Ballads and blue mannas
Safety Bay Senior High School music teacher and singer-songwriter Ashlea Reale will take her stories to the stage this weekend at the Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Festival.
Focusing on Australian folklore, Reale explores the stories of Australia’s colonial past on the stage with songs of murder, mystery and plight.
Bushrangers and convicts are a favourite subject matter for the songwriter who recently performed as part of the Musical Fruit Festival, which celebrates artists in the Peel region.
Joined on stage by Marlie Wanseth, the performer has been captivating audiences, combining humour and heart through clever melodic devices.
“I love digging through the archives to find forgotten stories and giving them new life through music” Reale said. “I have written about many subjects, but I can’t turn away an opportunity for a good murder ballad.”
In May, Reale will be taking her murder ballads to Fremantle Prison in a special concert as part of the National Heritage Festival.
Ashlea Reale and the Outlaws will perform on the main stage at the Mandurah Crab Festival on Saturday, March 16 from 2.20pm.
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