Going wild for women

Erin Pearson
KELLY Auty will bring her “love of all things jazz, blues, gospel, country and rock” to Geelong and Queescliff this weekend as part of her Wild Women Show.
Auty said the performances “pay homage” through song and sequin to some of the most “empowering” female singers of the 20th Century.
“I aim to pay respect to great female singers from 1920 to 1970 and travel from jazz to Patsy Cline right up to Janis Joplin through my shows,” she said.
“These women are all battlers and came from nothing and made something of their lives.
“I want to highlight how wonderful they were because they left us a great legacy behind.”
Auty said she had performed in costume to mimic the likes of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Josephine Baker, Edith Piaf, Peggy Lee and Aretha Franklin for the past seven years.
“I think a lot of people go with what’s fashionable but I think there’s always a groundswell of people who love the old music,” she said.
“If you can pick great songs you can take people on a trip down memory lane.
“Everyone will to get involved if you invite them.”
Auty, who has been performing for more than 30 years, was born in Shepparton before moving to a Kimberly research station as a young child. She later travelled to Darwin and Brisbane before settling in the Dandenongs.
The songstress said the travels had imbued her with “cultural and musical influences a patchwork; a myriad of finely tuned, well-honed voices rich with living and authenticity”.
Travelling with her band to refresh everything blues, gospel, country, rock and jazz, Auty said music was her life.
However, she struggled to single out an all-time favourite tune.
“There are so many great singers and songs that I can’t choose a favourite,” she said.
“I love to sing and I love to entertain and I really enjoy the challenge of singing everything from Billie Holiday to Tina Turner.
“I think this indecision is one of the things that lets me do what I do for such a long time.”
Auty will perform her Wild Women Show at Geelong’s The Studio on Saturday night and at Queenscliff Uniting Church on Sunday.