Entertainment
31 October, 2025
Female musos on cloud nine
AFTER a standing ovation at WOMADelaide, The Cloud Maker brings its fusion of music, myth and culture to Tanks Arts Centre this Friday 31 October.
Led by acclaimed musician and composer Aviva Endean, the all-female ensemble features five improvisers from Maori, Filipino, Korean, Nordic, Celtic and Jewish backgrounds. Their performance blends traditional mythology with a mix of instruments, including taonga paoro (Maori instruments), bass clarinet, cello, nyckelharpa, percussion and voice creating a soundscape that explores creation, transformation, and the connection between humans and the natural world.
“These are five extraordinary female improvisers, an all-female line-up of master musicians, which is rare to see,” Ms Endean said.
“We shared goddess stories from our cultural backgrounds and the music comes from those stories, carrying the emotion and imagery without words.”
The performance isn’t literal storytelling, but a contemporary musical journey inspired by myth.
“We’re not playing folkloric music, the instruments from folk traditions are woven alongside western instruments to create something entirely new,” Ms Endean said.
The Cloud Maker will be supported by EarthKin, Cairns’ global First Nations band, whose fusion of funk, R&B and jazz adds a modern edge. The show continues a vibrant live music program at Tanks Arts Centre through November and December, featuring acts such as The Smith Street Band, The Strides, The Vanns, Donavon Frankenreiter, COG, Eugene Hideaway Bridges and Thundamentals.
