With Rio de Janeiro as the backdrop, and one of the most famous songs in the world at its heart, The Bossa Nova Sunset Club is an intimate and engaging journey through one of the defining eras in modern music. Through songs, stories and beautiful images, the origins of bossa nova are explored in this very personal tale of musical discovery.

Singer and percussionist Anje West and her musical and life partner, vibraphonist Kym Ambrose have drawn many years of inspiration from the music of Brazil, and a career that's seen them acknowledged as one of Australia's best, and longest-lived Brazilian bands.

The show weaves stories from the birth of bossa nova in the late 1950's through to its chaotic demise in the late 60's, all the while showcasing well-known songs and interspersing Anje and Kym's own tales from their travels and adventures in Brazil.

Venue Format
Theatre, Black Box Venue
Technical Rating
D, The production can be modified to suit most venues
Touring Party
Four musicians/performers and one crew. Total of five.
Considerations

No adult content, no difficult or critical tech requirements. It's a very straight-ahead production. The only critical requirement is that a digital projector (to be connected to company laptop), and backdrop be available at each venue (see example photos of concert).

MadCouch Productions is the producing strand of Australia's acclaimed vocalist and bandleader, Anje West, of The View From Madeleine's Couch. Based in Brisbane, Anje independently develops and produces stand-alone shows that have played to sold-out seasons at four Anywhere Festivals, as well as packing out houses for the Queensland Cabaret Festival and Brisbane City Hall. Anje has been a producer of the Lord Mayor's City Hall Concert Series since 2014, programming concerts that have seen some of the biggest audiences ever in attendance for the series, including the 75th anniversary celebrations of the concerts.

Anywhere Festival, sold-out seasons: 2015 (Bossa Nova Sunset Club) 2016 (Bossa Nova Sunset Club - Samba Tropicalia) 2017 (Bossa Nova Sunset Club - Nordestino) 2018 To Sergio With Love 2020: Beyond The Blue Horizon, debuted at Queensland Cabaret Festival to a sold-out house at the Old Museum, with a follow-up performance at the Lord Mayor's City Hall Concert to 1000 people. 2010-14 Director and Producer of the Saideira Brazilian Cultural Festival.

Company Website
madeleinescouch.com

Unique Selling Point

The show is the first of its kind in Australia, and the band's front-woman, Anje West, is the only performer of Brazilian music in Australia who is not only a superb vocalist, singing fluently in Portuguese, but an accomplished percussionist, playing traditional Brazilian instruments as she sings. This musical phenomenon has never been explored on Australian stages, and the show is made unique through not only the telling of the stories, but the inclusion of the beautiful sounds of the vibraphone, original, Brazilian-inspired songs, and personal touches of Anje and Kym's journey through the music and culture of Brazil.

Marketing Materials

A high-definition promotional clip will be finished in mid-December and added to the resources here. Posters and flyers Quality images Merchandise: cds Community singing workshop

Community Engagement

The show stands as a unique entity in Australian world/latin-jazz/folk music scene. The stories told are universal, and connect with people of all ages and interests. The pleasure of listening to beautiful music, the discovery of an unfamiliar history and the unveiling of a legendary song's heritage are all part of the show's experience, leaving audiences feeling as though they've had a beach-side holiday in Brazil and a chat with a local. The experience of feeling like you've visited another land, experienced something from a place far from your own; these feelings can't be manufactured, and the show is very successful at giving audiences a window into another time and place, at lifting them away from the everyday.

A community singing workshop is available as part of the package, and teaches a three-part harmony song in Portuguese. The participants are then invited to perform the song with the band at the end of the show.