WOW IS COMING TO GLADSTONE!
WOW IS COMING TO GLADSTONE!
WOW MARKETPLACE & FREE COMMUNITY PROGRAM
Goondoon Street 9am – 7pm
The WOW Marketplace is free for all to attend and will feature lunch-time performances, arts & crafts, local businesses, social enterprises and women’s organisations from across the region. From 5pm a spectacular concert in the Library Amphitheatre will see Gladstone serenaded by a 17 piece big band, featuring a special performance by a local ensemble of women who have been working with Brisbane-based Choir master, Aunty Ruth Ghee and have written a new ‘Gladstone’ song with House of Dan.
This free community program is made possible with support from the Australian Government through the Festivals Australia program and Art Matters.
FREE ENTERTAINMENT
Amphitheatre
12.00pm Lune Noir
12.20pm WOW Gladstone Angry
Women's Choir
12.40pm Veils of Arabia
5.00pm Gemma Farrell Quartet
5.20pm Little Mel
5.50pm WOW Gladstone Angry
Women’s Choir
6.20pm Unladylike Big Band
Tai Chi Time!
Amphitheatre
9.30am – 10.30am
Get prepped for your Festival Day with the graceful art of Tai Chi.
Learn movements that promote balance, flexibility and calm. Suitable for all levels, it is a perfect way to enhance emotional wellbeing and harmony.
Bellydance
Amphitheatre
1.15pm – 2.15pm
Join Veils of Arabia for a gentle introduction to belly dance. Learn the basics of the Middle East’s most famous dance, exploring the movements, music and rhythm, whilst having a great time. The group values inclusivity, cultural appreciation, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for all.
ARTIST BIO’S
Lune Noir
Local Gladstone trio, Lune Noire was born out of a shared love for timeless music and the desire to bring a unique blend of styles to modern audiences. Naomi, Melissa and Alysa met through their mutual passion for creating music. Holding a deep respect for the classics – Lune Noire is more than just a band; it’s a musical experience.
Gladstone Angry Women’s Choir
Formed specially for Gladstone WOW Festival, this talented ensemble of local women have worked alongside Choir Master, Ruth Ghee in the lead-up to the Festival and will entertain us with two performances. The women have also worked alongside House of Dan’s Danielle O’Keefe and emerging composer, Leila Harris, which will be recorded after the event.
Veils of Arabia
Veils of Arabia is a Gladstone-based belly dance group that brings a touch of Middle Eastern flair to local events. Their performances feature graceful movements, colorful veils, and props like swords and canes. With a focus on family-friendly entertainment, they tailor each show to suit the occasion—whether it’s a community fundraiser, school fete, or private celebration. The group values inclusivity, cultural appreciation, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for all.
Gemma Farrell Quartet
Gemma Farrell is an internationally renowned jazz saxophonist, composer, educator, D'Addario Artist and Artistic Director of WAYJO (WA Youth Jazz Orchestra). Currently a PhD candidate and lecturer in jazz studies at WAAPA, Gemma leads the WAYJO Pathways Program, Progressions (formerly known as Young Women in Jazz).
Under her leadership, the program was nominated for the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Music Education in both 2023 and 2024. Her contributions to the field were recognised when she received the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for WA State Luminary in 2024 and the Australian Women in Music Award for Humanitarian 2024.
Little Mel
Little Mel aka Mel Lathouras is a powerhouse soul-jazz vocalist, songwriter, and storyteller known for her electrifying voice, magnetic stage presence, and flair for the theatrical. Described as “Aretha Franklin fronting the Stooges”, Mel blends jazz, soul, blues, and Greco Retro (Greek + jazz/soul fusion) into a sound that’s uniquely her own. Mel is also the founder of Fearless Singer—a coaching and community platform empowering femme artists to love their voice, claim their space, and live their creative hustle. When she’s not belting Greek soul ballads or tearing into jazz classics, she’s mentoring the next wave of artists to step into their power—loudly and unapologetically.
Unladylike Big Band
The Unladylike Big Band exists as a platform for the historically ‘unladylike’ act of performing jazz music on instruments that may have stereotypically been thought of as masculine.
While there are many grievances surrounding the lack of women represented in jazz we cannot ignore those who are already there. We instead choose to celebrate and recognize those women who have paved the way for the generations to come. Women can play jazz and their voices are valid and important. The 17-piece Unladylike Big Band perform a selection of compositions by women throughout history and contemporary composers including Australia’s very own Gemma Farrell, Louise Denson, and Judy Bailey. The band is a collaboration of some of Queensland’s finest musicians.
