She has performed as a soloist amongst countless alluring settings in WA, including major Music and Arts Festivals, food shows,

cocktail events, corporate functions, pre-dinner/dinner atmosphere, market and street festivals, support acts and much more.

She has worked, performed, supported and toured with National

and International artists including: Australian roots musician Xavier Rudd, the U.S phenomenons; Toni Childs and The Drifters, WA bands Jebediah and Gyroscope, as well as touring Nationwide with

Ireland’s Riverdance group: “Ceol Chirrai”.

Nikki has also performed with and supported Australian National icons: performing on stage with Johnny Ruffo, Graeme Lyall, Darryl Somers, James Morrison, Don Burrows, Marcia Hines, Joe Chindamo, Rove Mc Manus, Darryl Braithwaite,

Patrick McMann, and Tony Pantano.

Nikki had the honourable pleasure of serenading our past Prime Minister Mr. Kevin Rudd and his fellow politicians at a private

dinner party setting as well as performing and mentoring young high school students on their Music Tour to the Australian War

Memorial in 2009 located in Canberra, ACT.

Nikki has also experienced live television exposure appearing annually on Telethon (Channel Seven Perth), local television and monthly airtime on Radio featuring interviews and many live performances in studio for (ABC, RTR FM, 6EBA World Radio and more) as well as a variety of appearances in newspapers: The Australian, West Australian, Sunday Times, Social Pages, magazines and TV Commercials.

Music is a universal language, and owning the ability to converse with anyone from any country in this world is truly satisfying.

Embarking on this tour, a dream made true .. Playing my squeezebox abroad, an experience of a lifetime! As they say in this modern day language "living the dream"!

Meeting many musicians from many walks of life, different countries from all over the world, a

rare time they will ever speak English. I communicate with my fingers, we converse in the language of jamming foreign tunes with 4 or so chords ... A feeling with these gifted beings creates such satisfaction of pure bliss.

T'is the year of 2014, my 30th year on this land we call Earth! My year of the travel bug initiated on a hiking tour through New Zealand ! This year, the debut of bringing a dream to life for me as a full-time musician.

That a dream of performing my piano accordion in the European regions, Italy the origin of of my ancestors. Here it is I've set out on a 4 month journey to add to my bucket list.

Months of travelling on the road, over the Mediterranean Sea on endless planes, camper vans, private cars, ships, trains and busses, up and down mountains, islands and Medieval villages of Italy.

The tour initiated with one of my beautiful ensembles from

Perth Western Australia - "The Sirens" (or known here in European lands as 'Le Sirene')

Conceived by director of Red Top Creations Miss Beth Sheldon, who envisioned a mythological act whilst on the road in Italy 2 years ago.

The Sirens are: Rhoda Lopez- vocalist/uke and Beth Sheldon- double bass/vox

Planning and organising for a good 10months in advance we lasses sailed, landed, and conquered!

Wowing audiences in our paths.

Could not have done it without these soul sisters by my side!

On these unusual soils, I've performed for

over 13 festivals, naming

-The annual massive Glastonbury festival in the UK- a 9km radius of a Vegas like temporary city set with over 250,000 people in Wellington boots camping amongst ankle high mud and over 150

Stages - shame I couldn't wear my usual high kicks get ups but it was a first in wellies ;) performing on the same bill as Dolly Parton and Metallica this year definite highlight was performing on stage during a history making electrical storm - the entire festival forced to shut for an hour. On stage during a beautiful lightening display in front of us.

Post Glasto, recalling arriving in mud stained legs and hair, exited a car and to a media Photoshoot that was used for the front cover of 'The Press' newspaper and other local media papers of the UK for opening the official Le Tour De France in York UK during the parade for the cyclists!

Also that week in York, played a solo

gig and featuring a special spot with a French famous vocalist from Paris for the Tour de France Grand Balle- performing in front of the Sheriff of York mayor of York Air Museum French - Ian Reed ambassador RAF dignities and French dignities City of York Council presented by the Yorkshire Air Museum.

Huge thanks to Jenny and Bernie Davis of AgeLink Theatre for having me perform at the York Theatre Royal along with Perth actors debuting overseas with their show "Cis & Barbiche"- directed by Jenny Davis

With multiple reviewers, and media..one of which mentions:

"Cis and Barbiche brings the story of their romance to life, with most of the dialogue taken from their letters and Barbara’s diary, offering an extraordinarily intimate experience of life during the Second World War. Accompanied by the glamorously-dressed Nikki Dagostino on the accordion, fresh from the muddy fields of Glastonubury"...

A memorable festival and highlight was performing in the stunning medieval town of Pennabilli Italy- 'Artiste In Piazza': a town that the Pope and the Dalai Lama have visited having a historic relationship with Nepal- where power tripped the entire festival once again and The sirens performed in complete darkness with only the light of hundreds of people and their mobile phones

And not to forget performing in the home lands of my Nonni and ancestry town of Calabria- in a absolute picturesque medieval village upon a mountain top with stunning backstreet cobble stoned streets.. Performing on window balconies, to waltzing couples outside their houses, passing locals on streets with their iPhones galore in our faces and not to forget the thousand of "selfies" while playing!

Amazing for me because I also speak the language of Calabrese - which is a dialect of Italian (completely different to proper Italian) so I'm

Enjoying the fact I can understand the locals ;)

On the whole, an incredible journey of mindfulness, being in the moment and being inspired through meeting countless gifted musicians and aspirational artists from one land to another, with their very unique acts that are one of those "have to be there to see"

Moments! staying up till sunrise to "jam" with them in gorgeous piazzas throughout Italy is just ahh-maaa-ZING!!!

Funnily enough.. I've actually managed to borrow an accordion in every city, village and town I've visited in the last few months! Being Italy- people

have these things under their beds over owning a kettle even! they don't understand that I drink hot tea with milk!! ;)

I must admit, one of the challenges of playing these foreign accordions has been ever amusing .. But I'm so lucky to be spoilt with accordions to play with in the first place ;)

I'm currently in my 30th year and what a year!! Many ups as well as downs! Losing closed love ones, life challenges, illnesses and so many other obstacles put in front of me to deal with! The stronger I have become.

I've been playing the piano accordion now for a sweet 16 years, commencing when I found it! (when I say found it, I was nosing around my grandparents south house of WA in Harvey)- and to my surprise a strange looking old box suitcase "thing"! After sneakily opening the case, I find a funny looking piano !

At age 13 I began lessons and practiced every morning in the car on the way to school - "driving" my mum mad with the sound!

I would practice in front of my late Nonna and Nonno each day after school and continue to dedicate my shows to them forever.

I feel such an honour and privilege to have performed in their hometown of Calabria , so many mixed emotions i have felt. I was so intrigued by the unique instrument and my passion is to continue to educate the young minds of today with the uncommon instrument.

This year I have been honoured to be collaborating with 2 absolute amazing ladies, both of who own such amazing talents of music and theatre combined with so many other qualities .. My 2

Soul mates and sisters in the music industry. Beth Sheldon and Rhoda Lopez! As the Sirens, we have been invited to the gorgeous Europe festivals mentioned above,

To develop as musicians, learn and be inspired by other musicians and bring home some new unique ideas to Perth is the most rewarding treasure I shall hold to my

Heart forever! A life lesson that could never be learnt by any other forum.

And on the life lesson journey, one quick lesson I had learned upon my arrival to Italy, performing on the cobbled-stoned streets during my first week here I believed I could do the "nikki heels" (stilts), (as I had packed a case full of them and they are my known thang in Australia) , filmed a video clip upon the roads of Napoli, and within 2 minutes of performing I've fallen (accordion on) in front of thousands of viewers ! The bruise and bumps on the long legs were evident for the next 6 weeks ;)

The wellies boots fashion at the Glasto festival is definitely a must try.. And I encourage everyone to try it.. Then try putting on an accordion and performing in the mud ;) very unique experience indeed !!!

Some humorous moments to note on my tour, is the fact that trying to keep fit in Italy is almost impossible... however each day I've conducted public pilates and aerobic sessions on each beach front that we visit.

Locals , kids and even an 80year old woman have been amongst it as it's something they've never seen before ! I've begun a new sensation and inspired exercise and fitness amongst the Italians ;) content!

Another notable moment, not to forget was holding up the WA National Flag playing and singing waltzing Matilda in a 5 star resort hotel that the queen resides when she frequent visits York UK. Residents definitely amused ;)

Oh yes!!! And playing the Australian National Anthem on the Guinness Book of Records largest accordion ever built by Mr Giancarlo Francenella that can actually be played. The instrument measures 253 centimetres (99.6 inches) tall. Almost as tall as me with my heels!!! ;) a great moment and very difficult indeedy!

On the magical front, moment to note:

Upon Sardegna Island The Sirens sang french songs of Piaf , 3 particular songs we dedicated to an elderly couple who watched from their balcony top high above us. They waltzed to our music with such passion together. At conclusion to each of the songs they couple would lure down a basket with a rope filled with either money or presents for us. Such a magical experience to see such passion and love in their eyes and the fact we serenaded them on their balcony was pure bliss ;)

Ironically I've managed to find my inner mermaid, as I have lost the famous legs I'm known for and traded them in for a tail!

Being the true siren I am, I swim 4km in the Mediterranean Sea each day , impressing the locals once again !

I am also learning proper italian each day with the help of my iPhone and YouTube online lessons. So as I go out running each morning I am saying the italian out loud and people are laughing at me ;)

My English has weakened, however learning italian grammar every day I'm studying hard to nail this before I leave in October ;)

There are many moments to regale, I will hold these close to my heart forever.

This music experience is difficult to express in words, in ways it feels so unreal and at the same time incredibly inspirational! Time escapes you but it also feels like days last so much longer! Every second is worth gold and I've felt every moment of the tour to date ! European life is different to the city life I am used to and I'm

beginning to feel comfortable with their way of living!!

In saying this I love Perth way too much to live here, so I will be coming home, especially for our amazing summer ahead ;)

Sadly my Europe tour has had to come to an urgent end, as I've arrived in Vasto abruzzo to headline a festival and represent Perth WA in a public concert , (they had a billboard of me in their city) I've had an accident by walking to the stage and the festival director taking me through a non lit garden with a step I didn't see and broken snapped 5th metertasal bone of the foot. 5 weeks ago it will be on Tuesday next week! Prognosis is uncertain as the bone has not shown any improvement and may need surgery next week. Unfortunately I had to travel home for surgery immediately!

In true nikki hardcore style , I went ahead and performed for the beautiful city of Vasto, in the most stunning setting of a huge garden piazza to hundreds of people! Carried on stage in the arms of the director and in complete pain, my adrenaline kicked in and complete satisfaction! The patient crowd applauded and I wept tears of joy and sadness at the same time. Lisa Scafidi was also in Vasto earlier this year to open this festival and honour the city sister - 25 year anniversary.

I truly am the luckiest girl in the world! What more could one want ?! I have my accordion and my happiness and I'm set .. I wouldn't have it any other way! I will go on with the performances I can do, in a bath tub, a tricycle , a wheelchair or even a golf buggy or wheel barrow.. Whatever it may be, my life and my passions are my music and they are what make me who I am! I was definitely put on this earth to be entertaining beautiful people, bringing joys and tears of nostalgia to the masses around the world and keeping the rare art of the accordion alive ! It's my dearest pleasure to continue performing even under the circumstances!

In no more words, I cannot thank the universe enough! I do realise though that the universe has given me this "break" as a way of saying "nikki ... Now rest! And continue again when your body has recovered"! But as they say ... "The show must go on" :) xxx

'Non Je Ne Regrette Rien'..

"No nothing at all, I regret nothing..."

Edith Piaf

Nikki Dagostino

Little Miss Squeezebox