About
Love Me or Leave Me - A Tribute to Nina Simone is a tribute band for hire in Melbourne, VIC.
Nina Simone's life told through her own songs, with the story between them. Christine Manetta narrates and sings, moving from the gospel of Simone's beginnings through cabaret jazz, the protest songs, and the flower power years. Musical director Adam Rudegeair leads the band, and it's a compact one: vocals, piano, bass and drums. The set runs through I Put A Spell On You, Sinnerman, Feelin Good, See-Line Woman, Be My Husband and My Baby Just Cares For Me. Manetta has sung at the Thornbury Theatre and the Albury Entertainment Centre, and at festivals in Docklands, Castlemaine, Merimbula and Port Fairy. The show travels nationally. The band brings drum kit, bass amp, keyboard amp and microphones, and a house PA keeps the cost down.
Watch
The show
Four musicians: Christine Manetta on vocals and narration, with piano, bass and drums behind her. She sings the songs and tells the story between them, which is what makes it a show rather than a covers set. Manetta's own background runs through urban theatre, jazz, blues, pop and soul. She's sung at the Thornbury Theatre and at the Albury Entertainment Centre, and worked festivals in Docklands, Castlemaine, Merimbula and Port Fairy along the way. She's a songwriter in her own right too, with recognised original work and two Simone pieces sitting on her album.
On the day
The band arrives with drum kit, bass amp, keyboard amp and microphones. If your venue already has a PA with two front of house speakers and two monitors, use it, since that keeps your costs down. If it doesn't, the band can bring sound as well.
Performance options
The show travels anywhere in the country. For interstate dates, flights and accommodation are worked into the arrangement rather than left as a surprise, so ask when you enquire.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured
Song list
11 songs
Songs such as
I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl
I Put A Spell On You
Love Me Or Leave Me
Feelin Good
Ain’t Got No - I Got Life
Be My Husband
Do I Move You
See-Line Woman
My Baby Just Cares Me
Sinnerman
