Notes from Tiger Eye: Supporting Jaylee on the “Free” Tour
- watchfulspirits
- Nov 27
- 7 min read
Updated: Nov 28
It was an absolute joy and pleasure to support Jaylee on the first leg of her "Free" Tour at Tiger Eye.
I kicked off the evening by playing a full set of original songs which felt like a dream — a rare treat compared to the usual three-song limit you get at most open mic nights. Being able to play more songs gave me the chance to really showcase who Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits is to a live audience and to share the diversity within my music more fully.
Connecting with a Live Audience
Another aspect of the night was seeing how a full set of Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits would land with an audience — whether I could carry the room and keep people engaged. It’s just me and my guitar (well… and of course the Spirits — it wouldn’t be Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits without them), so it felt like an important step for me artistically.
Many of my songs require different voices and characters (which is a lot of fun and challenging at times), and I’m learning more and more about mic technique to help transfer and amplify certain aspects of my voice. I was proud to feel the set connect — even with a few little mistakes along the way (though I think I was the only one who noticed — haha!).
Personal Growth as a Performer
With each performance, my confidence is growing. There was a time I could barely get myself up on stage because my legs were too wobbly, but now I feel this new wave — this new surge of energy — a steadiness when I approach the stage. I’m so grateful for every opportunity to share my music. It’s complete joy and excitement… okay, maybe just a little bit of nerves.
Now Live on YouTube
My full set (minus "Sleeping Suns", as the camera tripod took a tumble) is now live on my YouTube channel — be sure to check it out!
Featuring Jaylee — The “Free” Tour
After sharing my own reflections from the night, I wanted to shine a light on the main act and the heart behind the evening — Jaylee, and her “Free” Tour.
The tour spanned three venues, three performances, and a mix of local support acts at each show. I was honoured to open the very first night at Tiger Eye, helping set the tone for what became a heartfelt and beautifully intimate launch.
With the tour now wrapped up, I asked Jaylee a few questions about her experience on the road and the inspiration behind it.
Q1. What was your favourite or most memorable moment from the “Free” Tour?”
Jaylee:“Giving opportunity to one particular act who had been heavily ostracised in the music industry to come on board as a support act, as themselves fully, without fear of being ostracised. They were free to be who they wanted to be—just as the lyrics of the song ‘Free’ say.
Seeing them perform their original music as themself was the single most important, inspiring and fulfilling experience for me personally. Knowing that it was the tour and the release of the song ‘Free’ that gave them this opportunity… that meant everything.”
Q2. Each show had a different lineup — how did that variety shape the energy of the tour?
Jaylee:“The variety from each artist within the tour is what made it ‘Jaylee.’ As an artist myself, I create original music across many genres rather than sticking to just one. Working as a cover artist for six years prior to the release of Free taught me that, to be ‘successful,’ I needed to cover a wide range of genres and eras — successful meaning being re-hired by a venue to entertain their crowd.
I advertise this as ‘Radio Hits from the 50s till now,’ and I knew from that experience that having a ‘variety concert’ would be the most entertaining way to go about the Jaylee Free Tour.
On a deeper level — as there always is with Jaylee — I have plans for my first album to be called Mosaic, and with the notion of what a mosaic is, it made a lot of sense to me that my own original music is a mosaic as well. So, I wanted the tour to be one too — many various different pieces put together to make one beautiful piece of art. When I look back on the tour now, I see it as a beautiful mosaic.
Without the variety of artists and their different genre styles, the tour wouldn’t have been what it was. To top it all off, each artist’s messages were, in one way or another, in line with my own — the ‘grout’ that held it all together and made it that beautiful piece of art that it was.
Free is the first single on my first album yet to be released, so in all, I began this journey as an original artist with this in mind and with a plan to present everything in this way — as a ‘Mosac,’ from the first single through to the album release.”
Q3. What’s next for you now that the tour has wrapped up?
Jaylee:“I will continue on with my five-year plan to release the story of Mosaic to completion. A single release is planned for February, with a tour to follow in March 2026.
Until then, I have various cover gigs across QLD and NSW, and plenty of work to do in preparation for the first 2026 tour for my original music. Some exclusive information I haven’t released yet — the March tour will be called ‘With You – Jaylee & Crew 2.’”
Final Note from Jaylee
“The only other thing I would add to all of this is that this tour taught me a lot — together with my husband Scott of Live Music Solutions, who worked just as hard on this tour as I did. We learned so many ‘technical things,’ as well as who and what is right (and not right) for us in terms of artists and venues we choose to work with. We learned how we can improve our video footage, photography, and so much more.
We both feel that the first of the 2026 tours for Jaylee will be an improvement on what we presented the first time around for the single Free. Scott and I share the mindset that it doesn’t matter if something wasn’t ‘the greatest’ or if something ‘went wrong’ — we see it as a learning opportunity. We take it into the next project, grow from it, and make it better.
So look out 2026 — we’re coming with something even better than what we brought to 2025. And what we brought was pretty awesome regardless!”
Spotlights on the Support Acts
I’d also like to shine a light on the other two support acts from the opening night at Tiger Eye — Gingerincoffee and Lucy Duffy Light. Both artists brought their unque talent and style to the evening.
Artist Feature – Gingerincoffee
Gingerincoffee brings a playful and energetic atmosphere to her performance. Gorgeously sweet yet powerful vocals, accompanied by well-crafted and funky backing beats, made her set absolutely on fire! She was an absolute joy and pleasure to watch.
Her set consisted of unique covers and originals, including “Yellow” and “I’m Fine,” both of which you can find on Spotify.
What I love most about Gingerincoffee is her blend of indie-pop charm and heartfelt storytelling. She has this natural ability to switch between soft, dreamy tones and punchy, expressive delivery — all while keeping the crowd completely hooked. There’s a confidence and authenticity in her performance that feels both fun and deeply honest, which makes her stand out as an emerging artist in the SEQ music scene.
Artist Feature – Lucy Duffy Light
Lucy Duffy Light — also known by her project Loose Creation — brings a powerful and emotive presence to the stage. Her performances move between a funky, spoken-word/rap-like delivery and beautifully crafted ballads, showcasing an impressive dynamic range. Beneath it all runs a deeply layered theme of heartbreak, reflection, and emotional honesty, giving her music a raw, resonant edge.
With a full album, From The Ashes, available on YouTube and Spotify, Lucy is certainly a creative force — and I’m sure there’ll be even more coming from her in 2026… so stay tuned.
Final Thoughts
The Jaylee Free Tour was an incredible journey to be a part of, and I’m sure all the artists involved would agree. It was such a privilege and joy to share my music, and I’m so grateful for the friends and family who came along to show their support.
One of the things I admire most about Jaylee is the way she champions original Aussie music — lifting up local artists, creating space for authentic voices, and building a tour that truly celebrates the diversity and heart of our music community. Being included in that vision meant the world, and I’m excited to see where her Mosaic journey leads next.
What’s Next for Chrissy and The Watchful Spirits?
My next blog will be about my recent collaboration with a Brisbane-based flautist… stay tuned.
I wanna be freeeeee