Live Sound – Geoff McGahan

Archie Roach – Mission Songs Project QMF 2019

Geoff2019-07-07T16:42:02+10:00

The week-long regional tour of Mission Songs Project culminated in a performance as the curtain rasier for Let Love Rule with Archie Roach as part of the 2019 Queensland Music Festival at the Tivoli last night. It has been an amazing week taking us to Longreach, Palm Island, Gympie and back home to Brisbane. It is always fantastic to visit new places, but this time is was also great to work with a whole lot of new musicians and crew, that trust and allow me help present their story, and to be a part of their creative journey.

Check out Jessie’s page about The Mission Songs project here, and get an insight into an interesting and important part of Australian Musical, and cultural history and you can hear Archie Roach’s Let Love Rule album Spotify

Archie Roach – Mission Songs Project QMF 2019Geoff2019-07-07T16:42:02+10:00

Opera Queensland’s Tosca

Geoff2019-06-25T14:12:42+10:00

Opera Queensland presents Puccini’s Tosca

Often described as the greatest opera of them all, Tosca embraces the grand themes of the human spirit brought to life by one of the greatest composers of them all, Giacomo Puccini.

Tosca will transport QPAC’s Lyric Theatre to 1970s Italy where political and religious tensions are at breaking point. Tosca, a famous opera singer, is devoted to painter Cavaradossi but Scarpia, the tyrannical Chief of Police, has his own plans for her. What ensues is a gripping tale of lust, betrayal and cold-blooded murder that careens at breakneck pace.

This new production directed by Opera Queensland’s Artistic Director Patrick Nolan and conducted by Oliver von Dohnányi features an all-star company headlined by New York-based Australian soprano Rachelle Durkin, Angus Wood, Sam Hartley and José Carbó. In a world of political tyranny and widespread intolerance, Tosca offers a timeless plea for artistic and political freedom. This is opera where women are not afraid to fight for their right to be equal.

It was such a pleasure to work alongside OQ and the QSO as the Sound Designer for this production.

Opera Queensland’s ToscaGeoff2019-06-25T14:12:42+10:00

Thundamentals x QSO

Gallery

Thundamentals x QSO

Geoff2019-06-17T15:52:39+10:00

Thundamentals + Queensland Symphony Orchestra Present I Love Songs: A Night at the Symphony

Acclaimed Australian hip-hop trio Thundamentals will stage a special one-off show with Queensland Symphony Orchestra in I Love Songs: A Night At The Symphony, re-imagining their acclaimed new album I Love Songs in its entirety, plus playing some of their most loved hits from the past decade alongside the mighty Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Ten years deep into their career, the reputation of Blue Mountains hip-hop trio Thundamentals – Tuka, Jeswon and DJ Morgs – is undeniable. From their debut self-titled EP in 2008, their acclaimed ARIA and J Award nominated 2017 album Everyone We Know, to the highly anticipated upcoming release of their fifth studio album I Love Songs, the band has evolved musically, inspired lyrically and become one of Australia’s most exciting and powerful acts.

It was great to work with The Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Gordon Hamilton (Arranger) once again on such a different programme.

Photography by Lachlan Douglas @ www.somefx.com

Thundamentals x QSOGeoff2019-06-17T15:52:39+10:00

Bleach Festival – Verdi’s Requiem

Geoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

A Fantastic week spent on the Gold Coast at HOTA (Home of the Arts) doing Sound Design for this show as part of the Bleach Festival. 2019’s festival culminated in a highly evocative and engaging performance of Verdi’s Requiem, presented by Opera Queensland and The Queensland Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra.

Giuseppe Verdi’s setting of the Latin Requiem Mass is one of the great choral blockbusters, rivalling Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s own Requiem for popularity. Already outsized for performances in most churches, the Requiem will break free of the concert hall in Opera Queensland’s 2019 season, coming to the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts for an outdoor performance, in collaboration with the Bleach* Festival, that promises plenty of surprises

(Limelight Magazine, April 2019)

It was an incredible evening, put together by countless creatives and performers. Congratulations to all those from Bleach Festival, HOTA, Opera Queensland, Griffith University and the crew I worked alongside from Norwest Productions – it was a truly exhilarating performance that looked and sounded amazing.

Bleach Festival – Verdi’s RequiemGeoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

A Flowering Tree

Geoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

Opera Queensland’s Production of John Adams A Flowering Tree

A Flowering Tree was Opera Queensland’s first opera of their 2019 Season. This was my first time being involved with OQ for a number of years, and it was great to be part of this semi-staged opera in QPAC’s Concert Hall.

Kumudha is a young woman with a secret power – the ability to transform herself into a tree covered in valuable blossoms. But sometimes rare gifts can inspire both love and jealousy in equal measure.

Exploring themes of magic, transformation and the healing power of deep and selfless love, A Flowering Tree is a majestic retelling of a traditional Indian folk tale by world renowned composer John Adams.

Images by Stephanie Do Rozario

A Flowering TreeGeoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

Voices of Remembrance

Geoff2019-06-20T16:47:47+10:00

What a fantastic project to be apart of. We commemorated the Armistice Centenary this November with Voices of Remembrance, a moving musical tribute to the end of the First World War.

Award winning songstress Katie Noonan and renowned New Zealand baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes will take audiences on an incredible musical journey—through a poignant collection of iconic songs that reflect on the First World War experience and current impressions of the Anzac legacy.

Directed by Daniel Evans and under the musical and choral direction of Dr Jonathon Welch AM, Voices of Remembrance will feature many iconic melodies and modern favourites—some triumphant, others contemplative, but all in honour of our past and present servicemen and women.

The talented leads will be supported by a specially-formed choir of 200 local singers, alongside an orchestra of local players.

A highlight of the evening will be the world premiere of a new piece by composer Gordon Hamilton, inspired by our First World War troops and their selfless sacrifices they made to bring the war to an end.

These performance in Carins and Toowoomba mark the 100 year anniversary of the signing of the Armistice – the historic agreement of 11 November 1918 that led to the end of the First World War. It is part of the Queensland Government’s Armistice Centenary commemorations, which help Queenslanders recognise and pay respects during this important anniversary.

Voices of RemembranceGeoff2019-06-20T16:47:47+10:00

Eskimo Joe and Camerata

Geoff2019-06-17T15:38:16+10:00

Another great gig for Brisbane Festival – My first time working with Eskimo Joe and ably accompanied by Brisbane’s own Camerata. What a great rocking concert!

Iconic indie rock band Eskimo Joe rocks to the full backing of Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra. Over the past 21 years, Eskimo Joe has had its music released to great acclaim in the US, Canada, Europe and Korea.

With six studio albums and sales exceeding 750,000 in Australia alone, the band has seen three of its albums debut at Number 1 on the ARIA charts and has racked up an impressive 35 ARIA nominations.

Conducted by Vanessa Scammell, Eskimo Joe and Camerata will perform the band’s greatest hits, including “From the Sea”, “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” and “Foreign Land”.

Eskimo Joe and CamerataGeoff2019-06-17T15:38:16+10:00

Megan Washington and QSO

Geoff2019-06-20T17:02:46+10:00

Megan Washington has a voice that dances with, wraps around, skates across and creates instant melodies. The West Australian

★★★★½ – Don’t be on the wrong side of the history being made at these shows. The Sydney Morning Herald

With her feet once firmly rooted in jazz, Megan Washington burst onto the Australian music scene in 2008 with a unique and evolving approach to indie-pop and alternative rock.

The two-time ARIA Award-winner and multi-platinum selling artist and her band will join Queensland Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Foreman, performing her forthcoming album in full and a selection of favorites from her previous three.

Don’t miss one of the defining Australian female singers of our age in this magnificent orchestral collaboration.

It was great to work with Megan again after so many years providing the Orchestra Submix. I remember recording a song for Australia Post that Megan sang on while she was still at school. She was also a guest vocalist on the Blackwood CD that I recorded, with a beautifully engaging performance of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.

Megan Washington and QSOGeoff2019-06-20T17:02:46+10:00

Hilltop Hoods Orchestra Mix

Geoff2019-06-17T16:13:02+10:00

Thanks to the Hilltop Hoods for having me along to mix the Queensland Symphony Orchestra at Boondal Entertainment Center for the Brisbane leg of their Restrung Tour 2016. It was a great experience. Also thanks to Peter, Matthew, Vinnie, Heather and all the players from the QSO for being so easy and extremely accommodating during the gig.

Hilltop Hoods Orchestra MixGeoff2019-06-17T16:13:02+10:00

Sound Designer for The New Black

Geoff2019-06-17T15:53:32+10:00

It was a great pleasure to be involved as the Sound Designer in the debut performance of The New Black at The Arts Centre Gold Coast.

The New Black is a brand new musical hailed as the next Bran Nue Dae by Cameron Woodhead of The Age.

Jim Kokatha is a young, bright, educated, Aboriginal man on the way up at a prestigious Brisbane law firm. But when his Aunty expects him to represent her at an inquest, Jim is caught between his aspirations and his responsibilities. In trying to reconcile the two, he takes us on an uplifting journey full of comedy, drama, song, dance and spectacle.

The New Black is savvy, professional, urban, ambitious… and cheeky!

Featuring Leeroy Bilney as the young gun lawyer, Ernie Dingo as his father, Robyn Archer will return to the musical stage as the charismatic Magistrate Madeleine Hawkshire. Elaine Crombie who featured in Redfern Now will shine as Aunty Eileen, William Zappa will play Rupert Kerighan. Marcus Corowa has written songs for the production. A Deadly Award winner, his music is turning heads amongst music fans with his catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics and silky smooth singing voice. Drawing on his Aboriginal and South Sea Islander roots, Marcus combines elements of country, pop and funk to create a soulful sound that is distinctly his own.

Sound Designer for The New BlackGeoff2019-06-17T15:53:32+10:00