Welcome to the official website of singer-songwriter, Kathie Renner and her group, Vincent's Chair. "Enigmatic story-telling and exquisite performances", Vincent's Chair Trio create lush, intimate moments of orchestrated and improvised songs.


Kathie Renner

Vincent's Chair

VINCENT'S CHAIR: Stretch

Buy Now Stretch is now available on line at CD Baby.

Friday, December 31, 1999

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Vincent’s Chair

Vincent's Chair is the brainchild of singer-songwriter, Kathie Renner, a creative artist who writes from the heart about her observations on life.

The group began in 2000 as a 6 piece, and has evolved into its current trio line-up of Kathie Renner on vocals & keyboard, accompanied by Karen De Nardi on viola and Hugh Stuckey on guitar. The combination of instruments and the beautifully crafted songs, together with their outstanding musicianship make for a lush, sonorous and unique sound.

Their blend of musically eclectic and lyrically introspective songs have left audiences amazed at the astonishing level of artistry and skill. In an age of fierce competition just to be noticed, this is one musical experience not to be missed.

Their first performance was at the Tandanya Cafe in 2000. Since then they have gone on to perform at three Adelaide Fringe Festivals and the 2004 Adelaide Cabaret Festival, the 2005 Coopers International Jazz Festival and the Victor Harbor Folk Festival.

In May 2006, the Vincent's Chair Trio, which consisted of Kathie Renner, Karen De Nardi and Hugh Stuckey, played to great acclaim at EUROPAfest in Bucharest, Romania.

In 2003 they launched their self-released debut CD, "At the first sign", to a full house at the Garage Bar, Adelaide and the Trio have just released a new Cd called "Stretch"(2006)

The band's name, refers to their philosophy on music making. The members identify with the artistry and skill of the music industry and draw inspiration from the Dutch painter, Vincent VanGogh.  Vincent's Chair cite as their influences Joni Mitchell, Sting, Pat Metheny, and Lior.

PLAYER PROFILES


KATHIE RENNER - singer-songwriter, keyboard, guitar

Kathie is a dedicated singer-songwriter who has recorded several CDs of her own material over the years. In 1995 she released her self-funded CD, Just Because, and again in 1999 she released The Bayfield Sessions. In 2003 she launched her band, Vincent's Chair's first CD, At the first sign.

Kathie has also been recognised for her song writing with an award for her song, Such is life from the Australian National Songwriter's Association in 2005.

A highly sought after vocal teacher, Kathie divides her time between performing and teaching at several high schools and the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music at Adelaide University. She is also a member and regular contributor to COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide)


KAREN DE NARDI - Viola

Karen performs regularly as a chamber musician, and has appeared in many music festivals including the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and numerous Folk and Jazz festivals.
Her experience in classical and other genres is pivotal to the arrangements of new works for the group and she brings a warmth and sensitivity to the ensemble sound.
Karen uses a 1989 Rex Thompson viola. She chooses to use Pirastro Obligato strings, a Martin Jones(MJ1) Pick-up and Fishman Pre-amp.


HUGH STUCKEY - guitar

Hugh Stuckey was quick to pick up the guitar and by age eleven made the trip to Adelaide to perform duets with Tommy Emmanuel at the Norwood Town Hall, and a year later travelled to Adelaide to ‘sit in’ with the Pembroke School Concert Band during a performance with Don Burrows and Kevin Hunt.
In May 2005 Hugh received the James Morrison BMW scholarship which resulted in an opportunity to perform with James Morrison at concerts in Sydney and Melbourne. Perhaps more importantly through was in invitation to perform at the International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE) conference in January 2006 which was held in New York. While in New York Hugh received lessons from world renowned jazz guitarists John Abercrombie and Ben Monder and was able to experience many of the world’s best jazz musicians .


Other musicians who have played with Vincent's Chair

  • Brett Stafford – guitars
  • Tom Belcher – keyboard
  • Andrew Leckie – drums and percussion
  • Shaun Duncan – bass guitar
  • Derek McClure – bass guitar
  • Thom Mann – drums
  • Steve Todd – percussion
  • Ben Todd – percussion
  • Zoe Barry – cello
  • Dominic Glynn – violin
  • Shireen Khemlani – bass
  • Ruby Frost String Quartet – strings
  • James Sked – bass
  • Damien Eldridge - drums

Biography of Kathie Renner

Arguably one of the finest vocalists in Australia, singer-songwriter, Kathie Renner, possesses not only a voice of rare beauty, but a gift for creative endeavours as well such as arranging, producing and composing.

Described as a cross between Joni Mitchell and Sting in style, Kathie writes about the human condition, and houses her lyrics in a range of genres from jazz ballads to folk-rock grooves. The end result is always breathtakingly stunning and beautiful.

Born and raised in Papua New Guinea , the family then moved to South Australia where she completed a Bachelor of Music Degree, majoring in voice. Kathie then proceeded to pay her dues doing years and countless hours of piano bar work, and along the way sang with bands like the Fuze and Moonlighters.

In the time since graduating Kathie has built up a large body of work, and a reputation for excellence and quality. In addition to two sold out performances at the 2004 Adelaide Fringe Festival and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and highly enthusiastic audiences and excellent reviews, Kathie and her group, Vincent's Chair, also performed to much acclaim at the 2005 Coopers International East End Jazz Festival.

In 2005 Kathie's song, "Such is life" gained a top 10 place in the 25th National Australian Songwriting Contest.

In 2006, Kathie and her trio, featuring Karen De Nardi and Hugh Stuckey, were invited to perform at EUROPAfest in Bucharest, Romania.

With her trio, Vincent's Chair Trio, Kathie will release a new CD of original works in 2007.

Kathie's other achievements include:

  • Debut CD: Just Because
  • The Bayfield Sessions - 5 Track CD
  • Riffs Music Lounge, Royal Oak, Tandanya Cafe, Worldsend Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Hyatt Hotel, Stamford Grand Hotel, Radisson Playford, The Bar on Gouger
  • Hindley Park Royal piano bar
  • Fezbah - Adelaide Festival Centre
  • Adelaide Casino
  • Governor Hindmarsh
  • 1999 Victor Harbour Folk Festival
  • 2000 Fringe Festival
  • 2002 and 2004 Adelaide Fringe Festivals
  • 2003 released CD with her band, Vincent's Chair
  • 2004 Adelaide Cabaret Festival
  • 2005 Coopers International East End Jazz Festival
  • 2005 25th Australian National Songwriting Contest
  • 2005 Creative Original Music Adelaide - Hipnote Sessions Launch
  • 2006 EUROPAfest, Romania
  • 2006/2007 Creative Original Music Adelaide - Hipnote Sessions performances
  • 2006 Twilight Concert - Whistler Wines, Barossa Valley, SA.
  • 2007 Performances at Tea House Gallery, Adelaide Fringe Festival
  • 2007 Twilight Concert - Whistler Wines, Barossa Valley, SA
  • 2007 Associate artist with Libby O'Donovan in her show, "Meredith Crocksley Project -Adelaide Fringe Festival
  • 2007 Adelaide Cabaret Festival - Meredith Crocksley Project
  • 2007 Red Poles - McLaren Vale
  • 2007 Trinity Sessions
  • 2007 Maxwell Wines - McLaren Vale

Discography

STRETCH - VINCENT'S CHAIR (2007)

Buy Now

  1. The Fishermen's Secret
  2. At Twenty One
  3. One In A Million
  4. Closer To Your Heart
  5. If Nothing Else
  6. Stretch
  7. The Father's Sin
  8. Fifty Things
  9. Stupid Conversations
  10. Faux Pas

ON THE SIDE OF THE ANGELS - KATHIE RENNER (2007)

Buy Now

  1. Let nothing trouble you
  2. Hand in hand
  3. Feed us now
  4. You call me to love
  5. On the day I called
  6. You are glorious
  7. Jesus, remember me
  8. There is a Redeemer
  9. The new road
  10. On the side of the angels
  11. Sing out with joy, He is coming
  12. For you, deep stillness
  13. Here is bread
  14. Teach me your way
  15. May the Lord bless you today
  16. Deep peace
  17. Amazing Grace
  18. Because we bear your name
  19. Jesus, please watch over us
  20. Toward the light

AT THE FIRST SIGN - VINCENT'S CHAIR (2003)

  1. 1964
  2. At the first sign
  3. Disappointed
  4. Lost on me
  5. My Siamese twin
  6. To love someone that way
  7. Over the years
  8. Fairfield midway
  9. The most amazing sound
  10. Such is life
  11. Until then

LIVE AT TANDANYA - VINCENT'S CHAIR (2002)

  1. Prelude
  2. Vincent
  3. Dialog
  4. You've Gotta Be
  5. Fields of Gold
  6. To Love Someone That Way
  7. Something So Right
  8. Kodachrome
  9. Dialog
  10. Turbulent Indigo
  11. Twisted
  12. I Can See Clearly
  13. Yellow
  14. Over The Rainbow
  15. Invisible
  16. Dialog
  17. Encore 1: Disappointed
  18. Encore 2: Big Yellow Taxi

THE BAYFIELD SESSIONS - KATHIE RENNER

  1. Elvis Is Alive
  2. Invisible
  3. On The Side Of The Angels
  4. God Knows
  5. A Life Of Slavery

JUST BECAUSE - KATHIE RENNER (1995)

  1. Green light
  2. In love with being in love
  3. Just because
  4. The half of it
  5. The closer we get
  6. That's life (Part 1)
  7. Wretched souls and heavy hearts
  8. Escape
  9. Your face
  10. Every touch is a promise

Giggin’ History