28/10/2025
ANCIENT STORIES AND POWERFUL SOUNDSCAPES CONVERGE IN THE CLOUD MAKER
After a standing ovation at WOMADelaide, The Cloud Maker brings its fusion of music, story and culture to Tanks Arts Centre this Friday, 31 October.
Led by acclaimed musician and composer Aviva Endean, the performance brings together five female improvisers from Māori,
Filipino, Korean, Nordic, Celtic and Jewish backgrounds.
Their collaboration draws on traditional mythology and instrumentation to explore themes of creation, transformation and
connection between the human and natural worlds.
Endean said the project came about through a deep storytelling process that shaped the music from the ground up.
“These are five extraordinary female improvisers, which I think is in itself a unique thing to be able to see, an all-female line-up of absolute master musicians,” she said.
“We all shared with each other the stories of goddesses from our own cultural backgrounds.
“Through that, it became very personal very quickly, and we asked ourselves what resonated with us about those stories and characters, and we made music from that place.”
While inspired by myth, Endean said The Cloud Maker isn’t literal storytelling, instead the music carries the emotion and imagery of those shared narratives.
“We don’t really delve too deeply into the stories in words during the performance, but the music comes from those stories,” she said.
The ensemble blends instruments from a range of cultural traditions, including taonga pūoro (traditional Māori instruments), bass clarinet, cello, nyckelharpa, percussion and voice.
“We are not really playing folkloric music in any sense, but there are instruments that come from folk traditions that are used in the concert alongside Western instruments,” Endean said.
“So, you kind of get this quite contemporary sound that also has glimpses of these really unusual instruments and there is almost always something in there that nobody’s ever seen or heard live before.”
Supported by EarthKin, whose fusion of funk, R&B and jazz brings a modern edge, The Cloud Maker continues a diverse live music program at Tanks Arts Centre across November and December.
November begins with The Smith Street Band on Saturday 1 November, bringing their trademark mix of heartfelt rock and singalong anthems, followed by The Strides on Friday 7
November with their unmistakable reggae, roots and dub sound.
On Saturday 15 November, The Vanns take to the stage with their latest album All That’s In My Head, supported by Brisbane indie rockers Mid Drift.
Later in the month, American musician Donavon Frankenreiter returns to Cairns on Sunday 23 November, delivering sun-soaked folk, roots and vintage rock performance fresh off the back of his US tour.
Sydney’s heavy rock trio COG kick off their Walk The Line tour on Friday 28 November, bringing the raw energy, precision and intent that have made them one of Australia’s most respected live acts. The following night, Eugene Hideaway Bridges delivers an authentic
blend of blues, soul and gospel straight from Louisiana on Saturday 29 November.
Closing out the season, Thundamentals take over the Tanks on Sunday 7 December with their For the Love tour, celebrating 15 years of hip hop mastery while Jeswon, DJ Morgs and Kid Solo of Horrorshow bring their hard-hijng beats and heartfelt anthems.
The Cloud Maker performs at Tanks Arts Centre, Friday 31 October, supported by EarthKin.
Tickets and full program details are available at tanksartscentre.com.
