AJAK KWAI

Fri 18th Feb 8:30pm

This summer, renowned South Sudanese/Australian vocalist Ajak Kwai is taking her full band on tour across regional Victoria and beyond, in support of 2021’s outstanding EP, Red Sands. 

After winning hearts with her breakthrough album Let Me Grow My Wings, Ajak and the band have recorded their first release for Melbourne’s Music in Exile label, a not-for-profit championing Australian artists from refugee, migrant and diaspora backgrounds.

Red Sands is sonically akin to the groove-orientated, politically powerful afrobeat and funk sounds coming out of South and West African nations in the 1970’s, sitting somewhere between the infectious pop of the Lijadu Sisters and a more modern desert blues sound of groups like Tinariwen and Mdou Moctar. Drawing inspiration from socially conscious, outspoken, and hands-down powerful vocalists such as Aretha Franklin, Fela Kuti and Emma Donavon, Ajak uses her music as a vehicle to draw subtle attention to prejudice, bias and discrimination as it exsits in Australian soceity today, all the while fulfilling her desire to pack dancefloors and bring audiences together in celebration of the great power of music as a connecting force in our community. 

Ajak and her band will be joined at select dates by Melbourne-based soul singer Allysha Joy, performing material from her recent Light it Again EP and the incredible Acadie:Raw album, as well as joining the band onstage for a very special guest appearance. 

Catch Ajak and her band on tour February through April 2022. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, as well as Creative Victoria and all the kind patrons and supporters of Music in Exile. 

Welcome those around you with open arms and an open heart! 

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BWYYM

BRECKIN & REBECCA-JANE

Sat 5th Feb 8:30pm

Breckin is the moniker of award-winning artist, poet and singer-songwriter, Heather Marsh. Her debut album Shiner garnered international attention, with single, The Story Bridge, selected as a KEXP Song of the Day.

Raised in a sun-drenched suburban Petri- dish of strip malls and wall-to-wall carpet, Breckin made her escape to an enclave of decadents and artists. Forever ruined for reality, Breckin now inhabits what Martha Graham describes as the ‘blessed unrest’, walking between the pedestrian and the divine, telling tales from the depths and the margins.

Compared in turn to Neko Case and Joanna Newsom, her songs interlace enveloping warm acoustic tones with sparkling finger-style guitar picking.

Rebecca Jane Howell is a singer-songwriter based in the Central Goldfields of Victoria. Sweet yet subtly foreboding, Rebecca”s music and voice will transport you, with evocative stories, lilting melodies, lush harmonies and thoughtfully crafted lyrics. Blending classic indie and folk with tinges of bluegrass and alt-country, her music is textural and poignant, with influences ranging from Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell and

Carole King to Cat Power, Nick Cave and PJ Harvey. Rebecca will be joined by Cat Howell providing some sweet harmonies, and Marty McKenna lending his soulful vocals, guitar and a touch of banjo.

Her debut album Shiner garnered international attention,

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BWZLW

MERPIRE (postponed)

Sat 22nd Jan 8:30pm special guest FEELDS

Merpire celebrates the release of her debut album, 'Simulation Ride', headlining in Kyneton for the very first time. Joined by Feelds, Merpire will take you through the rom-com and horror sections of her internal video store, performing the record in full for the first time.

'Simulation Ride' is a musical diary entry into the workings and not-workings of Merpire’s mind - existing in hope of connecting fellow daydreamers with their own personal simulation ride. Featuring singles, 'Dinosaur' and 'Village', the record has already been praised for its indelible lyrics and dynamic production courtesy of producer, James Seymour.

"It goes without saying that Merpire’s debut album is an antidote to much of the heightened emotions experienced by so many of us right now."
- Clash Magazine

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BWICB

THE SMALLGOODS (postponed)

Sat 15th Jan 8:30pm

Last time we met The Smallgoods, it was way back in the misty yesteryear of 2012. We watched them ride off into the sunset in a cloud of dank smoke, whistling tunes we’d grown to love, but sensed we would never hear again.
Almost 7 years since their final show, The Smallgoods are now back from the wilderness with a fresh set of legs, a batch of new songs, and melodies to burn.

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BWOHB

POLLYMAN

Sat 21st Aug 8:30pm

Drawing on sounds from the past and present of pop and rock, George Carroll Wilson’s solo project Pollyman delivers power-pop hooks and retro looks, with defiant and polished songwriting and performances.

 Inspired by such artists as Jeff Buckley and David Bowie, Pollyman’s distinctive songwriting and exhilarating live performances exude a powerful blend of rock and roll and the soulful side of pop which has already earned them fans like You Am I’s Tim Rogers as well as supporting Cedric Burnside and Canned Heat and being the most highly requested act on Delivered Live .

 Pollyman features George Carroll Wilson with his explosive guitar playing and acrobatic vocals, accompanied by Alister Hull supplying melodious and dynamic bass playing and Fenn Wilson keeping the beat on the drums with thunderous energy.

 Pollyman’s self-titled debut album is out now on Bonsai Records.

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BRRNW

MATT JOE GOW

Fri Sat 18th 8:30pm

From large festivals to boutique Americana gatherings, from supporting Chris Isaak to Kasey Chambers,Matt Joe Gow has built a simmering credibility to go along side the authentic Alt Country tones. With his second consecutive Music Victoria Nomination winning the award for Best Country Album, critically acclaimed troubadour Matt Joe Gow brings a soulful Americana sound to any performance.

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BSHUO

KIM SALMON - HAUNTED GROOVES

Fri 3rd December 8:30pm

Kim Salmon has his share of ghosts lurking within his career.

 Scientists drummer Brett Rixon, STM double bass player Andrew Entch. Chicago native, Phillip Hertz, ex wife and one time Scientists manager Linda Fearon, Lowbrow auteur and drummer Nick Combe and ofcourse - Brian Henry Hooper and Spencer P Jones …

 They all managed to have their life story intersect Kim’s and those intersections have created a significant effect on Kim’s story.

 Haunted Grooves is Kim’s telling of some of the stories left to him by people he’s collaborated with who are no longer around to tell them.

 With long time collaborator Doug Galbraith and a Boss RC 1 loop pedal, Kim will resurrect some of those no longer lost, but still very much haunted grooves!

 https://www.facebook.com/KimSalmonOfficial/

https://kimsalmon.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/KimSalmonOfficial

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BQFWT

D'ARCY SPILLER

Sat 27th Nov 8:30pm

D’Arcy first burst into our hearts in 2019 with her crushing debut single ‘Cry All Night’ which
peaked at #9 on triple j’s Unearthed Chart. In 2020 she released her debut EP Little Demons
which featured powerful follow up ‘Wildfire’, closely followed by the spine tingling ‘Deep
Black Sea’ ,which earned her triple j Unearthed Feature artist and an add to rotation at triple
j.
In 2021, D’Arcy came back swinging with her new single ‘Wolf Blood’ which was added to
rotation at triple j and saw international airtime on Amazing Radio (UK). The track exploded
on streaming platforms, seeing cross-genre playlist additions to playlists like Spotify’s The
New Alt which has over 1 million subscribers, and securing D’Arcy a loyal fanbase of
listeners worldwide and culminating in a sold-out hometown (Naarm) show.
Forthcoming EP Disarray is a peak into the “hidden depths of her inner self”, as D’Arcy
explains. Sometimes upbeat, sometimes quite dark, the EP is an honest and authentic
reflection of the times we live in, as uncomfortable as that might be.
EP closer, ‘K Karma’ is a song about uncomfortable truths, packaged in an absolute belter
from the Melbourne songwriter. D’Arcy will take her new material on tour this August, with
shows in Brisbane, Kyenton, Sydney, and Melbourne.

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BTHJH

THE VINTAGE BLUES MACHINE

Sat Nov 20th 8:30pm

The Vintage Blues Machine was designed for the purpose of helping people to feel good.
Featuring El Enterrador “the Undertaker” Mr Barry Miller doing all the things with sticks & skins and King Maxwell taking care of all the things with strings and the bits where someone sings.
Playing mostly original tunes, with a handful of well chosen favourites, they’ve crafted a sound that is their own while paying homage to the music that set them alight in the first place.
Pour in all the blues and bluesy jazz that they love from the 1920s, 30s & 40s, shake in a hint of country swing, a cup or two of finger pickin’ goodness, add a few secret ingredients, flip the switch and out comes the groovy stuff.
So get down and check out The Vintage Blues Machine for the purpose of feeling good.
Now available in the fully vaxed, waxed moustache stacked back pack version… at no extra cost.

https://www.facebook.com/thevintagebluesmachine/

TICKETS https://www.trybooking.com/BVJLJ