An intimate Dinner-and-Show evening with Fred Leone

LIVE AT CHARCOAL LANE features intimate performances by some of our most exciting and celebrated Indigenous acts, established and emerging, up close and personal in a 'dinner and show' format at the iconic Charcoal Lane restaurant on Gertrude Street, Fitzroy.

Operated by Mission Australia, Charcoal Lane pairs fine dining with a training program for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospitality students.  This unique series will offer guests an extended sit-down, catered experience with a focus on native Australian cuisine.

The series will run over 4 evenings with a different menu and program on each night.

Featuring exciting break out artists BUMPY and LAUREN SHEREE as well living legend and former No Fixed Address band leader BART WILLOUGHBY plus Impossible Odds founder FRED LEONE.

Produced by Press Play Presents

FRED LEONE

Fred Leone is a well-respected community leader, with strong Australian Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander heritage. Fred and his family come from the Garawa and Butchulla Tribes.

Fred is one of the Butchulla Songmen, a language custodian, and a ground-breaking, award winning artist who works across genres and mediums to bring a distinctly original voice to his performances and recordings.

Fred is the founder of QLD's only Indigenous owned and operated record label Impossible Odds Records. He has toured as a featured artist with the internationally acclaimed Black Arm Band in Canada, China, Malaysia, Brazil, the UK and Australia and presented solo theatre works in the UK.

Alongside his artistic output and responsibilities as a Butchulla Songman, Fred is one of Australia’s leading arts workers and a tireless champion of Indigenous rights. He was a guest curator and producer of ‘Yawar’ the largest “Corroboree in South East Queensland in 100 years held at QPAC. He sits on the board of the Australian Live Music Business Council and is a current member of the Indigenous Advisory Group for the National Indigenous Music Awards.

Fred is Project Manager for Wunungu Awara (Monash Uni): Animating Indigenous Knowledges. This is a groundbreaking multi art-form project supporting Indigenous communities in their language preservation using animation and music to illustrate songlines from around the country and reinvigorate interest in traditional language.

Fred's latest original music project - Yirinda - is his vehicle to raise awareness of the language and stories of his people.

MENU

Native Australian Platter to share

Braised wallaby with mushroom wontons and wallaby reduction

Crocodile ceviche with beetroot lemon myrtle cured salmon mini emu fillet roast, wrapped in pancetta, olive and sunrise lime tapenade

(Vegan option available)

Choice of main course

12 hour slow cooked wallaby shank with strawberry gum and red wine poached quince, roasted Brussels sprouts (GF)

Seasonal market fresh fish - chef’s selection of fresh local fish, textures and native flavours selected daily

Wild mushroom tian roasted butternut pumpkin and capsicum, tempeh, Jerusalem artichoke puree, coastal succulents, 10yo Ardberg whiskey coconut sauce (GF)(Vegan)

Native Dessert Platter to share (optional 3rd course)

White chocolate coffee terrine wattleseed, macadamia nougat, chocolate bark, Davidson plum coulis

Forest anise chocolate yam torte dark chocolate ganache (vegan) (GF)

Tickets $90 per person for 2 course meal and intimate performance. 3rd course optional at $15 per person. Booking fees apply.

NOTE: due to COVID-19 restrictions, tables cannot be shared by multiple parties and therefore tickets can only be purchased by the table, for parties of 2 or 4.

This venue is wheelchair accessible and dietary requirements can be catered for, please advise at registration.

COVID-19 Info: We are working with the relevant authorities to deliver a COVID-Safe event for visitors, artists and staff. A COVID-safe plan is in place in accordance with latest DHHS guidelines.