including Nduduzo Makhatani, Ingrid Jenson and Andrea Keller. She has two releases to her name, both of which have been featured on ABC Jazz, PBS and have been performed at prestigious Melbourne venues The Jazzlab and Tempo Rubato. In the words of Des Cowley (Rhythms Magazine), ‘Barham has a light and airy alto, that favours fluidity over fire, reminiscent of Lee Konitz. With Earth Songs, Barham boldly stakes her claim as a new and original voice’.