Help get Kakie's violin fixed!

A few weeks ago, it was just another night. Finally, a real gig after a full year and a half of shows being cancelled and postponed! Our mum Kakie (AKA Kate, KK) was about to go on stage when she reached for some tasty camembert cheese backstage. She had placed her violin in its open case and stepped towards the cheese, without realising she was still attached to it by her mic lead. As she moved, her violin of 40 years was pulled off the table and crashed to the floor. After quite a few tears and having to get back on stage with a borrowed violin, she took it to a violin repair specialist in the following days, who quoted $2500 for repairs.

We would really appreciate any small donations so that we can afford to bring this beloved violin (made in 1785!) back to life. Imagine having played the same instrument since you were 14, no other violins could ever compare! The sound, the sentimental value, the memories. One that has been a part of so many gigs, recordings, rehearsals, festivals, and violin lessons over the years.

The donations will go towards the 20+ hours ($100 per hour) that it is taking to repair the violin, plus additional parts. Although the neck came off the body, it wasn’t a clean break and there is a lot more that goes into repairing the violin to make sure it still has the same beautiful sound and can remain intact in the long-term. Who knew it would be so expensive to fix a violin?! (Not me)

If you would like to share the link to anyone who knows Kakie or would like to contribute a small donation, that would be amazing too!

Scarlett & Eva (Kakie’s daughters)

Kate’s Music Bio

Kate Connor has been a violinist in various ensembles including contemporary improvisational string quartets, celtic groups, acoustic folk and rock bands and gypsy ensembles over the last 30 years. She was a founding member, co-composer of popular local band Adana who released two CDs and played at many festivals including The Port Fairy Folk Festival, The Adelaide Festival (Spiegel Tent), Queenscliff Music Festival and The Apollo Bay Festival. Kate was also a member of Disaster Plan, who produced five CDs and the Shljivovitz Orchestra, a seven piece authentic Balkan folk ensemble, playing melodies from the Balkans including Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia. She has been a musician on CD recordings and performances for many Melbourne artists including Kim Salmon, Oculus String Quartet, Debbie Lavell, Lilith Lane, Charlie Marshall, Major Chord, Tobias Hengeveld, the Dead Salesmen and Cam Butler. Kate played and recorded with Bill Callahan (Smog) on his Australian tour and has toured Europe with Black Pony Express. She has also performed music for a number of live theatre productions as well as scoring her own music for several of these productions. Her current projects include Ross Mclennan and his World Sympathique, The Devil Goat Family String Band, a bluegrass outfit that has been gigging extensively for many years, Andy Baylor’s Banksia Band, The Local Folk Group and The Fruity Pickers.