Martha Wainwright Returns to Melbourne Recital Centre in June

Melbourne Recital Centre and Gaynor Crawford announce that the talented and unique Martha Wainwright will return to Melbourne Recital Centre in June with her band. Fresh from highly successful performances in Europe and North America, Martha will present material from across her career to date, to her latest LP of original material, Come Home to Mama.

Come Home to Mama was inspired by two events in her life; the birth of her son and the death of her mother, the acclaimed folk-singer Kate McGarrigle. In November 2009, Martha gave birth to her first child in London. It was a life-threatening labour; her son was in an incubator from his birth. At the same time, 3,000 miles away in Montreal, Martha's mother Kate McGarrigle, battled against the sarcoma ravaging her body. Kate died in January 2010.

Against this background, becoming a mother and losing her mother in quick succession Martha's astonishing album was borne, Come Home To Mama is her first collection of original music in four years, the album features multi -instrumental landscapes that showcases Martha's artistic depth, raw, confessional poetry with undeniable style and grace. "She is taking music and wringing from it a startling wealth of shiver-inducing moments." Pitchfork Media. "Martha Wainwright excels at both singing and song writing, and earns herself a spot among this decade's foremost performers." Popmatters.com

Confronted with joy and anger, the songs on Come Home to Mama, are, at times, aggressive and forceful, and also the most reflective of Martha's songs to date. Her performance will no doubt include the album's hauntingly beautiful "Proserpina", the last song her mother Kate McGarrigle wrote before she died. "... her stage presence suggests several things at one time defiant and strong, yet with an edge of sadness and vulnerability as well." - Spin Magazine

She can, within a single verse, play both angel and demon. Martha's incredible, evocative and characterful voice will course its way through pop, soul, folk and torch. Not to be missed.

Australia - Melbourne Awards - Live Stats

Best Musical - Top 3

1. BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL (Regent Theatre, Melbourne)

54.8% of votes

2. TWELFTH NIGHT (St Kilda Botanical Gardens)

18.3% of votes

3. MJ THE MUSICAL (Her Majesty's Theatre)

16.2% of votes

Vote Now!