Soulful songwriting meets cinematic strings in Jackie Marshall’s latest live collaboration
Jackie Marshall is one of Australia’s most distinctive independent songwriters. Photo courtesy of Peter McGhie.
Acclaimed songwriter Jackie Marshall brings her new album The Last Of The Human Troubadours to Coolum, Maleny, Cleveland, Pomona and Eudlo this July, presented by Red Chair.
A rare meeting of soulful songwriting and cinematic strings, the tour sees Marshall joined by the hauntingly beautiful Black Square Quartet and esteemed guitarist Chris Pickering, performing arrangements by composer Robert Davidson.
The program moves between Marshall’s original songs and unexpected companions, from an obscure Joni Mitchell cover and an Irish/Scottish traditional to the 2,000-year-old Seikilos Epitaph. Marshall’s writing is direct and disarming, tracing a path through uncertain times with warmth, humour and clear-eyed honesty.
“Jackie has a remarkable ability to make deeply personal stories feel universal,” says Red Chair Director Angie Dunbavan. “Her songs are thoughtful and emotionally rich, and this collaboration with Black Square Quartet brings a whole new dimension to her work. It’s a beautiful meeting of contemporary songwriting and finely crafted chamber music.”
One of Australia’s most distinctive independent songwriters, Marshall has spent two decades creating work that moves across folk, country, rock, improvised and art music traditions. Her debut album Fight & Flight was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize alongside artists including The Drones, Gotye and Lisa Gerrard, establishing her reputation as a singular voice in Australian music.
Since then, Marshall has released a string of critically acclaimed recordings and collaborated widely across music, theatre, circus and community arts projects. Described by The Weekend Australian as “that rare thing: an Aussie original” and by Rhythms as “a left-field legend in the making”, Marshall continues to create work that reaches far into the hearts and minds of audiences across Australia.
Backed by Black Square Quartet’s vivid contemporary arrangements, The Last Of The Human Troubadours brings together soulful virtuosity, quiet intensity and a deep commitment to storytelling.
Presented by Red Chair, this tour continues a commitment to bringing high-quality live music experiences to South-East Queensland regional communities, connecting audiences with some of Australia’s finest artists.
This tour is supported of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. The tour is supported by the Regional Arts Development Fund - a partnership between Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, and Sunshine Coast Council to support local arts and culture in regional Queensland.
Performance Dates - July 2026
Coolum Civic Centre
Saturday 11 July, 7pm
Maleny Community Centre
Sunday 12 July, 4pm
Redland Performing Arts Centre
Friday 24 July, 7pm
Majestic Theatre, Pomona
Saturday 25 July, 7pm
Eudlo Hall
Sunday 26 July, 4pm
• Full Event Details: redchair.com.au