Breathing Underwater at Aunty Jack’s | Winter Magic Festival
Hailing from Katoomba, vocal trio, Breathing Underwater, have been singing together quite literally since they were small children. Hardly surprising, since the group consists of Aurora Li, aged 15, her younger sister, Tessa McKay, 12, and their 12-year-old cousin, Magnus Blomquist. Despite their youth, the three already have a string of performances behind them, including appearances at Katoomba Live and Local Festival, Katoomba Solstice Celebration and the Upper Mountains Music Festival. As well as their eponymous song, written by Aurora, the group enjoy an eclectic mix of pop and folk music, including Celtic-inspired, Bluegrass and some Dylan and Springsteen, and their own arrangements of contemporary artists such as Lorde, Fleet Foxes, the Lumineers and Mumford and Sons.
Aunty Jack's
12/122 Katoomba St, Katoomba NSW 2780
Reservations Essential
The Winter Magic Festival is the highlight of the Katoomba calendar. As such, Aunty Jack’s is going to be very busy on Saturday, June 22nd, so reservations are recommended for anyone looking to enjoy a meal. Each seating on Saturday, June 22nd, will be for a maximum of 2 hours. There will be limited spaces available for anyone looking to just have a drink and this will be on a first come, first served basis. Please call the team on (02) 4760 8837 to reserve a table now.
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.