The act
Kara Coen comes from the southeast, Yuin Nation, and has a voice people keep comparing to Aretha and Amy Winehouse. She's supported Tex Perkins, Alex Lloyd and Sam Buckingham. The songs move between upbeat funky soul and slow, dreamy love material, and the lyrics carry a fair bit of weight on love, empowerment and inclusion. Her band The FireFlies debuted at the Cobargo Folk Festival in 2023: drummer and singer Ashley Welsh-Jones, guitarist Sats Kramer and pianist Duncan Bond, all multi-instrumentalists, landing somewhere between soul, pop, indie rock, funk and old-time jazz. Solo and duo sets draw on nine hours of covers and originals; the band carries three. Bring power and they'll bring the rest.
See Kara Coen play
Watch Kara Coen perform and get a feel for their sound, style and fit for your wedding.
What it costs
Pricing
Quote on enquiry
For your exact date, venue and running time, we send an itemised quote.
Pricing is confirmed before anything is booked. GST and travel are shown clearly on the quote.
Songs Kara Coen can play
Search their repertoire or browse the list below. Ask us about a first dance or another song that matters to you.
Multiple set lists with original music and covers from across the eras in a soul/jazz/pop style- 9 hours of covers and originals for Solo and Duo- 3 hours for Band originals and covers
Good to know
What to expect
Kara Coen sings, and the room notices. With The FireFlies behind her you get wild solos, costumes, lighting, bubbles and a band that's clearly enjoying itself. The songs sit between soul, pop and indie rock, with lyrics about love, acceptance and diversity doing real work rather than filling space. Somewhere in there Lady Karisma turns up, Kara's cabaret and burlesque creation, with an original Spanish song. What they're after isn't polite applause. They want the audience in it with them, which is a bigger ask and a better night when it lands.
On the day
Power is the one thing they genuinely need from you. Everything else travels with them. If your venue already has a PA sitting there, they'll happily use it, so mention it when you enquire and save the extra gear coming through the door.
Performance options
House concerts are on the list, which not every act will do, and they suit a lounge room or a backyard better than a big stage. Beyond that it's private events, weddings, parties and corporate functions, booked either as a duo or with the full band. Tour dates are open across the 2025 and 2026 run, so a regional date may fit around one.
Insurance and paperwork
Public liability insured.
