It's a Saturday Night, it's now dark in the Mountains and you can no longer enjoy those spectacular views we have that surround Katoomba. Maybe you've eaten a meal earlier in the evening and you're looking for a couch to envelop you, maybe you're sourcing a booth you and a few revellers can slide into, or maybe you're looking for a meal a little later in the evening (our kitchen takes orders until 9 pm, and bar snacks are available a little later still!). Better still, you're in the mood a snack, coffee, dessert, or even a cocktail. Well, Aunty Jack's has got you covered every Saturday Night if that's the case, however, tonight is even better as Katoomba's best underground bar & restaurant will put on some of the best entertainment the Mountains has to offer. Performing 'After Dark' tonight is Sarah Jane Spillane with Soular Spill.

Sarah Jane Spillane:
Every now and then something special comes along that deserves a celebration. Local singer-songwriter, Sarah Jane Spillane, has poured 20 years of love, life, loss, journeys and experiences into her first album, 'Sweet St'. Given that Sarah has one of the best voices in the Mountains, 'Music in the Mountains' and 'Aunty Jack's' thought this was the perfect opportunity to showcase Sarah as part of the 'After Dark' series at Aunty Jack's.

She’s a singer-songwriter
She’s a dancer
She’s a Blue Mountains-dwelling sun lover
She’s a mother
She’s got brothers
She’s an independent recording artist | Yeah!

Ever since she can remember, Sarah Jane Spillane has been fascinated by sound. Immersing herself in the study of music, dance, percussion and voice, she’s led a life coloured by soulful syncopation, which she believes must have something to do with her distant Caribbean heritage, five generations removed. Hungry for knowledge, Sarah Jane stepped off the well-trodden musical theatre path and travelled to Ghana, West Africa to dance, to drum, to uncover more, to answer a call. With newfound rhythms in her belly, once back home in Australia, she was desperate to share her passion for musical exploration with others. She busked on the street, she worked with individuals living with disabilities, she taught young people who had limited access to musical education.
Wanting to go further still, Sarah Jane enrolled to study musical composition and
performance at the University of Western Sydney with the goal of learning how to ‘write
down what she hears in her head’ so that she could share the wonderful soulful sound that has always been there, fine-tuning her composition skills whilst researching her musical family tree. With first-hand experience and a tertiary education under her belt Sarah Jane’s apprenticeship as a student of Jazz began – she sang with Terry Rae West and his eighteen piece Big Swing Band, sharpened her performance techniques studying New Orleans swing, immersed herself in Duke Ellington’s arrangements and even circled back to her love of the Broadway musical, all the while honing her skills as a performing artist. Now Sarah Jane is releasing an album.

SWEET ST is an archive of Sarah’s musical ride over the last twenty years alongside a wealth of talented Blue Mountains musicians – Skye Evans, Colin Day, Frank Corby and John Stuart. This album is a delight, a treasure. It’s soothing to listen to, it nourishes the heart, it’s self-funded, it’s folky, it’s jazzy and there’s some hip-hop chucked in there too, all topped off with a dash of 1970’s San Francisco analogue warmth. It’s a display of Sarah Jane’s craft as a songwriter. It’s full of sunshine.

Reservations:
Live music at Aunty Jack's is known to fill-up ahead of the night so reservations are recommended for those who don't want to be turned away. Please note that tables and booths will only be reserved for patrons intending to enjoy a meal . . . but don't worry, if you're just coming along for a drink and/or a nibble, there are communal tables and couches on the lower level - however, these are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to guarantee your spot! Aunty Jack's offers full table service for diners.

What is Aunty Jacks?:
The best-est and most kitschi-est slice of retro Australiana this side of Paul Hogan throwing a prawn on the barbie! Put on your best 'thongs' (those are flip-flops, or 'flimsy sandals' for our non 'occa' speaking friends) and head to Katoomba's best 'underground' restaurant and bar (it's not a secret, it's literally under the ground in a basement - we'd keep it a secret but that's bad for business). Forget small servings of deconstructed dishes that you saw last night on Masterchef (who wants a meal out that requires assembly anyway), think 'chips, bits and gravy', 'chicken parma bites', 'meat & 3 veg', or a 'zucchini burger' for those who choose to make friends with salad. Whilst the food might remind you of a time when your grandmother used to make you a spam sandwich before you went outside to run under a sprinkler (the smartest thing kids had to play with before iPhones), the bar is all about the best beer, wine and cider you can get your hands on today . . . but don't worry - beer comes in 'tinnies' so you’ll feel right at home. If that doesn't take the lamington, Aunty Jack's is home to the best cocktails (and mocktails) in the Mountains. Long story short, the food is tasty, the bar is 'fully stocked' bro, and it’s family friendly . . . and your Aunty is welcome (even if she has a moustache).

Where is Aunty Jack’s?:
122 Katoomba street, Katoomba. If you're driving and hit Echo Point, Skippy or the Milkybar kid - turn around and ask for directions . . . unless you're a man, in which case you continue driving until you’re ready to admit you're lost.

. . . Who is Aunty Jack?:
There’s an Aunty Jack in every family. She’s the one who never had kids of her own, but knew that family was more important than anything; who travelled far and wide but always called Australia home; who wasn’t afraid to break from tradition, making new ones of her own along the way; who was unconventional and unpredictable, but always loyal and dependable; who collected trinkets wherever she went, but knew memories were the best souvenirs; who was the keeper of all the family recipes and secret ingredients; There’s an Aunty Jack in every family.