House Band

Zoe Hauptmann

AWMA Music Director – Upright and Electric Bassist/ Vocals

Zoe is one of Australia’s most in demand session musician’s who has recorded and performed with some of the country’s most iconic artists including Paul Kelly, Neil Finn, Wendy Mathews, Kate Ceberano, Missy Higgins, Ian Moss, Kasey Chambers, Katie Noonan, Tim Rogers and Peter Garrett.

Zoe has recorded on over 80 albums, performed at every major Australian festival and at a multitude of venues in both capital cities and regionally. In 2017 and 2018 Zoe was a finalist in the National Live Music Awards for “Australia’s best bassist”. Internationally Zoe has toured throughout Asia, Europe and America.

Sarah Belkner

Keys & Vocals

Sarah is a singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, composer and producer. She is a revered touring and session musician/MD performing with many artists including Missy Higgins, Sarah Blasko, OLYMPIA, NGAIIRE, Neil Finn and most recently Tim Minchin. She is also known for her skills as a Producer on tracks for Missy Higgins single ‘Carry You’ written by Tim Minchin for the series ‘Upright’.

Drawing attention for her enigmatic live performances, Sarah performed at The Great Escape 2017 in Brighton, UK where she was named one of the Top 8 acts by The AU Review and supported Lisa Mitchell on her UK tour. She also supported OLYMPIA on her national Australian album tour and toured the UK & Europe opening for Sarah Blasko.

Kat Ayala

Guitar

Kat is one half of dream pop duo, Forces & Fury. She also plays guitar for a number of artists and projects including GRAACE, Jack River, Faker, Bec Sandridge, Killing Heidi, Hayley Mary and Vanessa Amorosi.

Ali Foster

Drums

Ali has a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is one of Australia’s most in demand drummers, touring and recording with artists such as Hussy Hicks, Beccy Cole, Kasey Chambers, Ciaran Gribbin (INXS) and Sirens Big Band.

She has also performed with Guy Sebastian, Katie Noonan and Renee Geyer and toured with UK electro punk artist, ‘Sshh’, featuring Zak Starkey (Ringo Starr’s son and drummer for The Who). Ali regularly plays at Australia’s biggest festivals including; Bluesfest Byron Bay, Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival and Tamworth Country Music Festival.