7 May 2025
By James Mullan
Soul and R&B powerhouse Thndo (Thando) is set so light up Mothers Day on Sunday 11 May at St Leonards Park as part of North Sydney Council’s Sunset Series.
Thando rose to fame from her two appearances on The Voice. At the age of twenty she first auditioned for the third season of the show, choosing the legendary Kylie Minogue as her coach. Unfortunately, she was eliminated in the sing-offs but returned in 2022 for season eleven. After turning all four judges’ chairs in her blind audition, she chose Keith Urban as her coach.
The talent singer made it all the way to the grand finale, but just fell short, placing as the runner up to Lachie Gill. Despite the result Thndo’s music journey was already taking off to new heights.
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The Zimbabwean-born singer has performed for large audiences at numerous festivals, including Bluesfest, WOMADelaide, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Groovin the Moo, and Woodford Folk Festival, among others. She boasts 5,354 followers on Spotify, with her top song ‘Numb’ reaching 350,000+ streams.
Described by some in the Australian music industry as ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ critics have described her musical stylings as a mix of TLC, Queen, LadySmith and Black Mambazo.
She will be joined by internationally acclaimed singer Natalie Slade. This soulful artist has collaborated with highly respected musicians such as Steve Spacek (J Dilla’s collaborator), Australian hip-hop icon Katalyst, and three-time Grammy nominee Simon Mavin (Hiatus Kaiyote). Mavin also produced her debut album, ‘Control’. Slade has smooth, jazz and soul stylings with 8,620 monthly followers on Spotify.
In and around the stage craft workshops and bubble performances by a bubble artist will keep the kids happy. An engaging AFL sports activation will also be available, offering children the opportunity to try out an inflatable target and jump test, with a chance to win a prize through a giveaway.
Festivities kick off at 1PM at St Leonards Park, North Sydney.