Vanessa Craven and Lunar Dust will perform some folkey, bluesy, alt-country music at Daylesford Cidery on 7th. October. Come along enjoy some wonderful locally brewed award winning Cider and enjoy a lovely meal or just drop in for a drink. The music will keep your feet tapping, and evoke wonderful emotions.

Vanessa Craven, of Welsh-Indian background, is an Australian singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She has been passionate about guitar playing since her early teens in India. Immigrating to Australia from the Himalaya Mountains. Since 2009 she has played her music in a variety of events and venues such as  the Denny Roots and Blues Festival R.S.L.,Deniliquin, Newstead Folk Festival, Castlemaine Fringe Festival, Daylesford Folk and Blues Festsival, Ballan Autumn Festival, Maldon Festival, Brunswick Festival, Daylesford Inn, Babushka Bar, Ballarat, Wesley Anne, Northcote, The Aireys Pub, Aireys Inlet, Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, Newport R.S.L., Newport, Gallery on Sturt, Ballarat (Art & Music event), Black Hill Gallery, Ballarat, East Malvern RSL Entertainers Club, and many more venues including bars, aged care facilities.

She moved to Daylesford permanently in 2009 and being passionate about living in an Eco-friendly environment, she built a rammed earth house. She has contributed to the Daylesford Community, by organising and running the Daylesford Folk and Blues Festival from 2010 through to 2013 and also ran an Open Mic at venues such as The Daylesford Inn, Seior Citizen’s Hall and Buffalo Girls Cafe.

Vanessa is attracted to folk,blues and alt-country styles of music and continues to explore other genres as well.These influences are reflected in her performances. Her music has been influenced by listening to classical music with her father when she was a child, and more recently by Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder, Jerry Douglas, Kristina Olsen,Nick Charles, Pete Fidler, The Beatles, Chris Smither, Bob Brozman, Harry Manx, Kate Campbell, Janis Ian, Debashish Bhattacharia, Eric Bogle, Glen Cardier to name a few.

She currently plays guitar y in Open G and Open D (DADF#AD), droped D, as well as standard tuning.

Vanessa is currently performing as a ‘one woman band’ and plays lap slide, guitar, Cajon drum, harmonica and didgeridoo, with an overlay of smooth easy listening vocals.
She is a multi-instrumentalist and plays the cajon drum, floor tambourine, harmonica, didgeridoo and guitar. She is also involved in playing as a duo in Sugar ‘n Spice and also in her band called Lunar Dust.

In 2016 her 2nd. E.P “Forbidden Dance” became available in July 2016. Its first launch was  at the Newport Folk Festival. There after at Blue Bean Love Cafe, Hepburn, Daylesford Cidery, Farouks Olive, Ballarat Public Library and Trentham Library.

In 2011 she produced her debut album, “Filtered Light” which is available from the following :
CD Baby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/vanessacraven
Trad and Now / Ducks Crossing http://www.tradandnow.com/ . Credit cards accepted.
iTunes  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/filtered-light/id639126063
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/

2014 – Sugar ‘n Spice duo (Vanessa and Zdena) combined to play under this name. Zdena on uke bass accompanying Vanessa.
Also, the ‘band’ Lunar Dust – officially received its name. The band has played over the years together at the venues listed above, and some have played on the CD “Filtered Light”, Vanessa’s debut album. The band members comprise of : Vanessa Craven – vocals,guitar,lap slide,harmonica, didge and cajon drum, George Condos – latin guitar and udu, Don Gula – double bass and guitar, Andrew Barcham – banjo, Paul Jonas – violin, Peter Vadiveloo – percussion, and Suzanne Coutanceau harmony vocals, keyboard and melodica.

2014 Vanessa enrolled at the Australian Institute of Music, Melbourne Campus to perfect her skills in musicianship.

Songwriting Competitions:

2016 : Australian Songwriting Association (ASA) Awards in the Instrumental Category,
“Forbidden Dance” was placed 10th. (Forbidden Dance E.P). http://www.asai.org.au/2016-top-10-list/

Also “You’re Leaving” placed in the top 30 ASA Awards 2016 in the Open Category and  “Forbidden Dance” also placed in the top 30 in the  International Category before making it into the top 10.

2013 : Australian Songwriting  Association 2016 Top (ASA) Awards in the Instrumental Category,
“Lullaby For Monty” achieved 3rd. place . (Filtered Light CD )http://www.asai.org.au/2013-contest/

2013 : Music Oz – Music Videos commended – “One Last Shot” and “On Eagles Wings” – (Filtered Light CD),nominated for award. http://www.musicoz.org/news/2013/10/3/113/FINALISTS__PART2__2013_AIMAs_Commended_Songs
Instrumental “Russian Caravan Tea” (Filtered Light CD),also nominated for an award http://www.musicoz.org/news/2013/10/3/112/FINALISTS__2013_AIMAs_Commended_Songs

You Tube Videos Collectively viewable at :
http://www.acousticsessions.com.au/?page_id=1249

2012 : Her original tunes “One Last Shot” and “Russian Caravan Tea” are in the top 25 in the current Australian Songwriting Association competition.

2011: Her original music has also been in the finals of the Maldon and Brunswick Music Festivals.
2010, 2012 & 2013 Winner in the Busking Competition – Kyneton Daffodil Festival .
She has played as support act to Tiffany Eckhart and Dave Steel, Pete Fidler and Bill Jackson, and Suzette Herft.

2010 she was support act to Tiffany Eckhart, Dave Steel, Pete Fidler, Bill Jackson and Suzette Herft.