Percussion, Conversation, Degustation (series)

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation is an ongoing series improvisational music and cross-artform performance that integrates elements of food, participatory discussion and live music.

About

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation is a series of events featuring improvisational music and cross-artform performance led by Duré Dara, Speak Percussion and friends.  Structured as a series of menus, featuring never to be repeated ‘courses’ of percussion, performance, discussion and food,   Duré and collaborators will encourage you to pause, listen, eat, reminisce, reflect, celebrate, critique and daydream about the past, present and future of experimental music, the restaurant business and social inclusion.

 

Image credit: Darren Gill

Past Work

3 and 4 April 2024

Percussion Conversation Degustation #7, #8 and #9: Sounds Unheard Workshops

Darebin Arts Centre and Arts Centre Melbourne
10am and 12:45pm; 2pm

     

In April 2024, Duré and Kaylie were invited to lead a series of Percussion Conversation Degustation workshops at Arts Centre Melbourne and then Darebin Arts Centre.

It was an opportunity for Duré to share stories about establishing the first restaurant at the Arts Centre with groups of young people.

Food: CC Wok

Images: Darren Gill

3 December 2023

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation #6: Food for Thought

La Mama Courthouse
4pm

 

Food for Thought invited six musicians to create spontaneous compositions responding to aphorisms that have inspired Duré’s life as a creator and advocator.

The short performances were served alongside chickpeas fried with desiccated coconut and spices.

Performers: Callum G’Froerer, Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung, Biddy Connor, Dale Gorfinkel, Alexander Meagher and Zela Papageorgiou

Lighting Operator: John Collopy
Sound Operator: Michael Hewes

Images: Darren Gill

 

3rd December 2023

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation #5: Sounds Unheard Workshop

La Mama Courthouse
12pm

   

In this Sounds Unheard improvisation workshop, secondary students heard from Duré Dara about her fascinating career playing improvised music for more than 50 years. They played; they talked about being a young artist; they ate Rocky Road.

Duré and Speak’s Assistant Artistic Director Kaylie Melville led the group through a number of guided and free improvisations, providing opportunities for students to play and explore their creativity together in a supportive environment.

Images: Darren Gill

2nd December 2023

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation #4: Pot Luck

La Mama Courthouse
7:30pm

 

A celebration of fifty years of improvised music, friendship and sustained community. Featuring musicians spanning the breadth of Duré’s musical life.

Performers: Carolyn Connors, Ren Walters, Tina Stefanou, Scott McConnachie, Joseph Franklin and Duré Dara

Food: Pot Luck

Lighting Operation: John Collopy

Sound Operation: Michael Hewes

Images: Darren Gill

1st December 2023

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation #3: Taster #2

La Mama Courthouse
7:30pm

 

Join Duré as she shares morsels of stories, anecdotes, musings, food and improvised performance.

Performers: Rosalind Crisp, Andrew Morrish and Duré Dara

Lighting Operation: John Collopy

Sound Operation: Michael Hewes

Food: CC Wok and Jour

30th November 2023

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation #2: Before Nightfall #16

La Mama Courthouse
7:30pm

   

Before Nightfall is a series of encounters between Speak Percussion and a featured artist. Working with Duré intensively across one day, these sonic investigations will culminate in an intimate live performance at nightfall.

Performers: Eugene Ughetti, Kaylie Melville and Duré Dara

Food: CC Wok and Just Falafs

Lighting Operation: John Collopy

Sound Operation: Michael Hewes

Images: Darren Gill

4th November 2023

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation #1: Taster

Orbost Studio for Dance Research
4pm

 

Between tastings of different culinary delights, there will be a ‘menu’ of spontaneous performances”percussion, dance and conversation.

Performers: Rosalind Crisp, Andrew Morrish and Duré Dara

Food: Long Paddock

Servers: Ashley Dyer, Jo Moulton

Images: Lisa Roberts

Artists

Concept, Curator and Performer
Duré Dara
Producer
Biddy Connor
Concept, Executive Producer
Ashley Dyer

Percussion, Conversation, Degustation would not have been possible without the support of the following people and organisations.

au-council
Australia Council for the Arts
c-v
Creative Victoria
city-of-melbourne
City of Melbourne

Partners

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