Stereo Stories Live 2015: A good night for the roses at VU

Stereo Stories’ fifth gig in less than four months was at Victoria University’s Footscray Park Campus on Thursday evening 30 July. A night of new stories and lovely musicianship.

The evening was presented by the university’s Professional Writing and Editing TAFE course, and included debut stories by two VU graduates, Matthew Naqvi (Aneurysm) and Fiona Price (She Bop).

We also debuted new stories by Stereo Stories’ founding members Stephen Andrew (Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You), Rijn Collins (The Mercy Seat) and Zoe Krupka (A Good Year For The Roses).

All up, the 90 minute show featured eleven Stereo Stories and two original songs (one by Peter Maskell and one by Stephen Andrew).

Many thanks to the Professional Writing and Editing staff and the audience, which braved a chilly, windy, mid-week night to find its way to The VU Bar.

Photos by Sherryl Clark, Mark Hellinger, Julie Merritt, Tony Proudfoot.

Our next gig is an intimate 60 minute show on Saturday 12 September, 2pm to 3pm at Sunshine Library. It’s part of the Brimbank Writers and Readers Festival. Entry is free, but please book.

Nick Gadd reading his story about new parenting, based on Protection by Massive Attack.

Matthew Naqvi recalls his headbanging days in Broadmeadows via Aneurysm by Nirvana.

Rijn Collins reading her story about her love of Berlin, inspired by The Mercy Seat by Nick Cave.

Zoe Krupka reading Stephen Andrew’s hilarious story about share houses, and Bob Dylan’s Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With you.

Lucia Nardo and her father Salvatore Romita: a life of music via Lili Marlene.

Smokie Dawson recalling how Paul Kelly’s Before Too Long ended a young romance.

Rijn Collins’ second story of the evening was a very amusing story about visiting Jackson.

Rick Kane took us into issues of identity and sexuality via Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? Judith (by Gustav Klimt, 1901, oil on canvas) looks on.

Salvatore Romita warming up for the gig. One of the night’s writers had trouble finding the venue, until he heard, from a distance, Salvatore’s piano accordion.

Stephen Andrew, Peter Maskell and Anthony Shortte move the audience with A Good Year For The Roses, accompanying Zoe Krupka’s story about relationships, refrigerators, and roses.