Joanna Wallfisch

Join us for a special evening with renowned singer-songwriter Joanna Wallfisch, who will talk about her new memoir The Great Song Cycle, and perform some of her songs too! 

Joanna will be cycling (with her instruments) from Brisbane to Hobart, and stopping off at Better Read Than Dead along the way! Join us as she takes you on the ride of her life! 

This will be one of those "I was there" events. Don't miss out! 

About the Book

An adventurer at heart, in August 2016 Joanna Wallfish - feeling like she had hit an artistic and emotional impasse - embarked on a solo concert tour of the West Coast of the USA... by bicycle. Over the course of 1,860km she performed solo shows between Portland and Los Angeles carrying her musical instruments, camping gear, and everything else she needed upon her bike. 

The Great Song Cycle follows Joanna’s journey from the moment the idea was sparked in Brooklyn to the triumphant completion at Santa Monica Pier, and everything in between. Throw in some sex, drugs, cooperative accommodation, compromising situations, beautiful encounters, struggles and, of course, more than a little music. Filled with humour, wonder and joy, The Great Song Cycle is a beautifully narrated story of adventure, a journey of discovery, and above all a celebration of the artist’s spirit. 

Her latest album, ‘Far Away From Any Place Called Home’ was inspired by her West Coast USA journey. 

About Joanna

Joanna Wallfisch is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, whose musical style combines her classical routes with her love of jazz, art-song, folk and poetry of all kinds. Born and raised in London to renowned violinist Elizabeth Wallfisch and cellist Raphael Wallfisch, she studied jazz performance at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. 

In 2012 she moved to New York City, where she performed and collaborated with musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Kenny Werner, Sam Newsome, Lee Konitz and Dan Tepfer. She is an active member of WIJO (Women In Jazz Organisation). 

Joanna has released five albums of original music: Wild Swan (2011), The Origin of Adjustable Things (2015, Sunnyside Records), Gardens In My Mind (2016, Sunnyside Records), Blood & Bone (2018, Sea Gardens Publishing) and Far Away From Any Place Called Home (2019, Sea Gardens Publishing). 

As well as performing internationally, Joanna is a passionate educator and takes her songwriting and teaching skills to outreach programs, schools and colleges. In 2016 she travelled to Mumbai to volunteer with charity Songbound, bringing music education to impoverished children. She is currently based in Los Angeles, where she works non-profit Urban Voices Project (UVP), bringing music education and choir to the Skid Row community. With UVP Joanna is piloting a program named Family Sing, focused on children and mothers who are experiencing homelessness. 

For more on Joanna visit www.joannawallfisch.com.