The 2013 Live at Bond autumn season is heating up with blues diva Lil' Fi hitting the stage on Sunday 19 May, in collaboration with the Broadbeach Alliance and Blues on Broadbeach Festival.
Lil' Fi, who ripped it up at Byron Bay Bluesfest this year, is expected to draw the crowds when she performs a special pre Blues on Broadbeach sideshow event at Bond University.
With over 14 years of touring and recording experience and seven independently produced albums and eight compilations, Lil Fi is the consummate performer.
Lil' Fi - a renowned singer/songwriter full of wit and pizzazz - has won Best Female Vocalist five times at the Australian Blues Music Awards and has made guest appearances with acts as diverse as Australian rock 'n' roll legends Lonnie Lee and Bobby Bright, award winning blues guitarist Fiona Boyes, and cowgirl country cousins GIT.
Lil' Fi says she has had some remarkable experiences in her musical career and is grateful for the Australian blues music industry.
"I've travelled all over Australia and have received great recognition and am thrilled that my style has been so embraced over the years," she said.
"I'm a white-skinned girl from Bundaberg - my blues are different to those from the deep south so I created my own version of blues complete with the Australian accent and of course, a little humour.
"I believe in the healing power of music and I sing straight from the heart."
Lil' Fi spends is spending less time touring these days and more time on her new job - motherhood, but she says she still makes time to perform.
“I'm really excited about playing at Bond in the lead up to the Blues on Broadbeach Festival," she said.
"I love playing with our full seven-piece on stage, you don't really get to do it with the smaller venues. So being able to play with the same band that we did at Byron (Bluesfest) will be fantastic.”
Community Engagement Manager Sharon Solyma says Lil' Fi considers every venue to be a part of her lounge room, drawing audiences into her world with her delightful storytelling and music.
"She been described as a retro-punk visionary belting out the blues with a heart too big not to be shared," she said.
"Lil' Fi is extremely charismatic, with an electrifying stage presence and has been compared to the incredible Bonnie Raitt by the one and only B. B. King.
"Simply put, her empowering lyrics and naturally sassy and irreverent character make people feel fantastic.
"A perennial star of music festivals around the country, Lil' Fi has an uncanny ability to capture audiences through her dynamic performances, humour and feel-good energy and we are really excited to have her perform at Bond."
The event, which will be supported by Fletch, will kick off at 3pm.
Guests are invited to bring their own rug, chair or picnic basket and enjoy an afternoon of free music and entertainment. Alternatively, wine, beer, champagne, non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are available for purchase, and cushions are provided for comfortable seating in the ADCO Amphitheatre.
Free parking is available and conveniently located in the near-by PG 3 car park, next to the Faculty of Health Science and Medicine building.
Live at Bond is proudly supported by ADCO Constructions Pty Ltd and Robina Projects Australia.