Jazz drummer Lachlan Hawkins has had an interesting career.In 2014, Lachlan was selected as one of six national finalists in the James Morrison Scholarship, and since then, has been fortunate to work with some of Australia’s most accomplished musicians and ensembles including James Morrison, Steve Newcomb, John Hoffman, Kristin Berardi, Elly Hoyt, Melissa Western, Jordan Brodie, The View from Madeleine’s Couch and the Queensland Pops Orchestra as well as regular performances nationally with his corporate drumming group “SoundStruck”.

As an in-demand drummer he was happy to be a sideman until he discovered an unusual new instrument - the handpan.Shaped something like a mysterious UFO, this instrument was only invented in 2001 when a Swiss steel drum tuner was asked to create a steel drum that could be played by hand in a similar way to the Indian ghatam (clay drum). “Can you make a ghatam with notes?” From this the handpan was born.

Intrigued by this steel sound sculpture, Lachlan began a new journey as an artist, exploring songriting and the beautiful, uplifting sounds of the handpan. Lachlan has shared his original handpan music at venues & events including the Brisbane Jazz Club, Brisbane City Hall, Jugglers Arts Space, Tablelands Folk Festival, PanOz Festival, the 2018 QUBE Effect and the Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital.

Now Lachlan is coming to the Sunshine Coast for the release of his highly-anticipated debut studio album, ‘No Enemy Within’.  The album will be launched on Saturday 29^th September at ‘The Jazz Sessions’ held in the intimate listening room of The Bison Bar, Nambour. This project sees Lachlan step away from his comfort zone of the drums to explore his own voice as a songwriter together with the meditative sounds of the handpan. With the handpan still growing as an artform, the album invites listeners to experience a sound that has been explored very little in this part of the world. The healing tones of the instrument are the centrepiece of this recording; however, the uplifting messages of the album - and themes of family, self-acceptance, presence and loss - have been brought to life by some of Australia's finest young musicians including New York-based vocalist Olivia Chindamo and Jo Davie, a rising star in the national folk landscape.

The recording process itself has been close to a 3-year collaboration with renowned Brisbane producer Steve Thornely (Georgia Mae, Christian Patey, Isabel); together, they have crafted new ways of recording this rare instrument and have created an accessible collection of music that appeals to people from all walks of life and musical tastes - particularly folk and world music lovers, jazz enthusiasts and supporters of sound healing and meditation-like soundscapes.

This show will feature Lachlan together with very special guests Steph Dick (voice), Sophie Min (piano) and Tsoof Baras (handpan, percussion).