Twilight Zone

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday November 7, 2008

Erik Jensen

Markets by moonlight at the rocks has some hot acts. Erik Jensen reports.

JADE MACRAE'S mother used to take her to markets. The singer was born in London and as a child she would spend weekends picking through stalls - produce fairs, clothes, that sort of thing.

"I still kind of do a lot of that stuff," she says. "On weekends."

Tonight, MacRae will take up a stall herself - the stage - at the first in the Markets By Moonlight series of gigs at The Rocks. She played last year and is looking forward to an encore.

"Having that extension of market stalls definitely adds a different character to other gigs," McRae says. It's more of a cross-culture thing. It's not just about music, it's about good food and art and craft, which is as [important] as music," MacRae says.

"One of the great things about The Rocks market is it definitely has an artistic slant. If anything, it merges together. It doesn't make you feel like you're in a shopping centre. It doesn't cheapen the experience at all."

MacRae opens the series with DJ Sveta and Axle Whitehead. "A cool guy," she says of Whitehead.

"Pretty eccentric."

The concerts will be held every Friday in November. The Potbelleez crop up later in the month, as do the Ray Mann Three, Custom Kings, TZU and Andy Bull.

"When I played the show last year, I played a couple of the new songs but in a completely different setting - an acoustic guitar and a percussionist and a few singers. This time I will be playing with a full band," MacRae says of her show.

Her new album, Get Me Home, has "slightly more adult, more emotional themes, I think", she says. "The response that I've had from people writing to me on the internet and at shows is: 'Oh my God. I can't believe you're writing that. That is so my life."'

While MacRae plays, artisan jewellery firm Ant Haus Designs will be selling its wares. So will Catch Coeur Jewellery, Empress & Co, Heavenly Gold & Silver and Katzi. Homewares will be represented by Argyle Glass, lamp makers Electric Firefly Design & Creation, Mica Wooden Crafts and Satellite Of Love.

THE ROCKS MARKETS BY MOONLIGHT

Fridays in November, beginning today, 6-11pm (DJ from 6pm, main acts from 6.30pm), The Rocks Square, The Rocks, www.therocks.com, free.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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