Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen: 20th Anniversary Commemoration of David Branson

Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen are five stellar performers whose roots run deep in the Canberra music scene, featuring Michael Simic on guitar, Pip Branson on violin, Phil Moriarty on clarinet, Guy Freer on accordion and Sam Martin on double bass. The group has packed houses from the Sydney Opera House to London’s West End, releasing four albums and building a dedicated following here and around the world. This December, they are back with a very special David Branson 20th Anniversary Concert. During his life, David Branson loomed large on the Australian arts scene. In Canberra, he seemed to be everywhere, producing, directing and acting in a vast array of theatre projects. He mentored every young aspiring actor, writer or musician he encountered, inspiring people to great heights of creativity. He was also a founding member of Mikelangelo and the Black Sea Gentlemen, playing violin and appearing on stage as Senor Handsome. David died in a car accident on Anzac parade on his way to a Black Sea Gentlemen performance on December 11, 2001. Now, 20 years on, the band come together to pay tribute to their friend, brother and founding member with a very special one-off show at the Canberra Theatre Playhouse on Friday 10 December. “Incredible musicianship…gloriously theatrical…daringly fun” – Beat Magazine