Tag: Alana Wilkinson

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Half Time Oranges” – Alana Wilkinson

2024 has already been a massive year for Alana Wilkinson. She earned standing ovations at Woodford Folk Festival, was named the top act at the Illawarra Folk Festival, took her music to the United States for the Folk Alliance International, and toured the country with Ross Wilson and Scotland’s Ryan Young. And all of this came before she released her debut album. Today we get that recording, Half Time Oranges, a collection of songs that can best be described as the sonic equivalent of a warm hug.

The songs capture beautifully ordinary moments, the kind that add up to create a rich, full life. Many explore motherhood, whether she’s hilariously recounting her brain fog in “With My Boob Out” or encouraging her offspring to aim for the stars in the intimate closer “Dream Big.” “Charlie’s Song” is a gorgeous lullaby for the baby she breastfed between takes. We meet other key characters in her life too, her fabulous friend Jack in “Ultraviolet,” her late grandmother in “Shine Through,” the loves that worked out and the ones that didn’t. She brings them to life through her personal lyrics, which really stand out against her stripped-back melodies.

I love the simplicity of this recording. There are no bells and whistles, no artifice, just lovely little songs that are good for the soul.

Half Time Oranges is out now. Alana will kick off her album tour tomorrow.

13 September 2024 – Kulchajam, Cavanbah/Byron Bay
15 September 2024 – Junk Bar, Meeanjin/Brisbane
19 September 2024 – No.5 Church, Baligin/Bellingen
22 September 2024 – Ecovillage Town Hall, Darkinjung Country/Narara
26 September 2024 – Smith’s Alternative, Ngambri/Canberra
6 October 2024 – The Shed Theatre, Bunurong Country/Main Ridge
26 October 2024 – Sapphire City Festival, Kamilaroi Country/Inverell
1-3 September 2024 – Maldon Folk Festival, Liarga Balug Country/Maldon
17 November 2024 – Hybrid Warehouse, Walyalup/Fremantle

Main photo credit: Jack Fenby, edited by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alana Wilkinson Pays Tribute to Her Grandmother With “Shine Through”

If you’ve ever lost a loved one to dementia, you might need the tissues for Alana Wilkinson’s latest single “Shine Through”. It’s a beautiful snapshot of moments she spent with her grandmother through the years, the lessons she learned along the way, and the ties that bound them together.

“My grandmother was a complete legend and we shared a really special connection,” Alana said. “No matter how old I got, we played piano together, baked, danced, made puppets and painted pictures.”

Alana’s preparing to release an album and tour the country to support it. Until then, I’ll have this song on repeat. It’s gorgeous.

Photo credit: Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alana Wilkinson Releases Beautiful Modern Lullaby, “Dream Big”

I barely have a maternal bone in my body, but I feel there are few things more pure and beautiful than the love a mother has for her child. So while I’m never going to have my own kids, I’ve found totally and utterly captivated by Alana Wilkinson’s new single “Dream Big.” Alana wrote the song in the neonatal intensive care unit as her new son Rafferty slept on her chest.

“Raffy was born extremely prematurely at 24 weeks and put up a big fight for 92 days in hospital until he was finally big and strong enough to come home,” she recalled. “Throughout the terrifying experience I found solace in daydreaming of our future together; wishing on birthday cakes, singing to the trees and exploring the beauty and the chaos of the world waiting just beyond the hospital window.”

She might have a little one now, but Alana is not slowing down. Catch her at one of the following shows in the coming months.

25 January 2024 – Bobin School of Arts Hall, Birbay Country/Bobin (with Ryan Young – SOLD OUT)
26 January 2024 – Coramba Community Hall, Gumbaynggirr Country/Coramba (with Ryan Young)
27 January 2024 – Whiporie Community Hall, Badjalang Country/Whiporie (with Ryan Young – SOLD OUT)
28 January 2024 – Wardell Memorial Hall, Badjalang Country/Wardell (with Ryan Young)
9 February 2024 – Cardinia Cultural Centre, Kulin Country/Pakenham (supporting Ross Wilson + The Peaceniks)
10 February 2024 – COPACC, Gulidjan Country/Colac (supporting Ross Wilson + The Peaceniks)
11 February 2024 – Kyneton Town Hall, Dja Dja Wurrung Country/Kyneton (supporting Ross Wilson + The Peaceniks)
23 February 2024 – Official Showcase at Folk Alliance International @ Pershing Stage, Kansas City
1 March 2024 – Nannup Music Festival, Nannup
15 March 2024 – Thornbury Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne (supporting Ross Wilson + The Peaceniks)
16 March 2024 – Gippsland Performing Arts Centre, Gunaikurnai Country/Traralgon (supporting Ross Wilson + The Peaceniks)
17 March 2024 – Forge Theatre, Wy-Yung/Bairnsdale (supporting Ross Wilson + The Peaceniks)

Photo credit: Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Fall in Love With Alana Wilkinson’s New Single “Closer”

Prepare to fall in love with Alana Wilkinson’s newest ditty “Closer.” This laidback pop-folk track is a real charmer which perfectly captures the giddiness of falling in love.

“It’s equal part terrifying and exhilarating and for me ‘Closer’ is about the sunshiny pockets of just enjoying those moments as they come,” she explained.

The music video is the perfect accompaniment, with Alana dancing her way through the streets of Melbourne like she doesn’t have a care in the world.

Festival goers take note. With an EP on the way in early 2019, Alana will roadtest some new material with just her guitar and uke for accompaniment at some of the country’s hottest events soon. Catch her at Woodford Music Festival, which runs from Boxing Day to New Year’s Day, and Nannup Music Festival from March 1 to 4.

Image used with permission from GYROstream

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Alana Wilkinson Charms Me With “Show You Mine”

If you recently caught Eddi Reader’s shows in Melbourne and Sydney, you hopefully arrived early enough to see the support act. And if you did, you’ve probably been raving about her. Because Alana Wilkinson is pretty special.

Delivering a quirky mix of folk, pop, and punk, this Melbourne singer-songwriter has wowed me with her track “Show You Mine.” There’ll be more music soon, with Alan planning on writing, performing, filming, and uploading new music as she embarks on a road trip across Australia. She’ll busk and play parlour gigs and both scheduled and impromptu performances in bars and café, so keep your ear to the ground for them.

“I wanted to do something different”, she explained in a press release. “I decided that 2017 was going to be the year where I really focused on music, so I’ve quit my retail job and I’m going to follow my feet for a few months.”

The songs she writes on her upcoming adventures will join an already massive repertoire of originals, She’ll handpick the best to feature on her debut album once she returns home. And before all THAT happens, Alana will return to Melbourne to play shows with Bob Evans. If you’ve got tickets to his shows, make sure you arrive early for Alana’s set!

1 June 2017 – Baha, Rye (with Bob Evans)
2 June 2017 – The Croxton Front Bar, Melbourne (with Bob Evans)
3 June 2017 – The Workers Club, Geelong (with Bob Evans)

Image used with permission from RiSH Publicity