Performing an intimate show at the beautiful Wesley Anne, Melody celebrates the launch of her single "Fantasy Girl". The first single from her forthcoming third studio album
Straddling the line between Folk, Blues, Country, Rock and Roots, Hussy Hicks have earned themselves a mighty reputation, growing, from festival openers to festival favourites, seeing the group now appear at the biggest blues and roots festivals in Australia, The USA and across Europe while selling out their own tours across the three continents.The band led by the duo of Leesa Gentz’ (vocals), Julz Parker (guitar) have spent the last fourteen years touring and forging their place as one the most treasured and celebrated working musical duos, whilst also being equally comfortable performing as a trio or in full band format, having taken home the Gold Coast Artist of the Year and Album of the Year honours. The band have released seven studio albums and played 1000’s of gigs, festivals, carving out a global reputation for their emotive lyricism, energetic live shows and fiery, frenetic instrumentation.
Cecilia’s take on alt-folk/punk is perfect for people looking for creative inspiration, love and community. Cecilia is quietly fierce and, as a queer woman, she carries herself proudly, clearing a path for all who want to walk by her side. That boldness is what you’ll find in Cecilia’s music. Her songs are moving, inspiring, sometimes sad, but always fixed on the light that comes with a life lived fully and consciously. Expect to be transported by the melodies, the harmonies and the ecstasy in her voice.
On the Couch with Beck Lister…part chat show, part therapy is a live chat show hosted by Beck Lister and musician Douglas Lee Robertson (Icecream Hands). Each show three artists, of differing disciplines, join Beck on the couch to chat about their arts practice, influences, failures, hopes and dreams. Douglas provides the ambience with his On the Couch theme songs and individual tunes for each guest and Beck digs deep to find out what makes artists tick! Join Beck and Douglas on Sunday May 5th as they chat with Documentary Maker Sue Thomson, Justin Nott - Director, Theatre Maker and Festival Programmer. and Author Cate Kennedy. Produced by Anvil Productions.
Get Merry with the Maytime Moulin Beige. Our silly spectacles will have you so starstruck you might trip on a maypole and have a little fall! 🍁
Featuring a glorious line up of award-winning mischief makers, beige favourites and fresh debutantes all here to fill your cup! ✨
We cannot WAIT to show you our goodies 🍓Grab your tickets before they fly out the door
You know what to do💋✨
Mixology is a 7-piece band playing hits, with a twist! Influenced by funk, swing and jazz, they give pop hits a surprising (and addictive) cocktail shake. Their lineup includes musos with published work and extensive performance experience, promising a night that will keep you guessing
Twin sister singer songwriters Alanna and Alicia are excited to release their fifth album, Heart Song Listen, north side at the Wesley Anne.
Festival favourites, Alanna and Alicia share a rich, intuitive vocal blend, creating magical close sibling harmonies. Their songwriting, equal parts heart and humour, sparkles with an original intimate voice.
After a global pandemic, six Melbourne lockdowns, broken bones, house moves, a Creative Victoria Music Works grant, and the birth of Alicia and Ben’s beautiful baby Elodie, they have finally finished their much anticipated album!
On the new album Alanna and Alicia explore a wide range of personal and global issues, including their grandmother’s battle with dementia, the emotional experience of miscarriage, life in lockdown, the effects of global warming and sea level rise, contrasting with playful, upbeat tune, The Teetotaller, vibrant travel song, Everybody Dances in New Orleans and the whimsical title waltz, Heart Song Listen. In one set, Alanna and Alicia can make you laugh or shed a tear.
The album was recorded and produced at Rolling Stock Recording Rooms in Collingwood, Melbourne with the brilliant Myles Mumford.
For the Wesley Anne launch Alanna and Alicia will be accompanied by their beautiful band, featuring Damien Neil, guitar, Silas Palmer, piano and violin and Sarah Busuttil, violin and snare.
Opening the night will be the captivating duo, Valley Road.
Acclaimed cabaret spoken word icon Amy Bodossian invites you into her 'bedroom' for a heart opening and hilarious evening of comedy, music, drag, burlesque, spoken word and juicy interviews. This cabaret talk show will host some of Melbourne’s most exciting, brilliant and fascinating performers. Laugh, cry and open wide as these extraordinary humans share their work and then get comfy on Amy’s bed and chat talk show style about identity, art, love, hope, neurodivergence, gender, ageing, childhood, what keeps us going in this ferocious capitalist world... whatever pops up! Come for the fun. Stay for the illuminating insights.
Guests :
Award winning draglesque dandy Ira Luxuria - a cabaret menace and a fanatic of filth and frivolity
Multi-award-winning Zimbabwean spoken word superstar Thabani Tshuma - a powerhouse of poetry and presence. What poetry award hasn't he won? Come and see why.
Critically acclaimed 'lo-fi idiots'; Two Little Dickheads - Cats, jokes, songs, stupidity.... “Monty Python with an Australian edge” THE LIST
'There isn’t a pigeonhole in existence that could possibly hold Amy Bodossian. No warning, no apologies. '- FINGER MAGAZINE
Five songwriters, five guitars, and a whole basket of unreleased, unplayed and unfinished songs. Join some of Melbourne’s finest young songwriters for a night of sharing songs and gas-bagging on the more untamed side of being a musician.
MATILDA HASSALL // Matilda Hassall stirs together addictive countrysoulsex-esque vocals, taboo topics & lyrics relatable in the way you don’t want to admit, emerging into a style self-described as ‘Aussie Sharehouse Pop’.
BENJAMIN TRILLADO // When many shy away from their insecurities, their mistakes, and sometimes the ugliness of life, Trillado isn’t afraid to kiss and tell. Benjamin writes from the lens of a queer Filipino kid from the western suburbs and represents a voice that he wishes he saw more of growing up.
MADDY PETCH // Maddy Petch is an indie-pop singer songwriter who’s whimsy floats atop her rainbow melodies, chunky guitar sound and inspiration from artists like Angie McMahon and Middle Kids.
WILL CONWAY // Will Conway is a Melbourne-based multi-instrumentalist. Working towards the release of his debut album, Will’s songs are a mix of gut-wrenching lyrics and soaring melodies, drawing on the influence of artists such as Medium Build, Gang Of Youths and Sam Fender.
MAZ GREEN // Maz Green writes effervescent indie-pop music with a sharp attention to hooks, conceptually and melodically. Her songs are unapologetically lyric-driven, covering themes of her own self-discovery, youth and a near death experience.
Melbourne singer-songwriter Peter Freebairn developed a passion for guitar at 11. He explored garage band culture whilst nurturing a love for surfing and by the age of 17 he entered the pub scene with rock band NEO CLASSIQUE in Sydney.
By the early 2000s Freebairn's breakthrough arrived with band THE WISH whose demos secured a lucrative publishing deal with BMG. Collaboration with former Savage Garden member Daniel Jones led to national radio hits 'Love Is Alive' and 'Gotta Let You Know.' Following the 9/11 tragedy Freebairn penned the poignant 'Faith Alive' earning a spot on US TV series Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip and exposure during the 2006 Golden Globe Awards.
Post-THE WISH Freebairn formed rock band RADIO VERTIGO releasing acclaimed EPs 'Town Of Deceivers' and 'Evolution' featuring the song 'Free' garnering national airplay.
In 2019 Freebairn released a self-titled EP before delving into his first solo full-length album 'Silhouettes and Cigarettes' scheduled for release on 18 May by newly formed record label Pop Preservation Society. The album featuring Freebairn's arrangement production and instrumentation boasts contributions from former RADIO VERTIGO bandmates.
Freebairn’s musical influences include The Beatles Neil Young Tom Waits The Beach Boys Curtis Mayfield XTC Jellyfish and Matthew Sweet. Freebairn and his band will perform live at iconic music venue Wesley Anne in Northcote with special guest Victor Stranges (solo) on Saturday 18th May (3-6pm).
Happy 83rd Birthday Party for Bob Dylan at the Wesley Anne bluegrass style.
Two powerhouse bluegrass players, Daniel Watkins and Justin Vilchez assemble their friends for a bluegrass tribute for Bob Dylan’s 83rd birthday. The are joined by an old favourite of the Wesley Anne band room – Redfish Bluegrass bass player Jim Taylor and several of his band mates for the occasion.
The sets will include interpretations of songs from Blood on the Tracks, Blonde on Blonde and some deep cuts from his bootleg which have been covered over the years like Simple Twist of Fate, Forever Young, Senor, Don’t Think Twice, I Shall Be Released, You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere and of course Tangled Up in Blue. Jim has put together guest banjovists such as Pete Somerville, a variety of singers, and favourites from the Australian bluegrass community who will come together to make the Sunday arvo event of the weekend. The event may become a stable of the yearly musical event calendar at the Wesley Anne.
Rod Coote is a rising singer-songwriter who has established a loyal community of listeners around his warm heartfelt indie folk style music through touring nationally supporting Australian acts including The Dreggs, Kyle Lionhart, Nick Cunningham, Joel Leggett, Alivan Blu and continuing to build a grassroots following busking along the Australian coastline.
The independent artist's music produced by platinum-award winning producer Garrett Kato (Ziggy Alberts, Jack Botts, Kim Churchill) has accumulated over 3 million streams across Spotify and Apple Music with the support of airplay on Triple J Radio, supporting acts on national tours and quickly gaining a genuine grassroots following from busking around Australia's coastline in Byron Bay, Newcastle, Tamworth and Melbourne.
2024 will see Rod Coote playing his first headline Australian tour both the east and west coast before heading overseas to play his first shows in Europe promoting his new single ‘Blue Lake’, a sincere song about the realities of adulthood and maturing through lived experiences. This is the first single featured on an EP produced by Garrett Kato in Byron Bay studio, releasing later on this year.
Basement Spaceman: Presents an encore performance of ‘Hubble’, the engaging story of NASA’s original space telescope. The early disappointments, the high stakes rescue mission and the world’s most expensive contact lens are covered in this highly visual ‘One of a kind’ psychedelic show. Come ready for an ’off world’ experience that you won’t forget.
Katankin: With her achingly pure and expressive voice, and poetic writing rich with imagery, she unflinchingly plumbs the darkest depths of the human condition – wading through despair, loathing, fear, rage, and revenge, and then soaring to its greatest, sun-drenched heights. Not to be missed.
A night of reimagined old time & Australiana music.
BROKEN CREEK ‘YEAH NAH’ ALBUM LAUNCH
Broken Creek weave compelling musical reimaginings of Australiana for banjo, guitar, fiddle and voice that tell stories from Australia’s past and present.
Erin and Lachlan Heycox grew up in rural Victoria steeped in bushbands and balladeers. Named for the creek Erin grew up near on Yorta Yorta Country, ‘Broken Creek’ signals a love of country and traditional folk with an adventurous musical bent to “break” with the conventional.
Broken Creek’s new album ‘Yeah Nah’ features songs about small-town Australia, tunes inspired by the land and subversive interpretations of traditional Australian songs.
DOUBLE DOLE STRINGBAND
Double Dole Stringband is an old-time band from Melbourne who perform with a raucous gentleness and bring a modern and interesting take on traditional music with mandolin, guitar, fiddle and banjo. In 2023, their original tunes were awarded first place at the internationally renowned 38 Appalachian Stringband Festival (Clifftop).
CORN NUT CREEK
Corn Nut Creek puts their own spin on Appalachian music with their evocative original songs that combine lush harmonies with intricate clawhammer banjo playing and a lilting fiddle. Expect to hear both powerful, transporting songs and toe-tapping fiddle and banjo!
Moulin Beige June has some absolute stunners and genius acts to keep you hearts warm and your giggles giggling. ❄️
Check out our latest winter warming fabulous fools with their hottest bits, plus some LUSH never before seen Beige Silliness. ☃️
Be there or be square 🧊💋✨
The High Street Drifters, A bluegrass quartet based in South Australia and Victoria, are fast making a name for themselves combining their commitment to the traditional bluegrass sound with their love for the Australian bush and what it means to play bluegrass music in the southern hemisphere. Featuring Mae Traeger on fiddle, Daniel Watkins on guitar, Justin Vilchez on mandolin, and Gage Stead on bass, this dynamic ensemble weave through intricate melodies and showcase their instrumental and vocal prowess pushing the boundaries of the genre.
A few centuries ago, Lisa Marmur, David Cosma and Damon Smith enjoyed performances in varied musical incarnations at venues across the multiverse. Damon was in David’s band, David and Lisa were in Damon’s band and Lisa, Damon and David were together in a theatre show - Whoa, confusing much!?
And so, since these musically incestuous days, independently, they have released music, toured theatres across Australia, accumulated awards and achieved some musically memorable moments, PLUS have enjoyed all the beautiful and hair pulling moments of family life and cat wrangling, that moulded into songs, you will hear performed at Sunday Sessions at the Wesley Anne on the 23rd of June.
Marmur, Smith and Cosma will share the stage both together, and individually, to showcase new and old music in this Sunday arvo, musically spectacular performance, scheduled for the afternoon of June 23!!! Ticket bookings essential with limited tickets at the door.
Prepare for an exhilarating musical journey with Half Light, featuring Rennie Pearson and Bob McNeill, as they finish their second tour of Australia with a Melbourne show at the Iconic Wesley Anne in Northcote. Known for their spellbinding Celtic music, this duo combines traditional folk tunes and original compositions, delivering captivating foot-tapping rhythms and soaring melodies that wow audiences.
Their performances are a vibrant mix of old and new melodies, offering a diverse range of musical styles. With wooden flute, whistles, guitars, voices and infectious rhythms, Half Light crafts a magnetic musical experience that is both uplifting and mesmerizing.
Both Rennie and Bob are luminaries in the folk music scene of New Zealand and Australia, boasting extensive touring experience as solo artists and group members.They are experts in their craft, having shared their knowledge and talents at numerous festivals and workshops including NZ's leading Irish music school 'Ceol Aneas'. Rennie's mastery of wooden flutes, Irish tin whistles, and other instruments combined with Bob's multi award winning songwriting and exquisite guitar playing promises an evening of intricately crafted and diverse folk music that will resonate with audiences of all ages.
Don't miss Half Light's magnetic blend of foot-tapping rhythms and soaring melodies.
The Michael J Brady Trio weave jazz and folk sensitivities between a guitar, double bass, and drums. With a keen ear for texture, the group balances warm swells of reverb against voice-like melodies. With Brady sharing the story of each piece from behind his guitar, these instrumental works bring you into their world. Following the release of Brady’s debut record ‘Brady//Donkin//Phipps’ in late 2023, the trio are touring Australia’s East Coast with a dynamic and eclectic set of original compositions.
The trio will be bringing their set to the Wesley Anne band room for an intimate seated performance, supported by a set from Melbourne jazz-blues chameleon, guitarist Stella Anning.
The Michael J Brady Trio features:
Guitar - Michael J Brady
Double Bass - Oscar Peterson
Drums - Ryu Kodama
Award-winning, indie-folk/alt-country singer songwriter Cate Taylor is launching her second studio album with full band at the Wesley Anne on Saturday 27th April. Joining Cate is Ben Franz (The Waifs), Greg Hamilton (The Deadly Applejohns), Nina Rose (Nina Rose!) plus more. Cate presents delicately crafted, hauntingly beautiful songs, which reflect social, personal and environmental themes. Cate’s new album is “Folk joy! Exquisitely beautiful”.
Folk duo, The Lost Flowers aka Melbourne faves, Tanya Bradley and Liz Frencham, are opening the night with their gorgeous folk repertoire and multi-instrumental offerings.
Once upon a time, two electropop sirens lived parallel lives, passing like haunted ships in the night. They lost themselves in the analogue fuzz of Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS)’s synthesiser dungeon, and found themselves through AIM’s Women in Music Mentoring Program but still never the twain did meet. Then one fine day a fairy godmother by the name of Penny said “hey, you should meet my friend, I reckon you two should do a gig together”... This is that gig. Salt and Vinegar Collective presents Anna O'Bryan + Jonesing - a double bill of ethereal beats and crystalline vocals.
Reviving their moody Celtic fiddle pop vibe and soaring, soul-transporting harmonies from the early 2000’s, Lucid are reuniting for a one-off show at the Wesley Anne on Sunday April 21st from 3pm.
Up front with their shimmery pink and turquoise electric violins, Louise and Elizabeth will be joined by their long-time partner-in folk pop, Things of Stone & Wood frontman Greg Arnold. As the Lucid trio, they will present a long-awaited reunion show of their sparkly folk-pop and radiant vocal blends!
Join Argentine-Australian singer-songwriter Salvador Peralta on the 19th of April as he launches his latest release at the Wesley Anne Northcote. 'This Makes me Comfortable' presents a sonic and thematic departure from debut album 'That Makes me Uncomfortable': with this new collection of works, Peralta showcases a more soothing and sympathetic side to his writing that is bound to render you nostalgic. Along with local acts Vulcara and Lucy Paterson, Salvador Peralta formally invites you to a folky, ambient and intimate night of music.
After winning Best Folk Work at the 2023 Music Victoria Awards for her album, Into The Blue, singer-songwriter Lucy Wise returns to The Wes to launch her new EP: Yearning.
Lucy’s natural singing and warm stage presence have captivated audiences across Australia, NZ, the US and the UK. Her distinctive vocal sound and instrumental backing draw on acoustic, traditional folk, roots and pop musical influences. Lucy describes in rich detail what it’s like to live in the world at this particular time, weaving a strong sense of place into her music.
This EP explores yearning in its many forms. How it shows up when we lose someone, when we're not loved back, when we're dreaming of our future, or at the end of a relationship. Yearning has frequented Lucy's songs, and traditional folk songs Lucy grew up singing. Perhaps yearning is always somewhere deep in us - even during moments of joy, a part of us longs for that joy to last, or to come back.
By the flickering candle lights on tables, and the 86 tram rattling by, Lucy will share these songs. She'll also reveal brand new ones written over the summer, joined by her band.
Starting off the night will be the spellbinding Pia Nesvara. Arm-in-arm with her flamenco guitar, Pia brings flavours of her Chilean roots in a blend of gutsy vocals, hard-hitting rhythms and brazen lyrics to create her ‘moody soul meets singer-songwriter’ sound.
After 3 months on the road and a whirlwind stint in the U.S.A, Alana Wilkinson is back in Melbourne for an intimate headline solo show.
Join Alana for an evening of musical antics at the Wesley Anne Hotel. It’s a little celebration for the release of her latest single ’Square One’ and the weirdness that went into writing it, but it’s mostly a chance to connect and to share some songs and stories from her upcoming debut album ‘Half Time Oranges', due for release later in the year. Over two 40 minute sets, you’ll have plenty of time to giggle, sob and hide your snot in strange places (if you know, you know.. eek!).
Alana Wilkinson, in all her sunshiny glory, is never one to miss.
MONIQUE CLARE
Wielding a cello and strikingly crafted vocals, multi award-winning songwriter Monique Clare delivers impactful indie-folk. From tears to belly laughs, she weaves a cathartic story of grief and love through driving rhythms, heart-tugging harmonies and intricate cello lines. Her intrepid career has spanned teaching cello in war-torn Afghanistan, touring her critically acclaimed album ‘Sight’ to European festivals, and leading hikers up to mountaintop sunrise concerts. Monique’s disarmingly candid stage presence is born from years of touring the US, UK, Ireland and Canada with The Maes, playing cello for everyone from Kate Miller-Heidke to Eminem, and gracing stages from the Melbourne Cricket Ground to Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Featured on ABC’s The Music Show, described as a “laudable and overdue debut” by Listening Through The Lens, her 2022 debut album ‘Sight’ took out awards for album and song of the year at the AFMAs and QMAs. With a smile as wide as the Cheshire cat's, and an audacious tendency to reveal her deepest secrets onstage, her live show is offbeat and mesmerising.
ALTA COLLECTIVE
A newcomer on the Melbourne chamber music scene, Alta Collective is already charming audiences with a fresh and genre-defying approach to treble vocal music. Combining movement, story-telling and the collective verve of experienced singers, Alta breathes life into a world of music written for high voices.
On April 5th Nick Lovell will release his album, "How Beautiful Upon The Mountains" at the Wesley Anne. With a distinct Country/Americana flavour, the album is a collection of devotions, acclamations and reflections on the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ. The album will be brought to life with a full helping of three part harmonies and country twang from his band, The Redeemed Thieves
An intimate evening of contemporary folk songs and storytelling with AFMA nominee Isabel Rumble (VIC) and acclaimed singer-songwriter Anousha Victoire (NSW).
Following on from a run of sold out album launch shows across Australia, Isabel returns to Naarm / Melbourne to share a special set of new songs written on the road alongside audience favourites.
A new voice in Australian music, Isabel Rumble is captivating listeners around the country. Her songs offer a cocoon of reflection on the subtleties of love, longing and hope. Nominated for Folk Alliance Australia’s Contemporary Folk Album of the Year 2023, Isabel’s debut album Bird Be Brave defines a soul-stirring emerging artist.
Anousha Victoire is a weaver of everyday dreams, stitching together folk/world influenced melodies with bell-over-water clarity of vocal tone.
2023 saw the launch of a brand new studio EP ‘Embers of the Night’ produced by Gareth Hudson.
Her long-awaited return to Melbourne will see this introspective singer-songwriter once again grace the stage with her blend of delicate ideas and heart-aching immediacy.
Windborne’s captivating show draws on the singers’ deep roots in traditions of vocal harmony, while the absolute uniqueness of their artistic approach brings old songs into the present. Known for the innovation of their arrangements, their harmonies are bold and anything but predictable. With a 20-year background studying polyphonic music around the world, Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, and Will Rowan share a vibrant energy onstage with a blending of voices that can only come from decades of friendship alongside dedicated practice. The ensemble shifts effortlessly between drastically different styles of music, drawing their audience along on a journey that spans continents and centuries, illuminating and expanding on the profound power and variation of the human voice. BBC Traveling Folk describes Windborne as “subverting expectations and redefining the genre [of vocal music]… just absolutely phenomenal!” Audiences and critics lavish praise upon the singers not only for their technical mastery, but for the passion, engagement, and connection with each other and the audience that imbues each performance with a rare power.
But there’s another, crucial dimension to Windborne that guides and roots their artistry. They are adherents to folk music’s longtime alliance with social activism, labor and civil rights, and other movements that champion the oppressed, the poor, and the disenfranchised. Their songs burst with lyrics that, while penned decades or centuries ago, still ring true in modern times, and Windborne’s dynamic harmonies breathe new life into these songs.
Folk duo, Freight Train Foxes are built around the talents of Brisbane songwriters,Pat Kennyand Kelsey Berrington. Armed with the sonic influences of Passenger and The Lumineers, the pair wield their unique brand of suburban acoustic folk,which manages to wound and soothe simultaneously. After releasing four EPs infour years, the award-winning Folk duo are set to bring their captivating show to Melbourne for the first time on 22nd March at The Wesley Anne.
After impressing audiences with stirring performances at BIGSOUND and Woodford Folk Festival, Freight Train Foxes are touring in support of theirupcoming single, ‘Chasing Your Love’. The Brisbane duo will be joined on the nightby special guests Laura Lucas and Rod Coote.
Pat was an Army Officer before making an abrupt switch to songwriting, while Kelsey had a background as a circus performer before taking up music full-time.The songwriting partnership emerged from a chance encounter at an open mic, and has continued to develop out of a mutual admiration for their shared songwriting heroes. Freight Train Foxes forthcoming single,‘Chasing Your Love’ is an anthemic folk track and is scheduled for release in March 2024.
Join us Tuesday 19 March from 6:30PM at Wesley Anne, Northcote for Sound Minds (Naarm/Melbourne).
Come and connect with the music community as we explore the highs and lows of working in music with a fireside chat packed with warmth, honesty and humour, a live Q&A session, and opportunities to network & connect with other music industry workers.
This session’s theme is UNEXPECTED, Support Act’s very own Tim Coutts-Smith will be joined by the incredible, Sosefina Fuamoli for a fireside chat and live Q&A. + interactive activities to help you meet and connect with other folks in music.
This session is for you if you’re curious to learn more about how working in the Australian music industry offers unique and unpredictable challenges, to pitch questions to one of Support Act’s social workers and music industry guest, Sosefina and engage in conversation-starter prompts to connect with likeminded attendees about their experience working in Aussie music.
Supported by VIC State Government through Community Support Fund (CSF)
Gentle Folk // soft songs. These two met in Berlin in 2023 and have been pioneering the quiet side of the European folk scene ever since. Co-headlining tours in Germany, Austria and The Netherlands, next stop is Australia.
HAYFITZ (USA)
A self-proclaimed purveyor of 'gentle folk' Hayfitz crafts delicate songs about the most delicate of subjects. With his recently released sophomore album, Everything Else, the Berlin based multi-instrumentalist details his complex journey of coming into his new found queer identity and all the struggles that came along with it. Now based in Europe he will be touring all across Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and Australia in 2024.
LUCAS LAUFEN; (AUS / DE)
Lucas Laufen makes quiet music. Originally from Port Lincoln, South Australia, he moved to Berlin in 2016 to pursue songs in a different way. A subsequent signing to Embassy of Music (Björk, Passenger, Asgéir) and multiple headline tours in Europe have kept him there. His latest record "Weathering" was produced by grammy award winner "Antonio Pulli", crossing indie folk into neoclassical borders.
Somber falsetto melodies married to shimmering guitars within elemental orchestrations that yearn and plunge, endow us to stop, breathe and escape the daily noise.
Introducing Portland, Oregon singer, songwriter and producer JOHN CRAIGIE and spellbinding Canadian troubadour CAT CLYDE.
The two old-worldly Americana and folk musicians will be traversing the highways and byways of Australia this March, playing at local venues and folk festivals with their guitar-laden melodies.
Together and alone, making their Australian debut this March, both CAT CLYDE and JOHN CRAIGIE are set to wow fans of folk and Americana in this quintessential double header featuring two of the finest travelling troubadours of today. Get there early, don’t miss a minute.
Melbourne’s favourite variety night of frivolity brings you a Comedy Festival Spectacular! Showcasing our pick of acts from the upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival, come and grab a sneak peek of the next MICF legends - and perhaps get cosy with some familiar legends too...Headlining will be Kirsty Webeck! All other acts, soon to be announced. Hosted by Sharnema Nougar & David Tieck (Two Little Dickheads).
An ostentatious affair packed with magical hilarity - dinner and a show never tasted so bombastically beige.
Bookings are highly recommended.
... The pairing of Flickering Stars and Blue Fur seems like a natural thing…
… like planet alignment…
… with Blue Fur’s forceful wave of psychedelic surf and Flickering Stars’s tender and sophisticated
psych-tinged country complimenting each other… always evolving…
… always bringing something new…
… a natural thing.
… Wesley Anne is the natural setting for these bands to drift into each other’s orbit…
lending its distinctive atmosphere to their sound…
… Sunday afternoon is the perfect time… a confluence… a natural thing…
… the planets have lined up for this one… allow yourself to be drawn in…
and take a ride to the outer limits.
… a natural thing.
… be in.
… be there.
In a circus of comedy, music and magic, Mic Conway and Robbie Long present an hilarious array of idiosyncratic songs that will make your jaw drop, toes tap and sides split. Audiences who know Mic from his days with “Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band” and Circus Oz will be delighted by this incarnation: Mic as storyteller of tall tales and true. There are new songs and some oldies close to Conway’s heart. He croons “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and a heart-breaking version of “Mad World”, dispenses good advice in “Never Bite a Married Woman on the Thigh” and revisits Captain Matchbox classic “My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes” and Tom Lehrer’s “Masochism Tango”. There’s magic, juggling, cavorting and that trademark tongue-in-cheek sense of humour. Stripped back, irreverent, and shameless… it’s surreal vaudeville for crooning and swooning. Unforgettable!
Opening the show will be the amazing, one-of-a-kind road warrior and gifted songstress Gleny Rae Virus who has cut a swathe through the folk, country and roots scenes at home and abroad. With a larger than life personality Gleny takes the audience on a journey from Alice Springs to Opelousas Louisiana, from tears to belly laughs and back again with endearing vocals, stories and musical virtuosity!
Step into the pulsating world of The Juicer, where the exhilarating beats of burning hard bop jazz ignite the stage. Brace yourself for an electrifying experience as Melbourne's most anxiety riddled musicians unleash high-energy jazz melodies and soul-stirring solos that will leave you breathless. The fun never stops at a Juicer gig, where the fusion of talent, charisma, and musical innovation creates an unforgettable night. Join us as we hit the ground running with a sonic adventure, promising a night of unparalleled excitement and a musical journey that lingers long after the encore.
Scott Cook sings sturdy, straight-talking songs that see the good in you. Born in West Virginia and raised on the Canadian prairies, in 2007 he quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan to move into a minivan and embark on the life of a full-time troubadour. Since then he's toured almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, distilling his experiences into empathetic, keenly observant verse. His seventh and latest recording Tangle of Souls was recorded in Australia and comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations. Scott has already made nine tours of Australia, including talked-about performances at Woodford, Port Fairy, Cobargo, Candelo, Cygnet, Healesville, Mullumbimby, Newstead, Kangaroo Valley, Dorrigo, Maldon, Illawarra, the National, and Yackandandah folk festivals. He’s been back on the road full-time since January of 2022, living in a campervan named Roadetta with his sweetheart Pamela Mae on upright bass and vocals, and this year he’s bringing her for her first visit to Australia. For their only Melbourne show they'll be joined by Justin Vilchez on mandolin, with surprise cameos from a cast of local legends.
What a treat we have in store for you! A double single launch from Nina Rose and Amla, bringing you their newest releases. They will be joined by some of Melbourne’s finest musicians to showcase the community that strengthens their musical creativity.
Nina Rose is a Naarm based singer songwriter; she shares stories weaved into her folk roots (folk mixed with country, add a bit of RNB and reggae too!).
Amla is a multi-instrumentalist (flautist, violinist & vocalist) & composer who creates original and improvised ethereal and worldly soundscapes.
The blue hotel return after a long hiatus with a delectable slice of electro pop ‘everything’s broken' . This catchy piece of art rock is a precursor to the band's full length album currently in production. The outfit will be formally celebrating the release of ‘everything's broken' with a launch date of March 1st at the very apt surrounds of the Wesley Anne in Northcote. Tickets available and get in early to reserve a table. The Blue Hotel will be supported by local jazz inspired ‘chapter 4’ and local punk pop youngsters ‘inconvenience'.
The Blue Hotel promise a night of rock, pop and electro with a few surprises and special guests.
See you there!
Moonshadow Music presents
Pat Tierney @ The Wesley Anne
With very special guests Chris Cavill & Laura Lucas
After releasing his sophomore album ‘Red Moon’ in late 2019 to rave reviews, folk and roots troubadour Pat Tierney has toured the country relentlessly and shared the stage with the likes of Harry Manx, The Beautiful Girls and Ash Grunwald. Also featuring at the Caloundra Music Festival and The West Australian Guitar Festival in 2023 has seen a big 12 months for Pat, as he puts the finishing touches to album number three with the latest single, ‘When The Light Comes Shining’.
Tierney will treat audiences in Melbourne to a swag of new material and his signature slide guitar sound that features heavily on the new record.
'From the first notes of the lap slide guitar, you’re transported to a place where music becomes an ethereal experience' - Wax Vinyl Records, UK
https://pattierney.com.au
https://www.chriscavillmusic.com
https://lauralucasmusic.com
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐4
Featuring the smooth jazz grooves of US chart topping saxophonist Evan Carydakis and his band performing all of his hits, including the Top 50 US Smash Hit 'Cherry Pops' live and funky !
Meet the Band:
Saxophone – Evan Carydakis
Guitar – Brendon Siemsen
Bass – Peter Lamburd
Drums – Michael Rochford
On 23 February, folk-inspired rhythm and blues trio The Spares will hit the stage of the wonderful Wesley Anne to celebrate the release of their song ‘The Poacher’, the third single from their upcoming album ‘Comfort’. Having already shared the upbeat title track ‘Comfort’ and the laidback ‘Calm’ with the world, the group will let ‘The Poacher’ showcase the more brooding side of the album's sonic spectrum. If The Spares’ unique mixture of acerbic lyricism, delicate melodies, intricate bass lines, and restrained beats are not enough for you, they will be joined by two local artists they adore - Gaia Scarf and Tilly O'Brien.
Starting out young as a folk singer in the lush Blue Mountains, to then melting into the steamy neo-soul pot of Melbourne, Gaia Scarf has woven multiple threads of influence into the tapestry of her sound. She is dedicated to vulnerability as well as universality and uses storytelling and melody as an outlet for deeply personal revelation that might even feel familiar. With soulful vocals, atmospheric electric guitar and the mossy textures of her nylon strings, Gaia is transparent as she sings of identity, love, family, death and the ache to belong.
Raised on the tired Mid North Coast of NSW and now based in Naarm/Melbourne, Tilly O’Brien combines sweet, dark, drowning soundscapes with lyricism dripping with poignancy and truth. Described best by her listeners as ‘bleakscapes’, Tilly has a knack for creating melodious, melancholic confusion that will leave you either staring out of the bus window or swaying from left to right.
In January 2023, among a field of 150 artists from around the world Frank competed in and won the solo/duo section of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee.
He is only the third Australian to do so in the events 38-year history.
Just 2 days after this historic win, he spent 4 hours at the iconic Sun Studios in Memphis, and recorded what would become 'The Ghosts of Sun', his new album.
Frank has since graced many festival stages here in Australia, including Bluesfest and Blues on Broadbeach, and played sold out headline shows throughout 2023.
https://www.facebook.com/FrankSultanaMusic/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8k7LWp0QqQ
The eclectic and multi-talented Duxie Franklin hits The Wesley Anne stage on Sunday February 18th to launch her brand new single; ‘Lucky Charm.’ ‘Lucky Charm’ is a joyous alt pop (and slightly punk) banger about finding somebody who radiates happiness in your life. Duxie will be accompanied by her loyal and dubiously related band members, ‘Her Long Lost Texan Uncles’, who will provide the jazz influenced and atmospheric backdrop to Duxie’s equally emotive and quirky lyrics.
Supporting Duxie in this matinee launch show will be indie-folk/pop singer-songwriter ‘Louis’ and his newly-formed band, as well as the poetic songstress ‘Lucy Paterson.’ Doors open at 3pm for this highly anticipated launch show you’re not going to want to miss. Duxie and her Uncles hope to see you there!
Áine Tyrrell is an inspiring and thought-provoking multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and unmissable live act. Refusing to be boxed by the music industry with their narrow definition of Irish Folk, she is reclaiming and redefining her rise every step of the way with her genre ‘Irish as Fuck'. Her set moves from singing in Irish, acoustic guitars, powerful vocals, to spoken word and hip hop – all unified by her fire. Don't miss the very thing you need: Aine Tyrrell is Irish As Fuck Not Irish Folk.
Melbourne’s favourite variety night of frivolity returns in February for a hot summer night of comedy madness.
Featured guests include; Ben Volchok, Lauren Bok, CO CO LO CO, Two Little Dickheads, Issie Hart (MC) and more to be announced!
A spectacular affair packed with magical hilarity, dinner and a show never tasted so bombastically beige.
Bookings are highly recommended.
COME HEAVY SLEEP are proud to present the debut album “DUSK” at an afternoon launch on Sunday 11th February 2024 at Wesley Anne, Northcote.
Writing and performing as an acoustic duo under the name COME HEAVY SLEEP since 2018, “DUSK” is a testament to the sonic symbiosis found between Rosie Luby and Kier Stevens. Few listeners ever escape a performance without expressing adulation at Rosie’s transcendent voice and her cello work shines in both melodic and foundational roles. Performing on dobro, Kier displays a unique voice on the instrument belying disparate musical influences which come together cohesively under his earthen baritone vocals and steady compositional hand.
The album “DUSK” is a tender ode to musical depth, intimacy, and warmth and features several songs you may have heard at COME HEAVY SLEEP performances over recent years alongside some new compositions. Featuring the fine recording talents and thoughtful guidance of Niko Schauble, “DUSK” was recorded at Pughouse Studios in late 2022 in a process that mirrored the duo’s performance ethos: acoustic, alive, honest. COME HEAVY SLEEP are grateful to have the image of an entrancing oil painting by Nardine Keriakous gracing the album cover, a painting that captures the gentle smoldering intensity of the music it adorns.
Opening proceedings on the day will be special guests The Deadly Apple-Johns, an acoustic duo musing on love, death, cowboys and Carlton, and self-described perennial runners up in love, life, and songwriting competitions.
