Draft:First Salvation Jane

Salvation Jane

Salvation Jane Adelaide Tour Poster Dec 1984 - Jan 1985

This article is about the rock band Salvation Jane, which was the first all-women, feminist rock band in Canberra, Australia.

Salvation Jane played regular live gigs on the Canberra pub circuit performing a mix of rock, punk and folk.

Salvation Jane & Judy Small Poster, Sydney, Australia. 28 Nov 1981

Their setlists included songs that highlighted women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights and social justice issues.

They headlined concerts fundraising for Women’s Refuge and Rape Crisis as well as performing at events that highlighted feminist issues, workers’ rights and anti-nuclear causes.

Collaboration with Women on a Shoestring

In 1983 - 1984 Salvation Jane collaborated with the Canberra women’s theatre group Women on a Shoestring. This produced an avant-garde style of theatre and music that combined conventional theatre performance by the actors with cabaret performance by the band.

The scenes were juxtaposed with songs used to interpret mood and characterisation. This deliberately broke the theatre convention by drawing the audience in and out of the theatrical ‘fourth wall’.

Four original theatre/music productions were created and performed from this collaboration:

• ‘Did You Say Love’

• ‘The Fourth Tomorrow’

• ‘Ms Adventures Out’ and

• ‘We’re Not Ratbags on Rebel Radio 10 10 10.’

Six Year Career 1979-1985

They performed gigs in Sydney, Adelaide and the southern coast of New South Wales before disbanding in 1985.

Canberra all-female band Salvation Jane, three member of which are famous for performances in the record-breaking PITS play, 'Did You Say Love', will fold after its last gig on Saturday night.

Salvation Jane did not produce any studio recordings in their 6 year career. Some of their performances were recorded live by Canberra Radio Station 2XX who supported and promoted Salvation Jane.

Did You Say Love? Poster for gig at the P.I.T.S. Canberra, July - Aug and Nov 1983

Centenary of Canberra "Big Birthday" Event Organisers Invite the Wrong Salvation Jane

In 2013 the ACT Government's Centennial of Canberra Committee identified Salvation Jane as one of the notable Canberra bands of the 1980’s and invited them to perform at the 13 March 2013 Canberra Rocks concert with other significant Canberra bands of the eighties.

Poster advertising the Rouge Benefit Dance at the ANU Refrectory, Canberra

Unfortunately the planning committee inadvertently contacted the wrong band. Instead of contacting the first Salvation Jane, it opened negotiations with a Melbourne all-women music group who had taken the same name several years after the original Salvation Jane had disbanded. This group were not connected to the original Salvation Jane band.

The error was not recognized until Centennial publicity had been widely published. The incorrect band were subsequently withdrawn from the Centennial music line up. Unfortunately the mistake was not picked up in time for Canberra’s Salvation Jane band to re-form.

Women On A Shoestring poster. Production: The Fourth Tomorrow. Performed: 24 Oct - 10 Nov 1984

ORIGIN

Canberra ACT Australia

GENRES

Rock punk folk

PERSONNEL

• Maureen Cummuskey. Vocals, rhythm guitar, mandolin, bass guitar 1979 - 1985

• Cascade (Mary) Leggett. Vocals, bass guitar, harmonica, percussion 1979 - 1985

• Mary McMullin. Keyboards. 1979 -1981

• Jude Gates. Keyboards 1981- 1985

Drummers:

• Tina Tsiamas 1980 -1981

• Carla Respondek 1982-1983

• Kate Barnett 1984

• Cate Carr 1984 - 1985

Sound technicians:

• Debbie Neuhaus 1979 – 1980

• Lea Collins 1980 - 1985

Guest musicians:

• Virginia Walsh. Flute

• Molly Jane Ellis. Synthesizer

• Bronny Evans. Flute

• Nancy Nicholls. Saxophone, guitar

SELECTED GIG LIST

26 Sep 1980 The Labor '80 Show, featuring Robyn Archer and Friends, supported by Franklyn B. Paverty and Salvation Jane. Canberra Theatre

25 April 1981 The Rouge Benefit Dance, featuring Salvation Jane and the Msfits performing at the ANU Refectory

21 June 1981 Benefit concert with Judy Small and Salvation Jane at the ANU Arts Centre.

19 Oct 1981 Report to the Electorate, Canberra Labor Club

11 Feb 1984 Salvation Jane, Domestic Dirt and Kate's Birthday at the Canberra Worker's Club

2 Feb 1985 ANU Bar, Canberra