An evening of songs and stories awaits, moving from performance to authentic expression and connection.
The response to my July performance format at Gingers was encouraging enough that I’m excited to return and explore it further. After our September show was affected by Grand Final weekend timing, I’m excited to finally share this intimate cabaret/jazz format with you. If you’re considering joining us on Saturday, November 29th, here’s what we have planned for the evening.
As heard on demand on 5MBS Radio on the Wednesday September 17 show on Kaleidoscope with Emily Sutherland, I discuss more about my musical journey to this point, my relationship to my deep contralto voice and what makes these intimate cabaret evenings so special and encourages that deeper connection with audiences. Here you can listen to it on demand on 5MBS. It’s a perfect introduction to my musical story, including a live recording of one of my favourite songs with a sevenpiece band. This interview will be a great preview of what to expect from the Alexandra Frost Duo on November 29th.
Your Evening with the Alexandra Frost Duo
Arriving at Ginger’s Vintage Lounge Bar
I love how Gingers creates that warm atmosphere where conversation flows naturally between music lovers and friends and comforting food and wine choices make it that extra special night. Walking in you will be greeted by the lovely welcoming staff, including the owner Arthur who has made this all happen, providing a space for artists, both visual and performing artists, to share the venue and to work together to make the space a creative, open space where all are welcome and can be ourselves. It’s retro, vintage feel with tables that remind me of my childhood days bring a feeling of comfort and familiarity for those of us old enough to grow up in that era such as this Gen X’er!!
Dinner/Show Options
You’re welcome to come for dinner from 6pm if you’d like to settle in gradually and put yourself in the perfect mood, or alternatively arrive between 7pm-8pm for drinks before the show begins at 8pm. Make sure you book your table and seats through Gingers in advance to ensure you have a suitable seat whether just coming for the show or the dinner also.
You can choose to be really close to the action or at the area behind the bar where there is a little more distance, but wherever you are you will have a chance to be included as 40-60 people makes for a comfortable, relaxed and very personal evening. I find the evening develops its own natural rhythm for all those who come. Just be aware we will be starting the first set of our show at 8pm so please ensure you are seated and have your drink ready to relax and enjoy the show.
The Music and Stories
Instead of just launching into songs, I’ll be weaving some stories of the artists and my own experience, payting homage to the artists whose voices have shaped my understanding of what music can accomplish – inspiration, expression, connection, release, a place fun and excitement, for vulnerability and sadness, provocation and for being entertained. You’ll recognise some names – Nina Simone, Édith Piaf, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Etta James, Tracy Chapman, Diana Krall – and I’ll introduce you to others who might be new discoveries.
Each artist or song comes with a personal story about why they and /or the song mattered to me, not just for their technical brilliance, but the moments when their voices and life experiences taught me something about my life, such as about authenticity, courage, or finding your place in the world. When I share why hearing Édith Piaf for the first time in Year 11 made me feel less alone, it becomes a pivotal turning point in my history where my voice felt seen and my very personal connection with music reinforced. Hearing your sound and the beauty of a rich voice with vibrato was helpul as it showed me that it was ok to have a voice like that and gave me scope for development.
How the Format Works
I’ve designed this as a musical and loose story format rather than a scripted formal cabaret performance. Stories weave naturally between songs, playing off the audience reactions at times also and creating space for both the music and the meaning behind it. In a room of 50 people or so, I can see your faces, gauge how the stories land, feel when understanding shifts the energy in the room and feed off the feedback and laughter to adjust.
Ed and I work to honour both the technical beauty of these classic songs and the emotional truths that make them timeless. My goal isn’t perfect reproduction – it’s authentic and personal interpretation that creates genuine connection, giving you an insight into the artists and their connection with me.
What You Might Experience
I hope you’ll find yourself curious about artists you haven’t really explored before. Or perhaps you’ll hear familiar songs with new layers of meaning.
The evening tends to create its own special atmosphere when people come genuinely interested in listening. There’s something powerful about live music when it’s shared in a space designed for real attention and connection, rather than as background. I have done many gigs as background in the past but as I grow as a performer, and one who has embraced cabaret as an artform, I find that I am drawn to environments that have their own unique energy, where intimacy is esily possible and where I can be supported in performing whatever I wish to sing and express. I believe we need more venues like this where audiences can have a fantastic night out in a comfortable environment and artists can shine to their ultimate potential in front of an audience that appreciates quality live music and storytelling and the intimacy that brings them.
Practical Details
When: Saturday, Noevmber 29th
- Dinner: From 6pm (optional) – Book through Gingers
- Show: 8-10pm with brief break in the middle of two sets to chat and for you to catch up with partners and friends
Where: Gingers Vintage Lounge Bar – 109 Goodwood Rd Goodwood
What to expect: About two hours of fine music crossing all genres that resonate with me – jazz, blues, gospel and soul and more with a cabaret twist, with a brief set break. Come as you feel comfortable – my focus is on the music and the conversations it creates.
Building on What I Learned
July’s performance and other cabaret performances have shown me that people are genuinely hungry for deeper connection with music – not just skilled performance, but understanding why certain songs endure and how they’ve shaped other artists. I also learned that not everything has to be perfectly crafted to engage and that in fact that vulnerability, strength and mindful presence as a performer made for a fabulous gig so November 29th continues that exploration with new stories and musical connections along with some favourites that people love to hear.
Why This Matters to Me
I believe there’s real value in understanding why certain voices matter, how they’ve influenced other artists, and what that reveals about our own relationship with music. When I share not just what I’m singing but why it shaped me, performance becomes conversation, and songs carry their full stories creating space for you to also make your own connections with the music and life experiences of others.
This approach has taught me that some of the most meaningful musical experiences happen when we have time and space to explore not just the ‘what’ but the ‘why’ behind the voices that move us.
Saturday, November 29th at Gingers. I’d love to share these musical stories with you.
Book tickets asap – Seats limited
We look forward to seeing you there on Saturday November 29. For those who booked for the September show and missed out due to the Grand final cancellation, we’d love to see you there.
Alexandra Frost
Jazz/Blues/Cabaret Vocalist