CANBERRA-BORN singer/songwriter Rachael Zella and her band, The Blackbirds are coming to Canberra from Sydney this week immediately after launching their debut album, “No Stranger.”

With three songs already selected for nationwide community distribution by the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project, “No Stranger” features Zella, known for her  haunting voice,  and her six-piece band performing an ‘eclectic’ mix of folk, indie and country music. With three-part vocal harmonies, a violin, an assortment of guitars and classically-nuanced melodies, the album, the band hopes, “cuts to the quick and delves deep into the heart of love, loss, forgiveness and most of all, the hope that comes out of the darkness.”

Raised in a well-known Canberra musical household and classically-trained, Zella has been playing and composing music since the age of eight and draws inspiration from musicians as different as Bach and The Beatles.

After graduating  with a music degree from the  University of NSW,  shehas been making a career of composing  and singing for 5 years, also performing on piano and guitar. Zella’s blackbirds are Emily Irvine on violin, Tessa Keenan, guitar and back vocals,  Narelle Evans, backing vocals/percussion, Jack Evans, guitars, Dwane Lee, percussion and Ben Kelly on bass.

Rachael Zella and The Blackbirds, with support artists Adam Cook and Ben Drysdale, ANU School of Music Band Room, 7pm Friday, July 5. Also Smiths Alternative Bookshop, at 76 Alinga St, Canberra with support artist Ben Drysdale, from 7pm, Saturday, July 6. $15 or $30 with CD purchase. Door sales only.

Also at Lerida Wine Estate, just off the Federal Highway approx 55 kms from Canberra CBD, 11 kms from the southern Collector turnoff, 12.30pm Sunday, July 7. Entry free.