Women in Voice returns to the Powerhouse Theatre, celebrating its 30th anniversary. Truly it is wonderful to see that this staple of the Brisbane performing arts has returned post-COVID to inject life into your veins after countless lockdowns. It stands as a reminder of the power music has to bring us together. 

Women in Voice will surprise and delight you with the various musical styles and the unique personalities it infuses into the performance. Starting off the night the audience heard singer-songwriter Naomi Andrew bring the beat in with r&b soul tunes like “Not That Kind”, and other powerhouse hits, while taking a moment to discuss the importance of self-love and self-compassion. Menaka Thomas made a great addition to the performance, bringing the rich sounds of Indian fusion to the table, sharing her musical process and the story behind it. Thomas reminds us of the fact that we all have a story to tell and how music can be a way to share and connect our story with others.

The performance didn’t end there and soon powerhouse vocalist Irena Lysiuk arrived on stage to share her story growing up in Logan and falling in love with the band Savage Garden. Lysiuk went on to sing an entire set dedicated to a number of Savage Garden hits in varying styles, which highlighted her vocal capability and musical expertise. The fan-favorite Fabulous Dame Farrar otherwise known as Carita Farrer Spencer returns to the stage to dazzle WIV audiences once again, as we raise a glass to yet another successful performance celebrating a group of unique and talented women in different stages of their life and career, wishing them all the best in their future endeavors. Truly I have to take my hat off for the team behind WIV for creating and presenting an enjoyable, playful and yet cohesive vision out of many different musical styles and performers.

Lastly our guide is the quirky and likable Sophie Banister, as she introduces the singers onto the stage, performing a handful of her own songs in between these acts, inducing plenty of chuckles along the way. I strongly recommend attending an upcoming Women In Voice event, each time I have attended they have been wonderful, furthermore discussing with friends who have been many times they have also given glowing reviews.  So you can discover for yourself why Women in Voice has become a much-loved event on the Brisbane music calendar. 

Joanna Letic