"It might not be classical Persian music anymore, that’s not something I look for, but I use that culture and language and music that I have in my background to create something new in this new environment." - Gelareh Pour
Gelareh Pour Kamancheh (Persian spiked fiddle) and Voice
Kelly Dowall Ney and Clarinet
Michael Gallichio Electric Guitar
Brian O'Dwyer Drum kit
Gelareh Pour’s Garden brings a new kind of diasporic expression to Australia’s cross-cultural landscape. Founded through the desire to express what it means to be from more than one place, Gelareh Pour presents a modern view of contemporary intercultural music, honouring her classical Persian background, yet with sights set firmly on truly free expression.
“Like the Bad Seeds if you replaced Warren Ellis with Kayhan Kalhor and fronted the group with Diamanda Galás” - Soundescapes
Gelareh first studied in Iran and then obtained her Masters of Ethnomusicology at the University of Melbourne. She has embedded herself into Melbourne’s arts community, collaborating across many genres in the pursuit of new sounds and new ideas.
“A taste of the previously unheard” – World Music Central
Garden’s debut release ‘Garden Quartet’ saw the group embark on a national tour with dates including Melbourne’s Recital Centre and MONA. With a taste for the stage they quickly followed this release with a full live recording captured at Melbourne’s picturesque Bakehouse studios in 2020.
Gelareh Pour and ‘Garden Quartet’ went on to receive a nomination for Excellence in Experimental Music at the 2020 Art Music Awards.
“Free to blossom” – The Mercury
Gelareh Pour’s Garden bring life to the modern Australian musical landscape.
Discover Gelareh Pour’s story and voice in an intimately honest commentary on more than just cross-cultural collaboration, but how it reflects a modern migrant’s journey, personal identity, and community.
Gelareh Pour’s Garden (Garden Quartet) is the defining answer to this question. True to its name, Garden is a place of growth, a place of exploration, where deferring cultures are more than simply combined; they are grown together to form one, a singular expression of the embracing knot of multiculturalism, but also of individuality.
Musically, Garden is unique. It brings together classically inspired traditional Iranian music and modern contemporary western music to create something new, something that at its core can only be described as Australian.
With a somewhat punk ethos of ‘anything goes’, there is no limit to the musical output of Gelareh Pour’s Garden. There is no predecessor for what they are doing, no rules to follow. In this, the experimental voice of Garden challenges its audience to embrace the new, whilst simultaneously honouring their own musical journey and inspirations.
Performance length: 90 mins (including interval)
Program from:
Gelareh Pour's Garden Anxiety Wars
Gelareh Pour's Garden Tanin-e Melbourne
Nick Cave Into My Arms
Gelareh Pour's Garden Don't Be Grumpy
Gelareh Pour's Garden Before You Go
Ramesh Sharmeh Booseh
Gelareh Pour's Garden Speak Forever
Gelareh Pour's Garden When You're Not Yourself You're No-one
Gelareh Pour's Garden I Am An Ocean
Morteza Hananneh Ala Tee Tee
Gelareh Pour's Garden Parisa's Secret
Gelareh Pour's Garden Moonlove Gilava
Mazzy Star Into Dust
Please download Gelareh Pour's Garden's technical specifications here.
Gelareh regularly presents classes across Australia where she shares information and history of her traditional Persian instruments (Kamancheh and Qheychak).
Throughout 2022. Please contact Musica Viva.
Travel to centres in regional NSW is subsidised through the support of Create NSW. Musica Viva can book the artists, arrange all travel and accommodation, provide posters, flyers and program information.
If you are interested in bringing an ensemble to your town or city, please contact:
Sean Moloney
Manager, Special Projects & Regional Touring