For Bek Jensen, music has always been part of life — and on October 24, she will bring that lifelong passion for soul, funk and blues to Kurrajong for the Thrive Wellness Festival.
Bek is the headline musician at this year's festival, taking to the stage at 12.30pm at MacMahons Park as part of a day celebrating health, happiness, creativity and connection.
With a voice described as moving and heartfelt, Bek delivers every performance with what she calls 100 per cent soul. Her energetic style draws on soul, funk, contemporary blues and R&B, creating a performance that is as vibrant as it is emotionally engaging.
Music was in Bek's blood from an early age.
She grew up surrounded by musicians and live music, absorbing a diverse mix of soul, rock 'n' roll, blues, jazz, country and gospel.
While still at high school, she began performing with northern beaches band Souled on Funk, before her mother invited her to sing alongside her at the legendary Springfields venue in Kings Cross.
That experience helped set Bek on a path that would see her become an independent artist and highly sought-after backing vocalist.
Over the years she has recorded and toured nationally with some of Australia's best-known artists, including Cold Chisel, Jimmy and Mahalia Barnes, The Sleepy Jackson and Lachy Doley.
But Bek's career has never been simply about performing other people's music.
She has developed an extensive catalogue of her own work, beginning with the 2007 album Counting The Days with producer, composer and guitarist Marty Hailey, followed by her solo releases Bek Kimochi, Lucky and Magic & Art.
Her 2023 album Energy, recorded and co-produced with Declan Kelly, marked another chapter in her musical journey, with songs reflecting Bek's experience as an empowered woman living her life with integrity and grace.
Her music continues to evolve.
Her single Hot Summer Sun combines soul, funk and R&B with a deeper message, using the relationship between the sun and moon as a way of exploring love, life and the impact of climate change.
It is this ability to combine infectious music with meaningful ideas that has become a recurring feature of Bek's songwriting.
And while her music can make audiences want to dance, her appearance at Thrive Wellness Festival is also about something much simpler — the wellbeing that can come from music, connection and being together.
Thrive Wellness Festival will run from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, October 24, at MacMahons Park, Kurrajong, with Bek Jensen performing at 12.30pm.
Bring a picnic rug, settle in and let the music do the rest.
