‘We were very lucky to have Nick Earls and Chanel Lucas bring their Wisdom Tree event to St Ursula’s College in March this year.
Nick is a terrific raconteur and Chanel a talented songstress. Together they combined words, music, wit and wisdom which made for a thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking evening.’
Gabrielle Rossi, Head of English, St Ursula’s College, Toowoomba
The Wisdom Tree Live event began at writers’ festivals around the country, and now it’s spreading its tentacles. At least in southeast Qld. Nick Earls has teamed up with Chanel Lucas to make it house-sized and bring it to your place, with venues so far including an inner-city unit, a converted church, an avocado orchard on Mt Tamborine, a birthday party on a Gold Coast canal, a school chapel in Toowoomba, an art gallery on Bribie Island and backyards and verandahs across the Brisbane suburbs and beyond.
What is a Wisdom Tree house concert?
It’s you and 19 or more (a lot more, if you’d like) of your friends and neighbours, at your place, with the food, beverage and ambience of your choice, as Nick reads from his Wisdom Tree novellas and gives insights into the stories behind them, and Chanel plays songs connected with each novella, as well as her own material. Feel free to define ‘your place’ as you see fit (as you can see from the venues we’ve already played).
What do I need to commit to if I’m to host a concert?
A space that’ll work for the event, at least 20 attendees prepared to pay $20 cash each, and a plan to feed them. (Whether that’s a cooking frenzy in your own kitchen, pot luck or a mass pizza order is up to you.) You’ll need to get your friends and family to book their spot online via a link that we will send you. Once you get 20 bookings we will confirm the show and go ahead.
What do guests get for their $20?
A 90-minute live show and the chance to rush the merch (books and CDs) at special discounted prices (eg, a full set of Wisdom Tree novellas for $60 – $15 off RRP).
How do I book?
At this stage, we’re available for southeast Qld shows on weekend afternoons or evenings. Contact either of us through any channel that suits you (a comment below would work).
‘In my wisdom, I chose an alternative “art” event for our Matthew Flinders Art Gallery at Bribie Island Community Arts Centre last year – hosting Nick Earls and Chanel Lucas’ literary/musical Wisdom Tree event.
It proved an engaging, fun, informative and delightful delivery of Nick’s novellas of sad, wistful, funny and relatable stories, accompanied and interspersed by thoughtful and upbeat tunes. The mix kept the crowd of 120 involved, cheered and touched – and ended with them wanting more.
It felt like an intimate gig with friends telling travel tales, although it was a large mixed audience of friends and strangers. Those who missed out on Wisdom Tree a la Bribie are pestering us to book them for an encore.
I hope we can.’
Julie Thomson, Venue Manager, BICAC
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Nick Earls is the author of 27 books. Two of his novels have become feature films and five have become stage plays. His Wisdom Tree novellas have so far won five awards in Australia and the US and been shortlisted for five more.
Chanel Lucas is a writer and musician, who has toured extensively in Australia and internationally with her band women in docs. Her music has been played on ABC Radio, Triple J, and on U.S. TV shows, and was listed in the Top 10 of the U.S. Blues and Roots Charts. Warm, pure vocals and gentle folk guitar are Chanel’s signature sound. Her music allows you to stop and take a breath, and enjoy the moments outside of the busy day-to-day.
Nick Earls 