Kara Coen

🌊 South East Yuin Nation Music & Arts Newsletter 

A Joyful Start to 2026 (from my very full, very grateful heart)

Oh my goodness… we are OFF and running, and I feel like I’ve been shot out of a confetti cannon straight into 2026.

If you’re reading this from somewhere along our beautiful South East Yuin Nation or anywhere around the world -  on a coastline — from the paddocks to the pubs, the beaches to the back verandahs — thank you. You’re the reason I get to do this wild, wonderful music life.

🎙 Recording Update – “Delicious” Is Almost Here!

RECORDING JOURNEY VIDEO LINK

I am SO close I can taste it (pun absolutely intended).

My band Kara Coen & The Fireflies has officially hit the studio and I’m already on the road on tour, duo, solo and band shows — and my  brand-new single “Delicious” drops MARCH 14. I cannot wait for you to hear it.

Huge, squishy hugs to my incredible band; Ashley Welsh Jones - drums, Casey Greene- Sax, Duncan Bond-keys and Thom Wright-lead & rythm guitar, plus our brilliant sound engineer Ricky Bloomfield from NextLine Studio — legends who’ve helped bring these songs to life. And to YOU — our generous, arts-loving community — thank you for every donation, share, kind word and cheer from the sidelines. We’re not done yet… there’s a whole album to finish! please donate at www.karacoen.com love you! music lovers …

Massive love to South East Arts, plus Creative Australia and The Australian Cultural Fund for backing original music and helping make the upcoming music video possible (release date TBA… ooooh suspense!). And can’t forget our wonderful Artist/Photographer/Videographer AJ. - Bundaree Studio 

Check out her work at INSTAGRAM LINK -TÈÖ (@theeverydayobserver) - select work available at @brunswickstreetgallery

🎟 Tour dates are up at karacoen.com (more to come!). 

Check out the music available now, buy a song to help me and the band make some more songs! 

And don’t forget to add me to your playlists ;-) and share them around 🥰 

 BandCamp https://karacoen.bandcamp.com/

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/36vBktpy8es3wpAqLgFqz9  

🎭 Big Show – March 14 – Tathra!

We’re celebrating single release night in STYLE at the brand new theatre space in Tathra.

Headland Theatre

SCAN FOR TICKET LINK-TREE

🗓 March 14
🕡 7:30pm
📍 Next to the Tathra Hotel

It’s a double band billing with Cobargo’s favourite adopted daughter, the songbird of the south east…Piper Allen with her band! 

Tickets via Humanitix or at karacoen.com — don’t snooze on this one, it’s going to be magic.

📻 Speaking of Radio…

Tune into ABC South East NSW:

• 🎨 March 6 – Piper Allen & Taisha Reed live from Bermagui Sculpture by the Sea (@piperallenmusic)
• 🎶 March 13 at 9:30am – I’ll be live in the studio sharing a sneak peek of Delicious, new merch, and chatting about supporting blues legend…🎸 Shaun Kirk that night @smokeydans Tomakin - Ticket LINK

And don’t forget Sundays with DJ queen Kayla Caldera on 2EARFM

Sundays at noon, she’ll get you up and dancing while you do those dishes! — I’ll be popping in next month to spice up the usual awesome beats with a bit of pop-soul on a Sunday afternoon. Listen online http://2earfm.au

🌈 Crème de la Femme – March 7 – Cobargo!

Celebrations start early as we kick off a International Women’s Weekend😜 (because why limit it to one day?!) with our very first 2026 pop-up festival. FB EVENT LINK

Crème de la Femme IWD SPECIAL EVENT

 @Valiant Coffee - COBARGO 10am 

🗓 March 7
⏰ 10am
🎟 FREE ENTRY -Live music, open mic, arts & crafts, belly dancing, modern dance workshop, kids’ art corner and our classic raffle of wine & goodies — raising funds to create paid opportunities for women, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ artists.

Family friendly. Rainbow friendly. $$ in the Donation buckets warmly welcomed, but not required. Divine feminine energy for EVERY body.

Some shots from Crème de la Femme’s previous pop up art and music festivals - check us out @cremefemmecollective on FB.

🎶 New Festival! Paddock Sounds at Mogo

What a glorious night at the first “Paddock Sounds” festival in Mogo — celebrating women in music and LGBTQIA+ artists with the most beautiful vibes. Here’s to many more paddocks filled with song! 

All organised by the fantastic Hank Presents (the well loved @Val Moogz) - included fabulous performances by Lillian Mcveity with full band- what a sound! Along with Val Moogz themselves, Kayla Caldera on the decks and many more talented performers.

Check out this little snap shot on my instagram and don’t forget to follow all these great artists.  https://www.instagram.com/reel/DT39Ju8krgt/?igsh=aXYxNDdzMjhocWM3  

💚 When Feeling Low — Get Arty

Now for some real talk.

Living with stage IV endometriosis is… how do I put this politely? A daily battle royale. It’s on my bladder, bowel, ovary, sciatic nerve and even under my skin. I’ve had a hysterectomy — nope, not a cure. I’m in that 2–4% with chronic daily pelvic pain. 

Long treatment trips to Sydney. Infection. Exhaustion. Some days I’m so tired I could nap standing up.

 (TO Learn more about endo head to Endometriosis Australia's website or socials.)

…But I am also exhilarated — because I’m so close to finally releasing this music.

When my body says “lie down,” my spirit says “paint something.” So I’ve been:

• Creating new merch
• Painting posters
• Making guitar wall hangings
• Designing special release packs for Delicious and Note To Self 

Art and nature keep me grounded. Always have. Always will.  

🎸 Supporting Shaun Kirk w/ WolfStone – March 13 - 5pm 

I am beyond excited to support Shaun Kirk on his Aussie tour before he heads to Canada.

📍 March 13 TICKET LINK @Smokey Dan's

With his beautiful voice and pop-soul-blues brilliance, this will be a night to remember. Grab tickets via my website or Humanitix — just search Shaun Kirk Smokey Dan’s.

Hear the magic https://youtu.be/j8tZLy6aNxU?si=Li8RKHcldzq62ls7

🚐 Tour Delicious – On The Road!

First stop: Canberra at Cypher Brewing Co — what a soulful night!
Next stop: Goulburn Workers Club (Feb 28 — see you soon!)

From the Sapphire Coast, across NSW & to the ACT, we’re bringing funky pop-soul originals, jazzy twists and fave covers.

And yes — new tunes and new merch are in tow. 😉

You can stream or buy music here:
Bandcamp + Spotify (links on karacoen.com)

Remember: it takes around 20,000 streams to earn just under $50. A four-track EP costs about $6k. A full album? Around $10k+. Most Aussie musicians average about $15,000 a year.

So please:

• Follow
• Subscribe
• Share
• Come to gigs
• Buy merch
• Donate if you can

Every dollar genuinely matters.

💃 Love Is In The Air

Between treatments and tours, my darling Thom joined me in Sydney for a “health holiday.” He waited on me hand and foot, became Daddy Thom to our new Chihuahua pup; Roo (who now prefers him, the traitor), and we’re finally back to dancing tango — slowly, carefully, occasionally stepping on each other’s toes.

After a serious back injury last year, it feels miraculous just to sway again.

Love is finding the sun to your moon. And sometimes doing a rain-soaked tango in Bermagui just because you can.

🎥 A Little Ask (From My Heart) YOUTUBE LINK

Please subscribe to my YouTube — I need 1000 followers before it earns anything. Independent musicians survive on community.

This is a million-to-one industry. But standing here in 2026, on beautiful South East Yuin Nation land, where I am lucky enough to live between the two sacred mountains of Mumbulla  and Gulaga - and with my music about to burst into the world…

…it all feels possible.

Thank you for believing in emerging artists.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for keeping Aussie music alive.

See you at the shows,
With love, grit, glitter and groove,

Kara xox