The Drunken Poet is one of Melbourne's best live music venues, providing a unique community atmosphere between musicians and punters. If you are an artist looking to perform at The Drunken Poet, get in contact with us here.
All gigs are FREE ENTRY
Every Friday Night at The Poet!
Baker & Bunn play Old Time/ Bluegrass duets- Banjo and Fiddle.
The Twa Corbies are a Victorian based two-piece that love to share the fun, exciting, and occasionally lamenting sounds and stories of Celtic folk music.
The Outlaws are a brand new band, bringing authentic outlaw tunes to our Sunday arvo session!
Ciaran Boyle and Declan Simpson have joined together as THE GALWAY ROVERS!
Spend your Sunday evening at The Poet with these legends!
Cécile Gardens is a 24-year-old country singer-songwriter originally from The Netherlands, now making her mark on Melbourne's music scene. Her unique blend of traditional country sounds and contemporary themes creates an experience reminiscent of Nashville's finest yet entirely her own. Drawing from her journey across continents, Cécile's songwriting offers an intimate and honest window into her world. Backed by her tight-knit Melbourne band, she brings her stories to life on stage with energy that is both authentic and captivating. Don't miss your chance to witness a rising star in the making.
Crowned 2024 Emerging Artist of the Year at the Western Australian Country Music Awards, Savanah Solomon is cementing her status as one of Australia’s most compelling voices in the country and folk music. Born in Derby and raised among the wide red plains and abundant oceans of Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Savanah’s songwriting is deeply shaped by place — evocative, grounded, and rich with emotional honesty.
Imagine if Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen raised a child in Geelong.
With an eye for contemporary style but roots in the classics, singer-songwriter Thom Johnston is just that, a voice for young people figuring themselves out, with the skill of making the ordinary worth documenting.
Last year, the release of his debut single ‘Shiver’ led to thousands of streams across multiple platforms, radio interviews/features, government funding and a shortlisting in the American Songwriter Lyric Contest.
Additionally Thom sold out multiple headline gigs within only the last 4 months of the year (including Bar Open, Brunswick Green and more).
In mid-late 2026, Johnston plans to follow up this success with his much anticipated debut self-titled album “Thom Johnston”.
Working alongside good friend Ali Harman, the project has become not only a deeply personal image of Thom but also provides a specific yet universal encapsulation of being a young adult in this time.
Every Friday night, to start your weekend right!
With live music 6 nights a week at The Poet, our Traditional Irish Music sessions are a part of our weekly line up.
Australian alt country singer songwriter John Stokes is heading south in June to perform at one of Melbournes iconic venues - The Drunken Poet.
Fresh off the release of his single ‘Crumbling Down’ John is set to perform songs off his forthcoming album. Produced by renowned artist Shane Nicholson ‘The Catch’ gives listeners an insight into the life growing up on a small farm. Australia’s country landscape is the driver for his music. The experiences gained along the journey are the stories in the songs. The sound is earthy, has roots and comes with heartfelt emotion.
Mixing old world melodies with modern beats and sounds, this world traveling man brings harmonica, guitar and foot percussion into a new dimension. Joined by special guest - Mana!
Music that explores Celtic, Reggae, Balkan, Quebecois and other styles, all surrounded by improvised shenanigans sure to make any dancer happy.
From the markets and festivals in Western Victoria to the heart of Melbourne Town where he has moved to pursue musical endeavours, Roy Darby and his newly formed band 'The Dial Ups' are here to encapsulate and reinvigorate the spirit of Rock And Roll as it was meant to be.
With a vivacious repertoire, potent stage presence and unbridled honesty that ricochets from wall to wall, door to door and in between your eyes to ears, catch Roy Darby at The Drunken Poet, where you’ll find the spirit flowing, up and away.
Come along, you won’t regret a single moment.
Nick Charles is known internationally as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues”. His 35+ year career has seen him accumulate every conceivable accolade including Port Fairy Artist of the Year and The AGE Blues album of the year.
He’s toured with artists including John Hammond, Guy Clarke, Ralph McTell, Robyn Ford and BB King touring the US 13 times in recent years and releasing over 20 albums worldwide.
This is dazzling fingerpicking roots magic and a lifetime’s stories and songs from the world’s musical highways. In the words of Bruce Elder from the Sydney Morning Herald “he plays guitar like an angel!”
The mighty Tipplers hit the Poet to bring about your Sunday eve in style!
All the way from Bali, Baby Salma brings a mix of youthful spirit, acoustic grit, and alternative rock influence, delivering intimate live performances filled with emotion and nostalgia, blending her sultry, soulful vocals with that alternative edginess. Accompanying her, Melbourne bassist Lucie Malinson fills the low end with warm, steady grooves and tasteful bassline. Together, they combine expressive vocals with rich bass accompaniment. Together, they bring a fresh yet nostalgic approach to acoustic alternative music.
Young Gympie indie folk singer-songwriter Elke Louie is set to release her debut EP ‘Lavender’ on 24 April 2026,
marking the occasion with tour dates across South East Queensland and her first performances in Victoria.
This engaging 5-track EP includes the dreamy new single and title track ‘Lavender,’ as well as earlier releases
‘Sandman’ and ‘Killing Time,’ both of which have garnered international acclaim. The tracks have been receiving
airplay on radio stations around Australia and overseas, with new single “Lavender” having it’s ‘First Play’ on
national youth radio Triple J.
Every Friday night, to start your weekend right!
With live music 6 nights a week at The Poet, our Traditional Irish Music sessions are a part of our weekly line up.
Hailing from central Victoria, guitarist/singer songwriter Bill Barber is at the forefront of a new generation of Australian Blues.
"Bill Barber is the next in line to become one of Australia's Blues greats" - Lloyd Spiegel
A favourite here, we love it when Bill plays The Poet!
Yes. Alt country, urban folk, country rock, rock n roll, bluegrass and blues from the city or the swamp ... call it what you will, but these guys mix all this together, and more. If all band members give the go, it’s in. This mix is their sound, and they love creating it, and performing it.
With a huge original song list, that started back in the early nineties, this band has many influences. Carefully chosen covers rotated through the live set keeps them thinking, and writing. From Tom Petty to Tom Wates, Johnny Cash to Paul Kelly, The Band, Little Feat, Tony Joe White .... The Pheasantry Band’s sound is catchy.
If you like real vocals in harmony, real guitars with exiting electric twang, fat upright bass and drums ready to explode, make sure you see this five-piece band of cheeky Melbourne gentlemen.
Over 30 years since these guys started writing and recording songs and grooves, and they’re not about to stop.
Their style is infectious, always tells a story and great to watch. They have fun!
Alex’s discography is impressive, three albums with Nick Charles, a critically acclaimed solo Hawaiian album “Twilight blues” and after many requests Alex recorded and released, in 2004, his first solo blues album “The blues is here to stay.”
The following year Alex followed up with his second Hawaiian album “Alex Burns’ Adventures in Paradise”, again critically acclaimed.
Michael Jacobs plays the songs of Eric Clapton
Joby Hendriks making his debut at The Drunken Poet!
Oscar LaDell was born in the US and raised in Purakaunui, Dunedin. A second-generation musician, Oscar started out playing standards in bars around Dunedin, featuring songs by Muddy Waters, BB King and Guitar Slim. Over the years, funk, rock, soul, R&B and more have found their way into Oscar’s music.
In the space of one of LaDell’s original songs, the sound can range from a gentle slow dance to explosive and hypnotic guitar solos. Oscar’s powerful and expressive guitar playing and soulful singing act as one to create a sound that is both reminiscent of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and fresh.
Every Friday night, to start your weekend right!
Mast Gully Fellers, renowned for their unique, but familiar ‘Australiana Bar-Room Folk’ sound which meanders through alt-country, celtic, and folk, telling stories with heartfelt ballads, bush life, and travelling adventures.
Frankie & The Bad Cats is a blues band whose original material ranges from traditional and modern blues to funk and even elements of rockabilly.
The band has recently had a name change and was originally known as Mojo Mafia.
Under the Mojo Mafia label the band released three albums, their latest titled
“Judgement Day” which many independent blues/roots music critics believe is their finest work to date.
“The band Frankie & The Bad Cats is an example of the fact that energy, passion and soul is what separates the good from the great.”
(Barry Maxwell – President of Blues Music Victoria).
Join us for a Sunday afternoon with the one and only Ezra Lee's Boogie Men!
Ezra Lee is Australia’s undisputed king of boogie-woogie and rock 'n' roll piano. Channeling the spirit of legends like Jerry Lee Lewis, Ezra’s performances are a whirlwind of explosive energy, pounding rhythms, and fiery licks. A natural-born showman, Ezra has toured internationally and shared stages with rockabilly royalty, earning him a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in the world. With his unmistakable style and larger-than-life personality, Ezra continues to set stages ablaze and redefine the genre for a new generation.
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Moonee Valley Drifters[/caption]
Moonee Valley Drifters play the songs of Hank Williams!
Sign up at the bar from 5pm, first in best dressed. Performances from 7pm - bring your crew!
Moosejaw Rifle Club are a folk/country/bluegrass band. With layered four part harmonies and hooks galore, the sweet harmonising and rollicking rhythms have seized the attention of every band room and festival they have played.
Moosejaw Rifle Club have firmly set their reputation for fun loving, good time music. Seamlessly moving between country ballads and rollicking anthems. Their sound starts at country, but stops all stations including blues, bluegrass, folk, gospel and rock.
The Westernairs deliver authentic Country/Honky Tonk and Western Swing music in the traditional 1950s/60s style, covering songs from famous Country artists such as Hank Williams, George Jones, Faron Young, and Marty Robbins, plus other lesser known Country/Hillbilly stars of the 1950s/60s. Their repertoire also includes an ever increasing list of self penned tunes by Kieron himself. The music is guaranteed to have your feet a tappin’ and your body movin’.
Craig Kelly with Joyce Prescher play the songs of Mark Lanegan - more info soon!
