Mzaza tours The Birth and Death of Stars

Balkian-French-inspired folk outfit Mzaza will perform in the Northern Rivers on September 15 as part of a national festival tour.

The acclaimed stage show The Birth and Death of Stars, written by Pauline Maudy and directed by Finnish animator Benjamin Knapton, blends musical performance and theatrical production in an exhilarating and otherworldly live experience.

French-born Maudy recently took out the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards Artist of the Year.

The three-time Queensland Music Award-winning group will tour across Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory for 19 dates, including the Darwin Festival, the New Annual Festival in Newcastle, and the North Australian Festival of Arts in Townsville.

Blurring the boundaries between music and theatre, Mzaza is lauded for mesmerizing vocals in three languages, electrifying live music, and innovative collage animation, inviting audiences on a voyage to discover what links us to each other and the world around us.

The Birth and Death of Stars is the group’s most recent and third album and was recorded in Athens, Greece. The album’s 12 songs explore astronomy, philosophy and Greek mythology themes, drawing inspiration from history’s philosophers and astronomers.

James Lees of Brisbane Powerhouse said the show reminded him of two things.

“It’s the profound value of music and art to take us out of our daily lives.

“And also, to remember to look up and away from our screens and pressing demands. Above us are the sky, the stars and the cosmos unfolding in an aeons-old story that we are just a tiny part of.

“This beautiful perspective combines virtuoso playing, stunning vocals, gorgeously atmospheric visuals, and lighting. We are all stardust indeed.”

The six-piece ensemble’s timeless sound includes vocals, accordion, violin, percussion, shah kaman, double bass, and flamenco guitar.

For tickets to the Brunswick Picture House concert, head to mzaza.com/shows