Soulful, sublime and shining! Three words sum up this Melbourne based, exotic singer-songwriter from Sri Lanka.
Suzette Herft is a contemporary troubadour and award winning songwriter with a sublime voice. She shines with a natural grace and presence that lights up any stage. Her live performances captivate the audience and she has been described as 'charismatic... with her heart in tune with her world' (The Australian Songwriter - Australian Songwriters' Association).
When Suzette sings, she invites the listener to dive deeper into the heart of what it is to be human and the grace to overcome life's obstacles. She turns the looking glass onto her own life with lessons of finding joy from sorrow and distilling the light from the darkness. Her music is indeed medicine for the soul!
Her show at Humph Hall will include her widely acclaimed tribute show to her hero Joan Baez which she has performed at numerous festivals around Australia, including to standing ovations at recent Port Fairy Folk Festivals. With her band, she has recently breathed life into the songs and the story of Emmylou Harris - another performer she admires.
Her songs have been finalists in the Australian Independent Music Awards over the years.
Suzette was awarded the 2019 Folk Victoria Award for services to Folk Music and shares this honour with many prominent figures in the music industry.
Visit her web site.
"I met Suzette at Port Fairy folk festival 2017. She sings from her soul and she glows when she's singing. She's at one with her voice. Her choice of covers blows me away. She suffers no duds. Every song she sings is plucked with precision from her heart." - Mundy (Ireland)
If you're looking for talent with soul, then look no further." - Chris Atwell and the Team (Tamar Valley Folk Festival Tasmania)
"Suzette Herft is a talented singer/songwriter whose music has a truly universal appeal for the listeners of my show, ‘Musical Australiana’. They have been generous in their praise of all her works that I have played. Suzette writes beautiful melodies, and her insightful lyrics tell concise stories about the human condition, with great empathy. In her song, “The Heart”, she reveals an incredible rapport with the feelings that our aboriginal folk have for Uluru and the Australian land, especially for one not born here in Australia. Also, her accurate interpretations of songs by Joan Baez and Bob Dylan make them live again, particularly for those of us who heard the originals." - Alan Edwards (Musical Australiana) 103.9 Seymour FM
"Joan Baez – quite a challenge for anyone to create a convincing tribute to her music. Suzette Herft has done just that with her tribute show, "Shining - A Diamond in the Rust", which has won accolades, full rooms and standing ovations at Port Fairy Folk Festival these last two years. Suzette owns the essence of the Baez repertoire with a poise, charm, confidence and ease that carries hapless listeners away on the that dreaming trip when music transcends time and place. This is the gift of a very skilled folk singer." - Jamie McKew (Festival Director - Port Fairy Folk Festival (1977 - 2016)
"Suzette Herft is an amazing singer and performer. She is a true professional and a class act. Her natural style and grace had the audience fully engaged and wanting more. I loved her show and recommend her highly to any festival contemplating booking her." - Roger Joseph (Arelmedia Management & Arelmusic. Former Artistic Director of Cygnet Folk Festival).
"Suzette Herft is one of Melbourne's most enduring singer songwriters with a passion for great music that sees her constantly mixing familiar classic songs with her own unique originals to ensure audiences are thoroughly satisfied and entertained. Like a great wine she seems to get better and better and even more beautiful with age, and radiates a delightful happy, sunny aura from the stage. I have twice seen her present her epic yet intimate 'Joan Baez Story' and both times brought a spontaneous long standing ovation, a fairly rare event at a folk festival. She rations the number of times she performs this show, but I urge any event organiser to twist her arm to add it to their programme. Nobody will be disappointed." - Andrew Pattison (The Troubadour, Newstead Live! festival director till 2016.)
"Congratulations, Suzette, on your Joan Baez tribute presentation! It was wonderful to be transported through your singing and narration to that pivotal place & time when songs & social issues were so intertwined (and of course, it doesn't hurt that you resemble the young Joan)." - Margret RoadKnight (Renowned Australian Folk Blues Artist)
"It was a pleasure to be part of this musical experience created by Suzette and Patrick. Their Baez/Dylan segment was thoroughly entertaining and informative and their original songs were simply superb. Suzette Herft and Patrick Evans come highly recommended." - Roger Joseph Arelmedia Management /Arelmusic
"The organising Committee of the Tamar Valley Folk Fesival highly recommend Suzette Herft and Patrick Evans as a welcome addition to any festival programme. Our audience really appreciated the bob Dylan/ Joan Baez tribute concert, their stage performances and their participation at our local sessions in the Pub were really fantastic. These two performers are such a warm and talented duo and enrich the fabric of a festival. If you're looking for talent with soul, then look no further." - Chris Atwell and the Team Tamar Valley Folk Festival Tasmania
"A hot night, with the stage open to the street, people stopped to listen to the voice and songs of Suzette Herft. Performing classics such as Way over Yonder and the timeless Both Sides Now, along with beautifully crafted originals such as Planting Roses and Cinderella Again, Suzette has the the charm and grace to captivate an audience. Tonight she was supported by Patrick Evans and Chris Lazarro and together they gathered the audience and the street, raising a voice to the the genre of gospel, folk and to the city of Melbourne! " - George Condos – Mama Vittoria Gig – Melbourne Music
"If there was a voice that could temper a fire and whisper its secrets velvet bound.
If there was a voice that could move a river and finds its warm streams of gold.
If there was a voice that could glide the air and smooth a storm to bring a smile to you, it is the voice of Suzette Herft.
To all who were there to hear Suzette sing her lovely songs I know you left knowing we were treated to a great performance". - George Condos – Melbourne Music
