17th December Christmas Open Mic
An easy laid back open mic event for the year and yes we do have a special guest and it’s not Santa (although he may be there)
“Bette Foord is a melodramatic Melbourne muso with a uke and some stories to tell. Some haunting, some funny, and some to warm your heart.
You’re going to want to keep your eyes – and ears – locked on to her.”
__________________________________________________________________________
19th November – Jam Tarts Live
The Jam Tarts Trio and band, bring their own unique style to a diversity of songs, from doo wop to folk, pop to just about anything in between. Beautiful harmonies, quirky arrangements and entertaining delivery. You’ll be singing and toe tapping in spite of yourself. And they did.
Our first live event since May.
Rat Award went to Jose
Members Draw went to Anton __________________________________________________________________________
15th October 2021 Darcy Fox on Zoom
Darcy Fox is a folk/pop artist with a passion for great melodies and inspiring lyrics
Hailing from Gippsland, Australia, this charismatic singer and songwriter combines stunning melodies with infectious grooves and great beats, in order to create a catchy, yet direct and edgy sound.
She’s been singing and playing the guitar since the age of 15, echoing the sound of classic country and folk music, with a modern edge – independently releasing 2 EP’S, an album and multiple singles.
Throughout the span of her blossoming career, Darcy received praise from audiences and music industry insiders alike. She became a finalist in the 2013 Telstra Road to Discovery competition, and she won the Blues, Roots, and Beyond competition in 2015 at the Queenscliff Music festival. However her greatest achievement so far is being the first soloist to win the Push Start battle of the bands competition, competing against 350 Victorian bands.
P.S.
We had our AGM on 15th October at 7.30pm
__________________________________________________________________________
17th September 2021 Ali McDonald on Zoom
Playing a range of songs from pop to country and more. Lead singer of the Ali Cats and Science Fiction. An entertaining night with some popular tunes.
__________________________________________________________________________
20th August 2021 The Long and Short of It
Cancelled due to lock down – Open mic on zoom
______________________________________________________
16th July 2021 Weeping Willows
Cancelled due to lock down
______________________________________________________
18th June 2021 Alan Lazarus on Zoom
From the outskirts of Cranbourne, singer/songwriter Alan Lazarus has been quietly making a name for himself among local music clubs, as well as regular appearances at a number of music festivals throughout Victoria.
He has a smooth singing style – very relaxed and laid-back – in his preferred genres of Country, Folk, and Bluegrass. He generally performs solo, self-accompanied on Autoharp, but at times has been known to be welcomed into group performances, displaying a perfect fit.
His performances are a mixture of covers and originals, all done in his unique style. His debut album “Footprints” has been well received, and he is currently working on material for a follow up album.
He is a relative new-comer to the music scene, taking up the craft at the tender age of 65, but is passionate about his music, and the power that it has to connect people, regardless of age or background.
You are sure to enjoy the work of Alan Lazarus – the man and his harp!
A very enjoyable session from a good entertainer and song writer and all on a Autoharp.
This was a zoom session.
_________________________________________________________________________
21st May 2021 Bruce Watson
Bruce Watson’s performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.
Bruce is an icon of the Australian folk scene. Based in Melbourne, he plays regularly at festivals, folk clubs and other venues throughout Australia. He has received a stack of songwriting awards and had his songs covered by performers of the calibre of Eric Bogle, Joe Dolce, Greg Champion, and a host of other Australian and international performers.
He has produced seven albums of original songs, received radio airplay across Australia, and he appears on many compilation albums alongside artists such as Yothu Yindi and Christine Anu.
Eric Bogle has described him as “the best songwriter I have seen in a long time.” Melbourne folk institution The Boite says, “Bruce Watson is a wordsmith, a teller of tales, a spinner of yarns he tells with passion and integrity. An Australian folk hero!”
Always entertaining with historical and humorous songs.
Rat Award went to Clem
Members draw went to Bill
Volunteers Award went to Cyril
__________________________________________________________________________
16th April 2021 – Brittle Sun
Brittle Sun are a bluesy, psychedelic garage folk band from Melbourne.
With soulful vocals that are as fragile as they are powerful, they weave lyrical narrative with stripped back grooves and evocative melodies.
They released their latest EP, entitled ‘Little Blue Heart’, in 2020.
A very polished group – Great vocals, harmonies and a mix of guitar, keys, lapslide and percussion.
Support Act
Jake Hanney Unfortunately Jake could not make it. We will have him in the near future.
Rat Award went to Pat
Members draw went to Jim
__________________________________________________________________________
19th March 2021 Bec Sian and David Brimacombe
Our first night live after covid.
Born in Australia, but with Welsh and Irish blood, it seems only natural that Beck Sian was going to be drawn to all things Celtic – from a Druidic reverence for nature and trees, tales of banshees, wraiths and faeries, to the musical instruments and haunting singing-styles. Whether singing an old Irish folk song, or original songs which have been influenced by a love of the Dandenong Ranges and travels in the UK, Beck’s approach is highly individual; the ambience emotional and entrancing.
When Beck sings, there are touches redolent of Kate Bush, to whom Beck is related, but these are mere brush-strokes of beautiful influence.
After a decade of touring and performing in the UK, Beck Sian has returned to Oz and teamed up with seasoned guitarist and singer David Brimacombe (respected local musician and live music advocate). This fusion combines Beck’s ethereal vocals with Dave’s creative & passionate guitar arrangements, and warm harmonies. (Oh, and David has some Irish blood too!)
Dave’s decades of performance experience have seen him become well-known & respected within both his local Hill’s acoustic scene and Melbourne’s Blues/Rock community. Apart from gigging with the Kevin Buckingham Band, Dave relishes the opportunity to connect with the raw & vulnerable nature of playing acoustic guitar and expressing a more discerning angle.
During Beck’s ten years touring the UK and Europe, she performed at Glastonbury several times, as well as a huge list of festivals and folk clubs, theatres, castles, haunted ballrooms and a few fairy festivals (yes… fairy festivals!).
Rat Award went to Paul
Members draw went to Ann
19th February 2021 Open Mic on Zoom
We had a good turn out for the open mic night. Not as good as live music but the next best thing.
__________________________________________________________________________
17th January 2021 – Club get together.
Our first for the year. A small group which was a jam session. Thank you Jane. Great afternoon tea with friends and music.
__________________________________________________________________________
2oth December 2020 – Club get together.
A fine afternoon of friends, food and music. It’s just like heaven.
__________________________________________________________________________
20th November 2020 Fiona Boyes – (Zoom)
Presenting a smorgasbord of Blues treats.
playing deep Blues, influenced by a myriad of traditional regional styles. She has carved an international reputation as a blues guitarist, bandleader, vocalist and songwriter. International reviewers have described her as a ‘musical anomaly’ and ‘Bonnie Raitt’s evil twin’!
A distinctive finger-picking and slide guitarist, Fiona’s soulful, authoritative style has earned her unprecedented recognition overseas as an Australian artist. Winner of the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, she has toured widely, performing at acoustic, guitar, jazz, and blues festivals, clubs and cultural centers in more than 20 countries.
Fiona’s latest release is a remastered 20th Anniversary Edition of her debut solo album ‘Blues in My Heart’, a 16 track celebration of acoustic ragtime finger-style blues. Recorded live to analogue tape, it captures a unique performance moment much like the early historical blues recordings she so admires. By contrast, Fiona’s most recent studio offering ‘Voodoo in the Shadows’ (2018) extends her exploration of the musical stylings of Mississippi and Louisiana, featuring swampy electric guitar along with a collection of unique cigar-box guitars and a rare National Reso-Lectric baritione. It follows other award-winning albums such as the audiophile acoustic album ‘Professin’ the Blues’ (2016) and ‘Box & Dice’ (2015) which was written around her growing collections of cigar-box guitars.
Fiona’s nomination for the Koko Taylor Award (Best Traditional Female Artist) at the 2019 USA Blues Music Awards in Memphis was her 8th BMA nomination over various categories since 2007. Fiona is the only Australian ever to be nominated for these awards, which are considered to be the Grammies of the Blues.
Equally at home on acoustic or electric guitars, her mostly original repertoire is like a Blues travelogue. Listen to her play and you’ll hear Delta slide guitar, single chord Mississippi Hills grooves, intricate country blues finger picking, along with material drawn from the classic blues sounds of New Orleans, Chicago and Memphis. As her friend and mentor, the late, great Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf’s guitarist) said. ‘She’s got it! I’ve played with all of them – and she’s got it!’
I think this lady is too Happy to sing the blues but what an entertainer, musician and all round nice person with a swag of stories to tell. Give me more!
__________________________________________________________________________
16th October Amber Lawrence (Zoom)
Amber Lawrence is a multi-Golden Guitar winning Australian singer-songwriter who captures the nation’s attention and heart with her uplifting songs of self-belief, love, family and ordinary Australians.
2020 has seen Amber Lawrence launch her 6th studio album, Spark – with an ARIA Number 1 position on the Country charts and number 2 on the All Australian All Genre ARIA Charts on the week of debut.
Celebrating her recent wedding and introduction to motherhood, ‘Spark’ and it’s 10 songs perfectly represent a new chapter in Amber’s life, with a fun and energetic vibe interwoven with heartfelt ballads. The first single, Outrageous, was a Music Network and CMC Number 1, and the second most played song in Country Radio for the June 2019 quarter, proving the popularity behind the relatable message in the song.
The Second single ‘Heart’ is a national top 5 hit and the inspiring message in this song is seeing it become a fan favourite. ‘Hell to Hallelujah’ – Amber’s jubilant love song, is the third single, with an October 2019 release and a fun but heart warming video to go with it!
In 2018 Amber took home 3 of the most prestigious Golden Guitar awards at the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards!! APRA Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the year, for the song ‘Our Backyard’, a collaboration with Travis Collins.
A fabulous concert with a true professional. Engaging, Charming and Talented.
AGM over for another year as well.
__________________________________________________________________________
18th September 2020 – Cathy Dobson (Zoom)
Cathy Dobson is a multi-award winning songwriter, who has won awards in Tamworth, Canberra, the Peninsula and the ASA, to name a few. She is a local, living in Narre Warren South.
Cathy’s songwriting is growing in popularity, with songs written from the point of view and experiences of a retired school teacher, mother, wife, friend.
2015 was a highlight with 8 of her songs featured at the Melbourne Fringe Festival in a play called “Dolly” by Harris Smart.
In 2016 Cathy was nominated for Songwriting Excellence by the Australian Songwriters Association.
With many awards and short listings already behind her, 2017 was an extra good one. Cathy won the Basin Music Fest Songwriting award for “A break in the clouds” which also won the lyrics section of the Songs alive Aust. Comp and was 3rd in their Country” section. “Jericho Rose took out first prize at the Hughenden song writing comp and the Maldon Folk festival. These two songs were also in the top 10 of the ASA and top 5 of the TSA. “Jericho Rose” was Number One on the charts for 97one FM, and in the top 10 for a few weeks.
In 2020 her latest chart topping hit is ‘A Farmers lullaby’ receiving applause and chart rankings Australia wide.
and support Alan Lazarus
is a relative newcomer to the local scene, having taken up music when he retired from full-time employment in the telecommunications industry.
He performs solo, self-accompanied on the Autoharp, and has a leaning towards country, bluegrass and folk tunes. His smooth vocals plus the unique sound of the Autoharp are a combination that has been well received by audiences at various music venues and festivals both locally and interstate.
Alan has recently taken up song-writing as an additional skill, his debut album “Footprints” containing a 50/50 mixture of originals and popular covers is currently available.
This was an online Zoom concert. Well attended and great entertainment as well.
__________________________________________________________________________
21st August 2020 Fools Gold – From the UK (Zoom)
We are very lucky.
We – that is Carol and Steve Robson – get to play our concert performances all over the UK (and beyond too). People say nice things – very nice things – afterwards and we have great fun doing it.
Our shows combine stories – that’s the stories about the songs – live music and projected visuals with live performances of the songs. All the shows feature a mixture of original and well known music, joining in is virtually mandatory!
So; we are very lucky!
Our shows are a bit different as they are usually not just a straight music recital. Our shows are themed and each song fits the theme and has a strong story attached to it. The stories are told, supported by projected visuals.
The programmes are varied and usually include a mixture of well known and original music – the stories are fascinating, moving or funny but always engaging.
The music is 100% live, performed on a range of instruments including Guitar, Bouzouki, Ukulele, Bass Guitar, Tenor Guitar, Flute, Whistles and Keyboards.
A very professional and entertaining show with lots for everyone.
________________________________________________________________________
17th July 2020 Suzette Herft (Zoom)
Soulful, sublime and shining! Three words sum up this Melbourne based, exotic singer-songwriter from Sri Lanka.
Suzette Herft is a contemporary troubadour and award winning songwriter with a sublime voice. She shines with a natural grace and presence that lights up any stage. When Suzette sings, her songs pierce the heart and invite the listener to dive deeper. She has won wide acclaim for her brilliant tribute show to her hero – Joan Baez for being the ‘voice for the voiceless’ at numerous festivals around Australia, including standing ovations at two recent Port Fairy Folk Festivals. Suzette is a masterful facilitator of singing sessions and a ‘song catcher’ with her wide-ranging repertoire and her passion for inclusivity, ‘giving everyone a voice’. Suzette is also the founder of the Melbourne Songwriter Sessions, a workshop session inspired by a visit to Nashville where peers provide critique to bring forth the best in the song.
Her song ‘Planting Roses’ was a finalist in the Australian Independent Music Awards 2017.Suzette has 6 cd’s including 2 newly released cd’s titled ‘Roses’ (an album of original songs produced by Shane O’Mara) and ‘Farewell Angelina’ – an album of duets with Patrick Evans from the live show of the same title featuring the story of the iconic duo Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.Don’t miss this captivating songstress who has been described as ‘A charismatic singer-songwriter with a heart in tune with her world and a voice to go with it” (The Australian Songwriter).
What a great performance. A roller coaster ride through Stories and emotions.
Suzette also has a poetry page https://thesoulfulheart.com
_________________________________________________________________________
19th June 2020 In Harmony (Zoom)
Pat Wakefield and Sue Parrish play an eclectic mix of melodic music covers with an emphasis on vocal harmony. Song choice is from the work of poetic writers the likes of Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen, Kris Kristofferson with some Irish thrown in.
Sue Parrish, vocals, flute, recorder, tin whistle, and guitar.
Pat Wakefield, vocals and guitar.
A very good concert from a talented pair of musicians.
__________________________________________________________________________
15th May 2020 Sugar and Spice (Zoom)
Vanessa Craven with Zdena Schwangmeier backing her on uke bass, will dish up some interesting thought provoking originals along with stories relating to the songs and some poetry.
You will be transported up to the sky – soaring with eagles and back to earth, rivers, and people who make the songs what they are. Vanessa plays a variety of styles of music ranging from Latin, Folk, Blues, Alt-Country and Bluegrass and some music that doesn’t fit any of the above categories.
We have been playing together over the years as a duo called Sugar ‘n’ Spice. The instruments played range from uke bass, guitar, lap slide, cajon drum, floor tambourine, and vocals. The music comprises of originals and covers along with vocals and instrumentals.
_________________________________________________________________________
April 2020 Bernardo Soler (Zoom)
Bernardo Soler award winning Filipino guitarist from Melbourne, Victoria. Plays Latin American, Spanish, Flamenco, Pop , Rock, Blues, and World music. Bernardo is a master musician classically trained and plays all styles. From his rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody to playing guitar behind his back was outstanding.
This was our first online Zoom Concert. The perfect choice.
Stay safe.
__________________________________________________________________________
March 2020 – No Club because of Covid-19
__________________________________________________________________________
21st February 2020AJ Leonard and Jenny Rowlands
When ukulele virtuoso AJ Leonard, and classically trained cellist Jenny Rowlands team up,magic happens!
Unequaled versatility and a place in ukulele’s hierarchy…
Since multi-instrumentalist, arranger and composer AJ Leonard visited Hawaii in 2006 and developed a serious itch for the ‘jumping flea’ he has pretty much become a one-instrument man and one of Australia’s pioneering ukulele players. After attending the VCA, Jenny Rowlands continued her study of the cello overseas and has performed professionally throughout the classical scene in Australia.
Their appreciation of classical music, Tin Pan Alley tunes, Tropicana and music from films combined with AJ’s love of historical fact and Jenny’s classical flare to present concert goers with a musical experience that crosses time zones – combining timeless melodies with an irresistible blend of abandon and precision.
A great night again. They fit like a jig saw puzzle.
Members Draw went to Kaz
Rat Award went to Alex on didge
_________________________________________________________________________
19th January 2020
Members lunch in Wilson Botanical Gardens. The lunch was shortened by impending bad weather but still a nice afternoon. A great chance to catch up.