The Julia Deans and Jonnie Goes To Church Show
Around the start of the ‘90’s Julia Deans and Celia Church were in New Zealand stepping out into parallel worlds of music. Their worlds came close but didn’t touch until they collided in another country.
In Auckland, Celia had a stint singing with the Headless Chickens. In Wellington, Julia was singing in a Celtic rock band called Banshee Reel. In 1996 Celia came to Australia and Julia stayed in NZ and formed Fur Patrol. Celia played in a few bands over here, Probe and the Red Eyes the most notable ones. And back in NZ Fur Patrol became huge. In 2000 they had a #1 hit with Lydia, so they decided, as you do, to come to Australia. They hit the national touring circuit hard.
When Celia met Julia in Melbourne she was a bit star struck. Julia recognised Celia’s inner star immediately. They started singing together effortlessly. Like Agnetha and Frida. And hanging out. It was a meeting of minds and voices. To this day they are besties.
At the end of the noughties Julia realised she had unfinished business in Aotearoa and went home. Celia was heartbroken. But they’ve continued to sing on each other’s records. They giggle and cry on the phone for hours and they’ve been there for each other through relationships, deaths, illnesses, birthdays and childbirth.
Julia’s list of achievements in music is extensive. She’s had multiple noms for multiple gongs - the Taite Music Prize, the APRA Silver Scroll, and the NZ Music Awards. She’s collaborated musically with New Zealand’s best - Neil Finn, Delaney Davidson, Tami Neilson and Tiki Taane. Celia worked with Tiki too. Julia’s post Fur Patrol career has taken her from solo albums to festival shows and musical theatre, to orchestras and even opera. She is NZ rock royalty.
Celia’s recorded a solo album, sung with Shihad, toured NZ with Julia, and in recent times the music she’s made with her partner in life and music Jon von Goes, has achieved quite some critical acclaim. Jonnie Goes To Church is the melody of Celia and the words of Jon. Celia sings like an angel, Jon sings like a broadcaster. Jon’s radio show on Sunday afternoons on RRR is an institution.
They released a self-titled album last year. And as you’d expect, the record features Julia’s sublime backing vocals.
“These songs and sounds are magnificent and this old duck will only be satisfied with the recordings in his webbed hands” – Tim Rogers
“It’s a beautiful offering of songs. You work so well together” – Angie Hart
“Heard your track on the ABC last Friday …. absolutely beautiful, world class, achingly sad and all the feelings!” – Rebecca Barnard
It had to happen. Julia will be over in Melbourne on the cup day weekend. There’ll be a bit of Julia solo, a bit of Julia and Celia, a bit of Jonnie Goes to Church and a bit of Julia and JGTC.
The Julia Deans and Jonnie Goes To Church show, a quarter of a century of sisterly love and music.
Saturday 1st November at George Lane