Jen Cloher, Mia Dyson, and Liz Stringer are three names synonymous with great songwriting and powerful live performances. Imagine all three together… well someone else did and now this is happening.
The best collaborations are born out of a fan-like admiration for one another’s songs, and this passion has inspired Mia Dyson, Liz Stringer, and Jen Cloher to create an incredible one-off tour that commences at Darwin Festival where they act as each others band, Dyson, Stringer & Cloher will play songs from their own critically acclaimed albums, as well as new tunes they’ve written especially for this show.
Ahead of the performance, we caught up with Jen Cloher to chat cooking disasters, eating on tour, and what she would like to cook for Mia and Liz for their upcoming show.
What were your food influences when you were growing up and what kind of food did you eat at home or with your family?
My Mum was super adventurous, a real foodie. She believed the French and Chinese knew their way around the kitchen so we ate a lot of both. She also made a mean pizza on a pita bread base.
What are your favourite tour van/plane munchies?
Equal parts sweet, sour and salty. Tamari roasted almonds. Dried pear and nectarine. Corn chips and hummus. Chocolate coated licorice balls.
If you could invent a candy bar or a sweet what would it be?
Never-ending chocolate mountain caramel nut explosion bomb.
What type of food do you make sure to avoid before a gig or going on stage?
Stodge.
Imagine for a second you can request anything on your rider for your upcoming show for the Darwin Festival. What food and drinks would you put on it?
Me and my band-mates are predominantly vegetarian so I’m thinking we could roll out Jaques Reymond to provide a full vegetarian degustation. I’ll sample some of the Zucchini, brebis fromage, spiced nougatine, togarashi with lemon caviar, thanks Jacques.
What has been your biggest cooking disaster to date?
It may seem like a small thing but I hate it when my egg cracks on the boil.
What is the best festival food you’ve ever eaten, as a punter or as a performer backstage?
Nannup Festival in WA have the most amazing backstage platters. The stage is in an outdoor amphitheatre in the middle of the bush. Full moon, bandicoots, platter town.
Where’s your favourite music venue to eat at in Australia?
There’s an amazing venue called Meeniyan Hall just near Wilsons Prom in South Gippsland, Victoria. Backstage they have a big table laid out where you sit down to a home cooked meal to a crackling fire. The best bit is dessert where they bring out four freshly baked cakes. No shit.
What music is on the Jen Cloher playing list while cooking?
Triple R in the morning. ABC Classic FM at night.
If you were to cook a meal for Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer who you’ll be performing with at Darwin Festival, what would it be?
I’ve been cooking for them quite a bit while we’ve been in the studio. They seem to like kale, rice, beans, tuna, and crunchy vegetables. I would make them “JCLO’s Mixed Bowl of Good Times and Great Wok N Roll”.
Dyson, Stringer & Cloher At Darwin Festival
Friday 23rd August
The Lighthouse, 7pm
