The Viva bands have regularly played overseas, they have been developed to cater for ever increasing multicultural audiences in Australia, (one of the reasons that thousands of live music venues in Australia have closed in recent times)

Viva the duo recording of Euro Style "Minor Swing" reached No 1 on the N1M Australian charts and was no 4 on the World Charts in April 2015 and shows up as still No 1, (five years later), the Duo also perform music for radio and TV advertising, produced by Nick West at Smith and Western Studios

NOTE - There is a huge amount of Information on this website ... if you are pressed for time, check out the following quick links:

Link to band tweets about Sydney gigs

Link to Face book for Viva band

• prices to hire Sydney musicians entertainers and bands link to musicians and band prices
• duo musicians in Sydney link to duo band for French music
• Instrumental bands in Sydney link to duo and trio band information
• Band for themed French themed functions link to bands for multi cultural themed events
• quartet band link to band information
• band music samples link to music samples and videos
• Sydney covers bands, jazz bands, wedding musicians, venues, wedding service providers link to bands home page

The bands touring activities throughout Europe in 2000 and 2010 has given Peter and Marie (Viva the duo) an opportunity to develop authenticity with their music, in particular, Euro style Jazz, French, Spanish and South American music

The band performed throughout South East Asia for over 4 years, they also appeared on Television in Asia on many occasions

Their tour of South America in 2014 gave them a deeper understanding of Argentine tango, Brazilian samba, Cuban traditional and Cuban salsa music plus New Orleans jazz styles

Videos of music of New Orleans, Music of Argentina, Brazil and Cuba and music from Europe have been posted on our : you tube links page

Corinne Andrew is also a session singer for Nylon Studios based in Cannes, New York and Sydney. Corinne's session work has been aired on radio and TV in Australia and the USA

TYPICAL MUSIC

• Swing music, standards: In the Mood, Stardust, It Had To Be You, Puttin' On the Ritz
• Tango: Jealousy, Hernando's Hideaway, La Cumparsita, Kiss of Fire, Amapola
• Latin: The Girl From Ipanema, La Paloma, Sway, Tequila, Tico Tico, Brazil, Granada
• International music: La Vie En Rose, Dark Eyes, Bi Mir Bist Du Schoen, Midnight in Moscow

Some of our earlier performances

Some high profile corporate events for international audiences, in particular, at Sydney Venues include: the Hilton Hotel, the Sofitel Wentworth Hotel, Sydney Convention Center and Major Leagues clubs plus some repeat performances at the Art Gallery of NSW, Dubbo Jazz Festival, Manly Jazz Festival, Newcastle Jazz club events, Baroque Restaurant, Hunter Valley winery events etc. We were also engaged to provide music performances for Centennial Park 125th anniversary celebrations

Our recent Collaboration with Corinne Andrew (vocalist)

We met Corinne Andrew (photo) at the Victoria room, Darlinghurst while we were performing there, we found to our delight she is a stunning and Internationally renowned French singer that fits well with the Duo, we have formed a collaboration with Corinne for gigs that require vocals or a cabaret performance

Corinne Andrew is Australia's premier multilingual French singer, Corinne has had extensive experience as a principal singer and dancer at cabaret shows throughout Paris, France, Europe and Japan featuring the stage songs of Barbara Streisand and Lisa Minnelli. Corinne was invited to Australia to star in a stage production of "The Odyssey" at the Gold Coast Casino for a period of 18 months. Corinne is also very popular in Sydney and has headlined at some nice venues her singing performances include French, Spanish and Portuguese Fado songs, her vocal renditions of traditional French classics "Indifference" and "Je Non Regrette Rien" stand out as simply amazing

Viva the band Jazz connections

Viva the duo and Corinne Andrew perform a concert in the central court at the Art Gallery, Sydney during the exhibition of Eugene Atget old Paris photography

See videos of performances by Viva bands with Corinne Andrew youtube

VIVA with Corinne Andrew, the corporate band

When vocal music is not required, Viva the duo has the ability to perform hours of purely instrumental music and to work unplugged and acoustic without any amplification if necessary

A plus for the Viva bands

according to Australian census records more than 50% of Australian Audiences were born overseas, The use of accordion, guitar and flute is loved by International audiences

the Viva bands

A great deal of the Viva band's current work is return performances for our clients who have enjoyed the quality and rich diversity of the music that the Viva bands perform. Viva the duo fees are very competitive, prices for the Viva trio, quartet and quintet are listed on our band prices page

The definitive music samples from Viva bands

Viva the duo

Listen to samples of tunes with accordion, bass, guitar and flute from Viva the Duo CD "The Journey, Popular music From Around the World " at youtube

Public Liability Insurance

Viva the duo and trio have Public Liability Insurance cover, a requirement to perform at Local Council and Public Venues. For your protection, each individual member of a band or entertainer must provide a certificate of currency for their insurance

Band Testimonials

Our clients are delighted when the band perform popular French, Italian, South American and European tunes. The band also perform a standard fare of Jazz standards, classic show tunes and Latin music, refer to our testimonials page.

Availability of bands in Sydney

The band has performed over 400 concerts in war Zones

Viva the band (duo) for a function at the Sydney Opera House

Viva the duo performed at a function at the Opera House fore court for a.t.s. Pacific Group, part of the Stella Leisure Group for their 30 year anniversary. They are hosting their key clients from around the world, (mostly European countries)plus representatives of Qantas Holidays, Jetset, Harvey World, Travel scene etc

International venues: Thailand, Philippines, Guam, Japan, Taiwan

International promotional Tours: France, Spain, Italy, Monaco, Switzerland, England, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, New Orleans

National Venues: Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Brisbane, Ipswitch, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Sydney, Newcastle, Gosford, Terrigal, Avoca, Hunter Valley, Wollongong, Kiama, Thredbo, Canberra, Bright VIC, Perth, Lightning Ridge, Tumbarumba

Our performance at a celebrity wedding

Viva the duo performed their special music for Lenka Kripac. The occasion was her marriage to James Gulliver Hancock. Viva the duo also accompanied Missy Higgins who entertained at the event. Lenka's dad, Jiri, also played with the band

Viva the band performing at Saint Augustine's function at Brookvale in February 2011

Viva the duo promotional tour of Europe June - July 2010

Elvis Presley played accordion!

Django Reinhardt the worlds most revered guitar player

Viva the duo arriving at the Django Reinhardt Gypsy Jazz festival at Samois Sur Seine at the beginning of their amazing 6,000km tour of Europe in 2010

If you have time, check out this youtube video of music we recorded of a young gypsy guitar player who was staying next door to us at a camp site whilst we were at the Django Reinhardt festival, the standard of musicianship is extraordinary and unlikely to be heard in Australia: Gypsy jazz

Viva the duo at Abbey Road studios in London and Aranjuez, Spain

The photo depicts a monument in the city of Aranjuez dedicated to Joaquin Rodrigo for the tune Concierto De Aranjuez. There are inscriptions for the tune and melody engraved in the footpath, Viva the duo from Sydney, Australia (photo) have recorded a simplified tune for accordion and guitar called Aranjuez Mon Amour

List of Jazz musicians at the Nice Jazz Festival plus Pink Martini billboard poster in Cannes

Posters of events featuring Charles Aznavour, Pat Metheny and Norah Jones, we photographed this poster in the Piazza San Marco, Venice which was fringed with a number of delightful orchestras with accordion, violin, guitar, flute and piano etc. playing popular Italian and Latin instrumental tunes

Viva the duo return to Europe from June 21st until August 2nd

The Paris experience

The quartet traveled to Paris in 2000 and the duo toured throughout Europe in June and July 2010, they located a few live music venues at Les Halls and the Latin quarter. At Les Halls the bands performed mostly Jazz, Latin, Edith Piaf cafe' tunes and Django Reinhardt style gypsy Jazz. In the Latin Quarter the bands played many different styles of music: Russian, Hungarian, Ukraine, Greek, Turkish, Spanish and Italian etc. For a number of weeks we listened and absorbed some of the character of the performances of the music. Upon returning to Australia, Viva the band began developing the music in a style reminiscent of their experience in Paris. To our delight, we found that we were freed from the constraints of copying other artists music, such as in covers music, we were able to create our own improvisations in our renditions of the "new" music

Monsieur Camembert is another Sydney band that comes to mind when eclectic European music is required, they also play some Klezmer music

We hope that listening to the Viva bands gives the listener an opportunity to share in some of our experiences of the joy and character of the music in Paris, Europe and South America. We notice that our repertoire of world music is unique in Sydney and is very popular when the duo and quartet perform at Jazz festivals and community events. The Viva repertoire has been responsible for the wonderful response to our performances at local, national and International venues

For information about hiring a duo for weddings or functions go to: duo hire information

For information about hiring this quartet for weddings or parties, go to: quartet hire information

Description of web site for wedding and function bands

The Viva bands have an extensive history of International performances. The most prominent being in Taiwan in 2004 and 2005 where the band performed for a series of concerts to audiences in excess of 5,000 plus television performances, the photo depicts Viva and a group of International performers being welcomed in a street parade in Taichung and later welcomed by the Mayor. Their television performances were broadcasted a few times per day over a period of 2 weeks in 2004 and 4 weeks in 2005, there are also numerous presentations of Viva the band at some of their overseas engagements shown on youtube

The development of the Viva bands

The viva bands are the evolution of the original recording and TV Surf band The Echomen. The founders of the Echomen and Viva bands progressed through the Rock and Roll Era of the 60's, 70.s and 80's. In 1996 they dispensed with a massive array of electronic equipment and focused on more intimate entertainment with mostly acoustic and portable equipment

a band for themed functions

If you are intending to conduct a venue with a romantic Paris theme, Viva the duo include some French music in their repertoire and are able to provide a French theme with their selection of French cafe' and Edith Piaf tunes on authentic instruments of musette accordion, bass, flute and Spanish guitar. This delightful feature of the duo has been invaluable in supporting a French theme at many French themed events, in particular, A Night of Romance and Ah La Belle Paris for the presentation of Opera in the vineyards and French themed exhibitions attended by French dignitaries in Australia at The Australian National Maritime Museum.

a band for entertainment at Vineyards at the Hunter Valley

Description of Viva music styles

Hiring a duo for a special show

The duo perform concerts at major club Venues and corporate functions and can also provide staged events or roving performances at community events and store promotions. The duo of accordion, bass, flute and Spanish guitar perform from a repertoire of Jazz, swing, Latin, salsa, Spanish and stunning show tunes as well as chic French music

In addition to band work, the duo have developed their repertoire to perform as a specialty instrumental act for club or corporate entertainment and theatrical productions.

As an act, the duo perform a 45 minute showcase of their special show tunes including some French, Spanish and Gypsy Jazz music. The duo is currently featured as Viva "Paris" duo as an International act in the Roddy Montez production of the Viva Latin American and International show. The duo has also performed for theatrical productions and many French themed events.

Hiring a roving band for community events, marketing expos in Sydney

The jazzy duo, with their strong instrumental content of show tunes is popular at Council events, University functions, shopping centers, community events, marketing expos, art festivals, wine and food festivals etc. with venues and clients such as: Opera in the Vineyards, Westfield shopping centers, Warringah Mall, Feastability at Newtown, Warringah, Art Gallery, Coca Cola, Oddfellows, Krispy Kreme, Gloria Jeans, Yalumba wines, De Bortoli winery, Lindeman's winery, Orlando Wyndham Estate winery, French Trade Commission, Manly Council, Mosman Council, Newcastle Council, Gosford Council, City of Canada Bay Council, Canterbury Council, Penrith Council, Warringah Council, Liverpool Council, Nelson Bay Center, Warners Bay Chamber of Commerce, The Entrance Town Centre Management, Marrickville Council, Sydney University, Macquarie University, International House, Mc Donald College of performing arts, Jaguar, Mercedes, Porsche promotions and many more

The history of Viva the band in Australia and Internationally

You can read more about the bands extensive history in our history page

To see more of this site, go back to the index at the top of the page