‘Inordinately, preposterously, almost slanderously talented.’ Phillip Adams, ABC Radio National, Australia

‘Coco’s Lunch is living proof that the world’s first instrument – the human voice – is still the finest and most versatile…As singers they prove that the voice has no bounds…’  The Hindu, India

'Moving poems of freedom, love and wildness.'  Primarily A Cappella, USA

Renowned for their extraordinary song-writing, skin-tight vocal harmonies and stunning live performances, Coco’s Lunch have long been recognised as award-winning pioneers in the composition of innovative Australian vocal music. Co-founded by Lisa Young and Sue Johnson in 1994, Coco's Lunch features Melbourne singer/percussionists Gabrielle MacGregor, Lisa Young, Jacqueline Gawler and Emma Gilmartin, and has spent over 20 years winning the hearts of audiences across Australia, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Laos, Taiwan, Germany, Austria, France, New Zealand, Canada and India. With 7 critically acclaimed albums under their belt, these women have received countless awards, been featured on compilation albums worldwide, and inspired a generation of singers and vocal ensembles. Described as a ‘national treasure’ (Herald Sun), the artists in Coco’s Lunch continue to push the boundaries of the genres they blend and merge, creating a distinct voice of unparalleled beauty and originality.

'A Cappella like you’ve never heard it before…' Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National Breakfast

‘Coco’s Lunch is my favourite A Cappella group. A few years ago when I directed the Adelaide International Cabaret Festival I invited them to perform and they were so successful I basked in their reflected glory. Their delectable repertoire is composed and arranged by them and gloriously performed on this new album. They are better than ever.’ Barry Humphries

‘Celestial….Spiritual…’ Kate Ceberano

HIGHLIGHTS

• Featured on ARIA Mixtape: 25 Years of Arts Learning by the Song Room (2024)

• Song ‘Other Plans’ featured as the opening choir piece at Björk’s Cornucopia show for Perth Festival 2023

• NOMINATED BEST FOLK/WORLD SONG (Other Plans) - Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards USA

• TOP 10 - TRANSGLOBAL WORLD MUSIC CHARTS (Misra Chappu the album)

• ALBUM OF THE WEEK - Friday Jazz Sessions on Fine Music Sydney Radio

• Featured on AUSACA Vol. 1: The Best of Australian A Cappella - WINNER ‘Outstanding Oceanic Album’ in Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards 2021

• Extensive national & international airplay (album: Misra Chappu) throughout USA, Europe, Portugual, Mexico, Spain

• 5 STARS (album Misra Chappu)- Fine Music Sydney Magazine Sep 2021

• Monash University #AloneTogether Commission Prize 2020

• MELBOURNE RECITAL CENTRE - Sold out shows in 2018 & 2019, 2021 & 2023

• 2018 A CAPPELLA VIDEO AWARDS USA - Finalist ‘Best Folk/World Video’ for Other Plans

• MUSICA VIVA - NSW Regional Touring program 2019, 2020 and 2022

• FEATURED ON Contemporary A Cappella Society of America's (CASA) compilation album 'Sing 12: This Big!' (Other Plans)

• FEATURED ON '2015 Get Vocal: Best of Contemporary Australian A Cappella' compilation album (Other Plans)

• AUSTRALIAN A CAPPELLA AWARDS 2015 - WINNER 'Best Song Composed' for Other Plans

• AUSTRALIAN A CAPPELLA AWARDS 2015 - 8 nominations including Best Jazz Song, Best Female Solo, Best Song Composed, Best Original Song.

• Adelaide Cabaret Festival at Adelaide Festival Centre 2015

• FEATURED ON ‘Get Vocal 2012: The Best of Contemporary Australian A Cappella’ (On My Skin) - released on major US record label A Cappella Records

• INDIA - Headline act, Hindu NovemberFest inc. concerts in Chennai, Kochi & Hyderabad.

• POLYFOLLIA 4th WORLD CHORAL SHOWCASE, FRANCE 2010

• FEATURED ON Polyfollia 4th World Choral Showcase album (Palani Princess), FRANCE

• ARIA NOMINATION 2007: Best World Music Album (Blueprint)

• ARIA NOMINATION 2007: Best Children’s Album (Rat Trap Snap!)

• SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE Utzon Room Music Series sell-out concerts 2008 & 2009

• SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE – sell-out seasons for Babies Proms & House Ed in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 & 2011

• QUEENSLAND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 2008

• CAPITAL E NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL – NEW ZEALAND 2009

• AUSTRALIA DAY ROCKSONG! SYDNEY – Coco’s Lunch & Coco’s Lunch for Kids 2009

• TELSTRA DOME 2008 – Days In The Dioceses for an audience of 30,000

• CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2007

• CAMDEN HAVEN MUSIC FESTIVALS 2003, 2007

• TAIWAN – 7th INTERNATIONAL TAIPEI CHORAL FESTIVAL

• TOUR TO CANADA 2005 – including FESTIVAL VANCOUVER @ University of British Columbia

• TV & RADIO APPEARANCES IN CANADA inc. repeat national broadcasts of UBC concert by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) & appearances on CTV’s ‘Good Morning Canada’

• TOUR TO EUROPE 2004 – Standing ovations at vocal festivals in Germany and Austria inc. Voicemania @ Porgy & Bess iconic jazz club

• Feast Festival Gala night, Adelaide

• WINNER CARA AWARDS USA 2003 – BEST FOLK/WORLD SONG

• RUNNER-UP CARA AWARDS USA 2003 – BEST FOLK/WORLD ALBUM

• FINALIST Australian World Music Awards 2000 – BEST ALBUM (Invisible Rhythm)

• 2 APRA MUSIC AWARD nominations – MOST PERFORMED JAZZ WORK

• 14 YEARS with MUSICA VIVA AUSTRALIA touring for Countrywide, In Schools and Export programs

• 7 CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED ALBUMS of original works for both adults & children

• RECIPIENTS of numerous AUSTRALIA COUNCIL & ARTS VICTORIA grants since 1994

• Songs featured in short films, documentaries, TV ads, anthologies, theatre productions and compilation albums worldwide

• SHANGHAI & HONG KONG – performances for Agnes B and International Finance Centre (IFC)

• WORLD MUSIC CD OF THE WEEK – Sydney Morning Herald (Invisible Rhythm)

• Australia Day RockSong, Sydney

• Government House, Sydney (2003)

• The Famous Spiegeltent, Melbournbe (2003, 2004, 2005, 2007)

• The Music Show ABC Radio National – Live from the Spiegeltent (2005)

• Adelaide Festival Centre (2008 & 2015)

• Australian Society for Music Educators (ASME) International Conference

• Representing Australian Contemporary Music at the ‘One year to the Olympics Celebrations’ at

  Australian High Commissions in Singapore, Laos.

• Port Fairy Folk Festival: Coco’s Lunch & Coco’s Kids (1995, 2000, 2008)

• Monash Carols by Candlelight 2007

• Concerts and vocal workshops in 13 countries

MISRA CHAPPU - THE NEW ALBUM

In late 2020 Coco’s Lunch released the brand new album MISRA CHAPPU - 8 exquisite new compositions drawing from the rich sonic palettes of Australia, India and Africa, and heavily featuring the spectacular artform known as konnakol (South Indian vocal percussion). This is their seventh studio album and features some of Melbourne’s finest percussionists.

• TOP 10 - Transglobal World Music Charts, chosen from new releases from around the world.

• Song ‘Other Plans’ featured as the opening choir piece at Björk’s Cornucopia show for Perth Festival 2023

• NOMINATED: BEST FOLK/WORLD SONG - Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards USA

• ALBUM OF THE WEEK - Friday Jazz Sessions on Fine Music Sydney Radio

• Featured on AUSACA Vol. 1: The Best of Australian A Cappella - WINNER ‘Outstanding Oceanic Album’ in Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards 2021

• 5 STARS - Fine Music Sydney Magazine Sep 2021

• Chosen for Feature Sounds on PBS FM, Melbourne

• Extensive national & international airplay throughout USA, Europe, Portugual, Mexico, Spain.

OTHER PLANS

In 2015 Coco’s Lunch released their single and show Other Plans, which they were invited to premiere at the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival - directed by Noel Jordan (Festival Director - Edinburgh International Children's Festival).

‘Tight and soulful…sheer joy... There are no down moments – just celebrations of life, places, love and unity… A national treasure indeed…’ The Clothesline, Adelaide (4.5 stars)

‘Delivering a feast of a cappella goodness, the five stunning voices of Coco’s Lunch relay fond travel memories with worldly beats and glimmering, jazzy harmonies to sultry perfection — think a sexy Lion King soundtrack…each arrangement a celebration of the human voice — rich, intricate, and utterly captivating.’ The Advertiser, Adelaide

• WINNER - BEST SONG COMPOSED (Australian A Cappella Awards 2015)

• NOMINATED - BEST FOLK/WORLD SONG (Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards USA)

Coco's Lunch won BEST SONG COMPOSED in the 2015 Australian A Cappella Awards for the new single Other Plans, composed by Coco's Lunch artist Lisa Young, who in 2015 was awarded her PhD in the creative art of South Indian konnakol. Coco's Lunch also received no less than 7 additional nominations in the same awards for:

• Best Jazz Song – In My Room by Lisa Young

• Best Jazz Song – Other Plans by Lisa Young

• Best Song Composed– Palani Princess by Jacqueline Gawler

• Best Female Solo – Palani Princess by Jacqueline Gawler

• Best Original Song – Shifting Time by Lisa Young

• Best Original Song– Sister My Sister by Sue Johnson

• Best Original Song– Other Plans by Lisa Young

'I put [Other Plans] on and straight away I knew it was a winner.' Paul Gough, The Inside Sleeve, ABC Radio National

'The sound of female acapella group Coco’s Lunch in their new single Other Plans fits into the realm of the angelic... musical bliss.' Beattopia 2015

'A Powerhouse...' Richard Stubbs, ABC 774

In 2015 Other Plans the single was chosen from vocal groups worldwide to feature on the prestigious Contemporary A Cappella Society of America's compilation album Sing 12.  Other Plans was also chosen to feature on the Get Vocal 2015: Best of Contemporary Australian A Cappella compilation album.

BLUEPRINT

In 2007 Coco's Lunch released their 6th album Blueprint to critical acclaim and an Australian Recording Industry Award (ARIA) nomination for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM. In the same year they received an ARIA NOMINATION for BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM for their CD Rat Trap Snap! Track 4 on the album Blueprint ‘On My Skin’ (composed by Jacqueline Gawler) was selected to feature on the ‘Get Vocal 2012: The Best of Contemporary Australian A Cappella’ which was released on major US record label A Cappella Records.

'The new repertoire shines with exquisite harmonies – one of Coco’s trademarks.’ The Age, Melbourne

‘Another outstanding album…9/10.′ Music Australia Guide

2 ARIA NOMINATIONS 2007
BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM: Blueprint
BEST CHILDREN’S ALBUM: Rat Trap Snap!

In 2013 Coco's Lunch were invited to tour India for the prestigious Hindu NovemberFest, made possible with funding by the Australia India Council and the Australian High Commission in Chennai. In 2010 the group was also invited to represent Australia as one of 12 vocal ensembles from around the globe to perform at the 2010 Polyfollia 4th World Choral Showcase in FRANCE, performing in front of over 100 international festival directors as well as conducting workshops for amateur choirs & festival delegates – translated into French. They were a headline act at the 2006 Taipei International Choral Festival in Taiwan where they performed at the Taipei National Concert Hall, and also the 2005 Vancouver International Festival, where their concert at the University of British Columbia received repeat national broadcasts by the Canadian Broadcasting Commission.

‘One of Australia’s best exports.’ Vancouver Sun, Canada

‘Brilliant and explosive!’ Cellensis Festival, AUSTRIA

In 2009 Coco’s Lunch received a return invitation to MusicFest Vancouver and were the first ensemble to be invited back to the Sydney Opera House Utzon Music Series in consecutive years (2008 & 2009). In 2008 Coco’s Lunch were also invited to perform at Telstra Dome for the Days In The Dioceses Commissioning Mass celebration in front of a 40,000 strong audience. In 2003 the quintet scored BEST FOLK/WORLD SONG (Thulele Mama Ya – Lisa Young) and received Runner Up BEST FOLK/WORLD ALBUM (A Whole New Way of Getting Dressed) in the USA Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. Their CD Invisible Rhythm was a finalist for Best Album in the 2000 Australian World Music Awards, and the group was also nominated for 2 APRA music awards.

‘Dazzling rhythms and an exotic blend of sounds and styles…(their) soul and energy will make you look at a cappella music in a whole new way.’ RARB, USA

Coco’s Lunch has toured throughout Australia and Asia with Musica Viva Australia since 1994 and represented Australian contemporary music in Singapore and Laos in the lead up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They have collaborated with Stephen Leek’s Australian Voices, and in 2008 were commissioned to write a new work for the ensemble. The award-winning music of Coco’s Lunch has been featured on countless compilation albums, anthologies, short films, ads, installations and documentaries. Sheet music for their original songs is available for purchase, and performed by choirs and vocal ensembles around the world.

‘This group of women is a national treasure.’ Herald Sun

Coco’s Lunch for Kids were a hit onstage at children’s festivals, including repeat sell-out seasons at Sydney Opera House for 6 years and magical theatre shows for New Zealand’s Capital E Festival, Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s Out Of the Box Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Something On Saturday at Adelaide Festival Centre, Brisbane Powerhouse, Victorian Arts Centre and repeat shows for the Famous Spiegeltent – all directed by Vanessa Chapple. Their albums for children I Wanna Be A Mermaid, Wally Wombat Shuffle and Rat Trap Snap! were released to outstanding reviews by media and music educators, and are used as educational resources in classrooms throughout Australia.