Singer to celebrate iconic performer

THE music and career of one of the highest-selling female artists is set to be performed at the Piano Bar in Ballarat.

Musician Rachael Grace is set to encapsulate six decades’ worth of film and music from icon Barbra Streisand.

Called Watch Closely Now: a tribute to the life, music and career of Barbra Streisand, Grace said it’ll be a tribute to her favourite artist.

“It’s a celebration of her,” she said. “Me growing up singing, I’ve always just admired and loved Barbra Streisand, her voice and her movies.

“This is a bit of a love letter to because she’s shaped the singer and musician that I am.

“This will have music from all her main movies like The Way We Were and A Star is Born. We’ll have some of her early jazz stuff from the 60s and then I’ve taken it to her disco era.

“It’s a cross-section of her biggest hits as well as a few B-side cuts that I personally love.”

Grace will be joined onstage by performer and Piano Bar owner Andy Pobjoy accompanying on piano with his band the Andy Pobjoy Jazz Trio.

She said the show won’t be a typical tribute concert.

“I’ve definitely got a hint of Barbra in there with her blow-wave and some outfits inspired by her. It’s a nod to her but definitely my take on it,” she said.

“There’ll be Barbra trivia throughout, and she always had the pot of tea onstage so I’ll have things like that as little nods.”

Watch Closely Now: a tribute to the life, music and career of Barbra Streisand will take place at Piano Bar Ballarat on Thursday, 16 March.

Tickets are $25 and can be booked at bit.ly/3YmJ4Fb.