Big Jarda is a four-piece World Music Band. Each of the members; Jim Chapman, Bek Parkes, Sarah Monk and Alex Clarke have rich backgrounds in musical styles from around the world. Between them they have lived and travelled in South America and Southern Africa, Europe and Asia. They sing and play flutes, guitars, bass, ukuleles, berimbau, and the South African uhadi bow and drums and percussion from every corner of the globe. Sometimes they even sing in English! Their repertoire ranges from infectious dance and celebration songs to mellow grooves and sweet ballads. 

Bek comes from a background of Brazilian Capoeira and circus, Sarah from European Art School and classical flute and Jim from jazz and African traditional music. They are now based in Newcastle, on Awabakal Country, where they play to appreciative audiences, and take the opportunity to travel with their families and share their music whenever they can, lugging enough instruments for an eight-piece band. 

Jim’s album “Afro No-Clash” received airplay on ABC Classic radio and he produced a six part documentary for ABC called “When the West Met the South” about the music of South African history.