If the surge of livestreamed gigs hasn’t quite scratched the itch for listening to live music, wrap your listening dishes around this trio. Sharon Timms sits down for Newsport for a quick chat with ARIA award winner Kiki Courtidis ahead of her Iron Bar performance alongside Cam Kettle and Nick Stuart.

Kiki Courtidis is one of those gifted musicians that gently ebbs her way into your consciousness with soulful tunes, hypnotic vocals and multi-instrumental skills before you realise that you’ve loved her all along.

Having now made a home in Port Douglas after relocating from Melbourne, Kiki boasts a career discography and collaborations list that reads like a who’s who of the ARIAs, one of which Kiki has picked up herself for both performing and writing – a feat achieved by very few.

This Saturday night as part of the Late Night Sessions at the Iron Bar brings together Kiki, well-known local guitarist Cam Kettle and drummer Nick Stuart as a trio that promises to deliver an eclectic, melodic, harmonic, high energy set while seamlessly interchanging musical talents, and a combination of different influences and sounds, ranging from earthy gospel blues to soul, catchy pop and gritty rock.

“Ultimately, we are three individual artists coming together for the first time. Cam is one distinct part, I’m the other, with Nick being the slick groove that holds us together.”

Kicking off her career with a spot in the top 10 series of channel 7’s Popstars in 04, Kiki was quickly signed with Universal Records Australia. After becoming one of the first performers to play an original track live on national television with her song titled ‘Paper’, she exited the show with a record deal in hand and a bright future ahead.

Since then, she’s worked with artists such as Tania Doko (Bachelor Girl), Jack Jones (Southern Sons) Karl Lewis (Savage Garden) and other highly regarded Australian and American songwriters such as Paul Wiltshire and Pam Reswick. She’s also kicked more than a few musical goals alongside Coldplay, Scissor Sisters and Adelaide hip hop favourites, Bliss ‘n Esso. Now permanently based in Port Douglas, Kiki is concentrating on song writing and a less hectic life.

“I feel really lucky to have had and continue to have this career,” says Kiki. “Coming back to a smaller, intimate crowd feels like coming home. I can feel every person in the room, it brings my focus back and I feel like I’m finally living my purpose. Playing the more intimate venues like the Iron Bar reminds me that I’m just a vessel – singing and performing for an audience is a privilege. “With an amazing repertoire of skills including guitar playing and looping, keys and an incredible soulful voice that will have you glued from the very beginning, this is a gig not to miss, and one that will be remembered for a long time after.

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Saturday night live bands are back on the menu again every week from 10:30pm – 2am. There’s no cover charge before 11pm. $10 after 11pm.

More info at ironbarportdouglas.com.au