THE Anticlinal fold
Saturday June 8th, 12.00pm - Castlemaine Bowling Club
Sunday June 9th, 2.40pm - The Coolroom at the Northern Arts Hotel
Jem Challender - Piano
Ben Gibbons - Double Bass
Dom Hede - Drums
Kate Vigo - Guitar
Astrid Connelly - Vocals
Jo Huf - Vocals
The Anticlinal Fold is a modern jazz ensemble whose focus is on performing original compositions in a swinging and progressive style.
This Castlemaine-based jazz sextet first formed in 2019 for a series of weekly ‘Jazz on the Verandah’ fundraisers. After sell out shows across 2023, the band is now a regular featured act at the Northern Arts Hotel.
The band’s founder and composer, Jem Challender is a winner of the Australian Songwriters Competition and a grand finalist in the UK Songwriting Contest. Jem studied improvisation at the AIM in Sydney under George Golla and Dave McRae. Jem then moved to the UK, spending 15 years playing and touring in London and around the UK. Jem returned to Castlemaine six years ago with a determination to collaborate with local musicians.
Vocalist, Kate Vigo (Music Oz award winner and Triple J Unearthed performing artist) fronts the band, joined by local Bossa Nova specialist, Jo Huf. Jo’s beautiful voice and deep understanding of Latin music has garnered a considerable following in the Goldfields region, performing to a packed house in late 2023 at the Northern Arts with a Jobim Tribute show in collaboration with Jem Challender.
Bendigo-based double bassist, Ben Gibbons is a former side man for folk band the Waifs and is widely regarded as the finest double bassist in the region. Completing the rhythm section is drummer, Dom Hede who is an outstanding local kit and hand percussionist. Dom is a founder of the highly acclaimed Jazz Party.
Early music specialist, Astrid Connelly will also join the band to perform some new songs, melding a modern jazz sound with her pure soprano voice. In 2023, Astrid performed a series of concerts as a soloist with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra choir. The Anticlinal Fold has become a strong and distinctive voice in the local music scene.