Melissa Western Jazz Artist and Entertainer - LOGO
Fact File:
Born: Manchester, England. Emigrated to Brisbane, Australia aged 8.
Mother: award winning Sri Lankan model, Miss Max Factor 1961, celebrated with telegrams from Marlon Brando, Ginger Rogers and Rock Hudson.
Father: English jazz cabaret crooner, host and entertainer, wooed mother in Soho club in London.
Qualifications: Trained at RADA (London), Broadway Dance Centre (New York), MPhil in Theatre, first-class Honours, University Medal and Valedictorian at University of Queensland.
Career Highlights: Women in Voice (QPAC), Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Brisbane Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Festival, La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, Brisbane Jazz Club, Speigeltent, Woodford Folk Festival, Valley Jazz Festival, The Basement – Gold Coast Arts Centre, Mackay Entertainment Centre, The Tivoli, Brisbane City Hall. President, Brisbane Jazz Club 2003-2007.
Loves: Chocolate, the colour red and a really good, long, sweaty dance.
Melissa Western Headshot

Melissa Abigail Western was born in Manchester, England ... the only daughter of a jazz-singing English father and an award-winning Sri Lankan model mother. Over the past ten years she has performed to audience and critical acclaim locally in Brisbane, nationally throughout Australia and internationally in the UK and France, singing, acting and dancing in shows and cabarets, writing and producing new works and singing with a variety of ensembles. In 2010 she released her first debut CD, Stepping Stone and gave birth to her first child.

2011 highlights include performing for Premier Anna Bligh’s Heroes Ceremony at Suncorp Piazza, performing sold out seasons of Oh, Lady Be Good at The Jazz Bar in Edinburgh and Blind Tiger, London, critical acclaim and official “Sold Out” status for her show Baby Loves Singing, Dancing and YOU! at the Edinburgh Festival. Other performance and venues highlights over the past two years include being hand-picked as the feature performer for former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s Australia Day reception, writing, recording and releasing her first original CD Stepping Stone, touring Queensland with Premier Anna Bligh for her Christmas Concerts (2009, 2010 and 2011), UK tour (Lincolnshire/Nottingham shire), Lush Life and Ella, Marilyn, Marlene and Me - Edinburgh Fringe Festival, The Jazz Bar - Edinburgh, Women in Voice – QPAC, The Vault - Edinburgh Fringe Festival, L'église – Avaux (France), Powerhouse Theatre - Brisbane Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Jazz Club, Speigeltent - Qld Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Valley Jazz Festival, Mackay Entertainment Centre,  Adelaide Fringe Festival, The Tivoli, Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Festival, The Basement – Gold Coast Arts Centre, La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre.

By turns sassy, soulful, smart and sweet, Melissa straddles the worlds of jazz, cabaret and theatre. She's widely considered a 'pocket dynamite' who delights in unleashing her unique style of entertainment onto an eager audience. Her self-penned musical Ella, Marilyn, Marlene and Me was an official sell-out at the 2008 and 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, garnering a five star review from ThreeWeeks "absolutely brilliant... enthralling vocal talents wowed the audience" and four stars from The Scotsman "Melissa Western is on fire... it’s mainly about the eyes, the face and the voice."

Melissa Western is a high level corporate entertainer having been booked by many top ranking Government departments statewide and federal. Melissa was chosen to perform with her band as the featured entertainment for Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's Australia Day Reception at the Queensland Art Gallery in January 2010; Melissa has been the feature vocalist for Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's 2010 Hero’s Day at Southbank and her Regional Christmas Concert series in 2009, 2010 and 2011; she performed jazzy Australian pop tunes, the National Anthem and feature songs at the 2009 Premier's Queensland Citizenship Ceremony at the Suncorp Piazza in Southbank in 2009; she was the feature vocalist at the Official Australia Day Ceremony in January 2008 performing at Southbank with the Royal Australian Army Band - officials including the Brisbane Lord Mayor, Queensland Governor and State Government ministers. She also performed multiple times for the Queensland State Library, Queensland Art Gallery and Brisbane City Council at various events over the past eight years.

A favourite for corporate balls and awards nights, Melissa can appear with any number of backings, from intimate duo right up to 17-piece big band.


Venue and festival highlights: The Vault - Edinburgh Fringe Festival, L'église – Avaux (France), Powerhouse Theatre - Brisbane Cabaret Festival, Brisbane Jazz Club, Speigeltent - Qld Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, QPAC, The Basement – Gold Coast Arts Centre, Valley Jazz Festival, Mackay Entertainment Centre, The Tivoli, Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Club, Maggie Black Jazz Club, The Milkbar, Brisbane City Hall, Sirromet Winery, King George Square, Tweed Valley Jazz Club, La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre.

Theatre credits include: Wicked Bodies (La Boite Theatre, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre), The Madness of Sweeney, Taliesan (Mog Roith / Eugene Gilfedder), The Dinosaur Show, Captain Flash and the Fantastic Flying Machine, Santa of the Never Never (Tell Tales Entertainment), Boneless Chicken Brecht, Inheritance, Schoolies, An Entirely New Sensation (Cracka Theatre Troupe).

Cabaret history includes: A-Z of Cabaret Tour with Brisbane Cabaret Festival, VIII World Shakespeare Congress, Alliance Francaise Bastille Day @ QPAC, Mischievous Minx in Winter: A flirty cabaret about alcohol, drugs, sex and sin, (Metro Arts), The Lady Mayoress’ Valentine’s Gala, Velvet Souls: An Exquisite Evening of smooth jazz ballads, Destiny 10 Dance Party, The Speigeltent, Brisbane City Hall as part of Festivus, Le Classique - Bastille Day.

"Melissa Western is a cabaret singer of the sultry jazz club variety ... this olive skinned beauty grew up in Queensland, but has honed her skills in London and New York. Her voice is incredible and she just glows on stage." Stephanie Glickman, Australian Stage Online, February 2008

"Western is an appealing performer with a natural rapport with her audience. There's something very sweet and funny about her, and you get the feeling that there is a big personality just waiting to burst out." Claire Smith, The Scotsman (Scotland), August 2007

"Western's gorgeous singing voice serves her well"
The Australian, 2004

"captivating vocal talents … you must see this show"
Ron Bingham, The Groggy Squirrel (UK), August 2007.

"the singing is gorgeous and Melissa Western is very pleasing on the eye."
Musical Theatre Matters (UK), August 2007.

"Whether it be a smooth ballad, traditional jazz favourite, raunchy Latin number or cool blues, Melissa has the vocal capacity to do justice to each. A brilliant singer and great entertainer." Cheryl Jorgensen, Director, Mackay Entertainment Centre, February 2007

"Melissa Western is a sultry singer with an exceptional ability to scat, and her rich, powerful vocals invite the audience to accompany her on her journey."
Kylie Pedler, New Adelaide Theatre Guide, March 2008

Download a PDF version of Melissa's biography