Strong women centre stage is Julie Lamb’s dream concert to support her mum, who died from breast cancer four years ago. Ever since, Lamb has been putting on annual concerts to raise money for the Breast Cancer Network, which provided much-needed assistance during her mother’s mastectomy, chemotherapy, and 16 years of illness and remission with two cancers.

Financial issues, cosmetics, massage, where to get good wigs and hats, “all these things you don’t even think of,” Lamb says, Breast Cancer Network stepped in and took care of.  “It needed to be someone outside the family because we were all like stay alive, Mum.” 

Her mother served as treasurer of the Auckland branch and Lamb honoured the organisation with a song on her first album, but she says its important to keep giving what she can in the form of fundraising shows, called Green for the Pink. 

“I’ve tried different lineups each year,” Lamb says, speaking from the office at her accounting business, feet up on the office desk, sipping an afternoon cup of coffee. “I like the image of strong women vocalists. Vocals are what attract me to music because I’m a vocalist.” 

Lamb sings in several groups, including the Lambinators (“because I stuck them all together”) who will play with her this Friday night. They’ll be joined by the five-piece band Merrin, and Emma Davey and the Monks of Cool. 

“It’s great when there are lots of girlies on the stage. The energy is fantastic.”

Lamb sang when she was younger, but went on hiatus after a guy said something rude during a jam. She picked it up again about 10 years ago. “I think it’s in your bones,” she says. “Everybody has a connection with music and it’s just a matter of how much you pursue it. It’s very easy when it isn’t a creative endeavor to put it off because its not part of your earning, but I think that creative stuff is essential. I love it when I find a genuine audience. It’s so rare to find.” 

Who would she like to see in this Friday’s audience? “Four hundred shiny faces,” she says, and, after a thoughtful pause: “I’d like to see Mum.” 
Green for the Pink, Bodega, October 12, 9pm.