Creative Original Music Adelaide Celebrates 20 Years Of Supporting South Australian Artists
The community-focused organisation is hosting two special events to commemorate two decades of helping local musicians.
Image Tijs van Leur
COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide) has reached a massive milestone, celebrating 20 years of supporting creative, original music in Adelaide/Tarntanya.
The largely volunteer-run, community-focused organisation has featured more than 500 performers since its first gig in 2005, ranging from experimental music showcases to original jazz productions.
Along with hosting local, national, and international artists, including the likes of Shannon Barnett and Will Vinson, COMA has developed award programs and helped cultivate opportunities for South Aussie artists.
COMA is also the mastermind behind the Emerging Jazz Writer’s Award, which has been presented annually since 2021 to an emerging jazz composer who is female, non-binary or gender non-conforming. The organisation have also commissioned several major musical projects and collaborated with Wheaty Brewing Corp for a range of signature beers with musical pun names. The Sound Alliance mentorship program also returns later this year, pairing artists with mentors from differing musical genres to help with their development.
To mark its 20th anniversary, COMA are presenting two special concerts at the Wheatsheaf Hotel on Friday 4 July and Monday 7 July.
Current Chair, Keira Simmons, says on COMA’s 20 years and the upcoming celebrations: “For 20 years, COMA's amazing volunteer committee - past and present - has given their time, energy and passion to sustain this incredible organisation. I'm so proud to be part of that unfolding story, and deeply grateful to both the committee members and our wider community, who have helped build a thriving platform for artists at all stages of their careers, enriching the cultural life of our city.”
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Wheatsheaf Hotel publican Jade Flavell had this to say about what to expect from the gigs: “One of the great pleasures of the last two decades at The Wheaty has been supporting and celebrating COMA, from its inception to becoming one of the eminent artist-led organisations in the country. COMA’s community of artists and audiences have a joy and commitment that are unmatched, and we are so proud to celebrate such a significant milestone with them.”
The first night takes place this Friday 4 July with a lineup that includes the Enne R. Project (featuring COMA’s Emerging Jazz Writer 2023 award winner, Enne Riganese), PRT Ensemble (with local new music stalwarts Adam Ritchie, Derek Pascoe, and long-time COMA committee member, Emily Tulloch) and Marmalade Trio, who performed at COMA’s first ever performance on 4 July 2005.
Monday (July 7) night’s entertainment includes voiceROM (Jarrad Payne and Dylan Marshall), Here Comes Everything (featuring founding COMA committee member Chris Martin and Derek Pascoe) and The COMA Ensemble, featuring current and recent COMA committee members.
Tickets for all shows are $20 or $12 for COMA members. Grab tickets to the Friday 4 July event here and the Monday 7 July event here.
