High profile fans can often give a very good indication of a songwriter’s influence & reach, so it is worth noting that one of Australian music’s favourite sons, Nick Cave, has been overheard playing a Tess McKenna song en route through Europe.
Of course Nick Cave isn’t Tess’ only fan. With an expansive performing and recording career, Tess’ songs have reached a wide & varied audience both at home & abroad & her success onstage has been evident from the beginning;

‘Two solo songs to open her set really captured the attention of the growing crowd and stamped McKenna as a songwriter of class & a singer of tremendous emotive power’.
Live Review. The Corner Hotel. IN PRESS

So is it the tear drenched alt /country acoustica of MAKE ME WONDER (1993), the sexy blues/roots angst of TAKE ME TO THE PLACE (1998) or is it the folk/rock with a twist of jazz/ pop of BOOM BAM (2003) that we’re likely to hear from Tess in performance?
The answer is that it’s all of the above.

Tess drives her songs with a knowing confidence, swapping easily between acoustic & electric, quiet & loud. Add to this, her rhythm section, The Shapiros & what you get is a beautiful & complex mix.

Together with the angelic harmonies of bassist Karen Rush (Out of The Compost, NZ) & the dynamic percussion of Helen Smart (Buick KBT & peer member of ‘Chick Drummers Club’ AKA, Kathy Green, Care Moore & Lindy Morrison), The Shapiros,  dip, dive, charm, groove & rock with nods towards Neil Young, Tom Waits & even in some stripped back way, Midlake.
Think Patsy Cline joins The Breeders onstage to play songs from Gillian Welch & The Band.

Tess has released three albums & two EPs, & is described as ‘one of Australia’s greatest talents’ with ‘a sublime voice’ [FORM GUIDE], & her music as ‘uniquely now & Australian’ [JUICE MAGAZINE]. Make Me Wonder was awarded Best Album & Tess, Best Newcomer by Mike Daly (The Age) & Rolling Stone summed it all up with this review:

‘…It’s five years since McKenna released March, & three years since The One Way...
This is too long for a singer of this talent’.
ROLLING STONE

Take Me To The Place attracted similar accolades: ‘…There isn’t a song here that is less than brilliant’.
JUICE MAGAZINE

  And continued with the release of Boom Bam: ‘…The album is the work of a gifted artist’.
  THE AUSTRALIAN

On stage and in the studio Tess has worked with some of Australia’s most talented musicians, engineers & producers, including, Chris Wilson, Matt Vehl (Ice Cream Hands), Ashley Davies (Matt Walker), Peter Luscombe (Rock Wiz, Black Sorrows), Barry Stockley (Peeping Tom), Michael den Elzen (Dead Star, Rebecca’s Empire), Nicky Bomba (Bomba), Nick Smith (The Black Sorrows), Peter Jones (Dead Star, Lisa Miller), Mike Letho (Rock Wiz SBS), & Brendan Gallagher (Karma County, Jimmie Little).
Tess’ most recent collaboration was with ARIA award winning producer Shane O’Mara (The Audreys, Lisa Miller) as co-producer on her critically acclaimed 2003 release, Boom Bam.

As well as sharing the stage with a diverse list of Australian music luminaries including ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Joe Camilleri, Tess has supported Australian and international artists including Nick Cave, Lucinda Williams, Roseanne Cash, Renee Geyer, Dave Graney, & The Go Betweens.

Early band formations were indie rock/pop three piece The Right Furniture, & later. alt-country darlings The Western District.
Recent outings have seen Tess stretching out with current squeeze, the Shapiros with previews from her fourth album, playing inner city venues & sharing bills with The Vile Reign, Das Musik Man & The Joelenes.

Tess has released five musical offerings, including three critically acclaimed albums with rumours of a fourth already written & waiting in the wings.

www.myspace.com/tessmckenna

BUXTON WALKER MANAGEMENT CONTACT: andrew@buxtonwalker.com
	PO BOX 2197 St Kilda West Victoria 3182 AUSTRALIA P +61 3 9537-7155 F +61 3 9537-7166

ITUNES Catalogue Uploaded (HEAD/2006)
TESS MCKENNA - ALBUMS/SONGS BECOME AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ONLINE

                                          

BOOM BAM (STYLETONE/HEAD) CD ALBUM (2003)
PRODUCED BY SHANE O'MARA & TESS MCKENNA

TAKE ME TO THE PLACE (STYLETONE RECORDINGS) CD ALBUM (1998)
PRODUCED BY MICHAEL DEN ELZEN & TESS MCKENNA

MAKE ME WONDER (LITTLE HORSE/ABC) CD ALBUM (1993)
PRODUCED BY BARRY STOCKLEY & TESS MCKENNA

THE ONE WAY - CASSETTE EP (1991)
PRODUCED BY NICK SMITH

MARCH (X-RAY) VINYL EP (1988)
PRODUCED BY NICK SMITH


COMPILATION CDs - VARIOUS ARTISTS

                                           

In The Flesh (Harry/Stein) Head On 05 (Head Records - 2005) Various artists include Ash Grunwald, Joe Camilleri

The Woodstock Sessions. (2000) It Aint Me Babe (Bob Dylan) Songs of Bob Dylan: Various Artists – Executive Producer Brian Wise. Artists include Joe Camilleri, Chris Wilson, Mark Ferry, Stephen Cummings

Fall To Sleep (T. McKenna/Jen Anderson) Lullaby & Goodnight (1996) Flip Records Various Artists include Paul Kelly Joe Camilleri, Don Walker, Paul Hester, Vanetta Fields, Colin Hay

Loneliest Day In December (T McKenna) The Blue Album Various Artists ABC/EMI (1996) &
Home for Christmas ABC/Phonograph (1994) - Various Artists.  Artists include Paul Grabowsky, Slim Dusty, Marc Hunter, Renee Geyer, Grace Knight, Broderick Smith, Doug de Vries

Faded Hearts (T McKenna) Sweethearts of the Radio Various Artists (1994) ABC/Phonogram Artists include Jane Saunders, Shanley Del, Anne Kirkpatrick, Gina Jeffreys, Renee Geyer

The End Of A Rope (T McKenna) The ABC Country Store Various Artists (1994) - Live performance Artists include, Lee Kernaghan Gina Jeffreys Anne Kirkpatrick Jane Saunders Brent Parlane The Kanes Tanya Kernaghan, Colin Buchanan  Greg Champion

Gippsland Train (T McKenna) Late Night Café ABC/Phonograph Various Artists (1993)
Artists  include, Renee Geyer, Kavisha Mazzella, Tommy Emmanuel, David Bridie

Gippsland Train/The End Of A Rope (T McKenna) Promotional Single ABC/Phonogram (1993)

Sincerely (T McKenna) - ABC/Phonogram (1993)
CD Single