Award-winning electronic duo The Ironing Maidens are steaming into Bundaberg with their Electro Housewife Tour, hosting community and school workshops and a one night only performance.
Delivered locally by Bundaberg Regional Council in partnership with Central Queensland Regional Arts Services Network (CQRASN), The Ironing Maidens will tour through Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, North Burnett and South Burnett delivering an interactive experience that is part installation, part performance and part dance party.
Facilitators Melania Jack and Patty Preece have 15 years’ experience performing and running workshops and said those attending their show could expect a good dance and a lot of fun.
“The Electro House Wife Show is a mix of high energy music, visuals, costumes, lighting, dancing and plenty of ironing puns,” Melania said.
“We sing about the planned obsolescence of white goods (how everything breaks down the day after the 12 month warranty), who is doing the ironing at home and Daphne Oram’s effect on the music tech industry.”
The pair will facilitate school workshops during their visit as well as community music and dance workshops at the Bundaberg School of Arts on 10 October.
“The music workshop will give you an introduction to the world of songwriting and electronic music production using Ableton Live,” Melania said.
“It is a beginner’s level workshop… whether you’re interested in learning to use Ableton for song writing, live performance or making beats, we’ll show you the basics of writing and arrangement.
“In the dance workshop you can get moving, learn some choreography from the show and generally have a good time moving and meeting some new people.
“No experience is necessary for either workshop.”
Melania said the pair started the Ironing Maidens project when they noticed the parallels between the dismissal of women’s work in the home and the lack of recognition for women in music technology development.
“So we started building electronic instruments of our own out of irons (an iconic symbol of women’s work in the 1950s) to discuss and explore these ideas,” she said.
“A friend gave us the name and since then the project has expanded and grown, it has toured internationally and… through small, regional laundromats.”
The local leg of the tour will culminate in a performance at Oodies Café on Saturday 14 October from 5.30 pm, with all workshop participants who have enjoyed learning part of the routine invited to join in.
Melania said they were excited to perform in Bundaberg and find out whether the region thinks their ironing is art.
“We have performed once before at the Bundaberg laundromat a few years ago – which was such a fantastic night, that we are looking forward to coming back, spending more time in the area and visiting more towns,” she said.
“We always meet some great people when we tour out to the regions, and we also get to find out – how many people are still ironing?”
RADF Funding
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said delivering tours like this through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) was a great way to bring exciting performers to the region.
“It’s wonderful for residents to be exposed to workshops and performances they otherwise may not have seen or experienced,” Cr Learmonth said.
“Programs like RADF allow us not only to support our talented local artists but also to bring innovative performers like The Ironing Maidens right to our own back yard.”
For more information on the RADF program, click here.
Dance Workshop with the Ironing Maidens
When: Tuesday 10 October, 5.30 – 7 pm
Where: School of Arts Building
Cost: $15, book here.
Age 12 and older.
Music Making Workshop with the Ironing Maidens
When: Tuesday 10 October, 5.30 – 7 pm
Where: School of Arts Building
Cost: $15, book here.
Age 12 and older.
Electro House Wife
When: Saturday 14 October, 5.30 – 9 pm
Where: Oodies Café
Cost: $15, book here.
Open to all ages.
