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
Kelly Auty & Brian Fraser with Roland Kretschmer at 4pm. Legends!
Fables are an Irish acoustic duo who cover a wide range of sounds, from Rock, Pop, Folk, and Country to Irish heartfelt Ballads. Comprising lead singer Tara Raftery and singer-guitarist Kevin McGinley, the duo brings an intimate and dynamic sound that resonates with their audiences.
Van Walker plays the songs of John Lennon at The Poet!
Candice Alisha is a blues and folk singer songwriter originally hailing from Wodonga, Victoria but now local to Melbourne after making the move to the big city to pursue her career at the beginning of 2019. After working as a full-time musician in various bands for the better part of a decade, Candice has struck out on her own with her strong, deep and powerful vocals and magnetic stage presence.
Jaida Champney is a singer-songwriter from in Gympie, blending elements of indie, folk, pop, and jazz into her own warm, soulful sound.
A regular on the local live music scene, Jaida brings heart and authenticity to every performance, with a natural ability to connect with her audience and create a relaxed, engaging atmosphere.
In February 25, she released her first-ever single Never Loved Me and has since then release her second single 'Yellow Leaves'.
Jaida is no stranger to the festival stages, having played at Camp For A Cure in 2025 and Sublime Fest later in 2026.
Since then, she has shared the stage acclaimed artists such as Ella Fence, Christian Patey & Emma Quit the Bakery.
In 2023, she was awarded Best Performer at the Glenwood Open Mic.
These moments solidified her role as a rising voice in grassroots music — one that speaks with purpose.
At only 21, after a life-altering car accident in 2024, Jaida made the decision to pursue her dreams without compromise. Her music became more than a passion — it became a promise to live truthfully and connect deeply, every time she stepped onto a stage.
Irish singer/songwriter Roesy returns to The Poet with songs from his catalogue of 8 albums and a fresh collection of originals.
Blending rich, introspective songwriting with the songs that have shaped his journey, this gig marks the start of a new chapter. Roesy will be airing some of his new work for the first time.
Known for his soulful and intimate performances, Roesy’s return is one not to miss.
Every Friday night, to start your weekend right!
Waz E James returns to the Poet!
Join us on Friday eve for Waz E James, often referred to as ‘Australia’s best kept secret’.
Damien Lynch is making his debut at The Poet!
Damien Lynch hails from West Clare, an area steeped in traditional music. Since moving to Melbourne in 2025, he has made a name for himself gigging across venues in Melbourne's Southside. Damien's influences include Luke Kelly and Luke Combs.
The Steamboat Whistlers are a Melbourne based acoustic band dedicated to early jazz and blues that emanated from New Orleans before travelling up the Mississippi and all around the globe. The band's repertoire draws on a wide range of musical influences which include traditional jazz, depression era blues, ragtime and spirituals.
The Steamboat Whistlers have gained a loyal following through their energetic dedication to reliving these tunes of old, their unique vintage sound can be heard at many venues and festivals in Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
The Steamboat Whistlers are guaranteed to get you tapping your toes!
Ciaran Boyle and Declan Simpson have joined together as THE GALWAY ROVERS!
Spend your Sunday evening at The Poet with these legends!
Bag O’ Nails are probably Melbourne’s most dynamic and electrifying Blues-Rock trio, wowing audiences with their scorching live performances since 2004!
Guitarist and frontman Trevor Murray, joined by John Hampton on bass and Kaos on drums, will be paying tribute to the late great Gary Moore. Performing hits such as, ‘Don’t Believe A Word’ , ’Walking By Myself’ , ‘Pretty Woman’ and of course ‘Still Got The Blues For You’ Plus many more!
Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate one Belfast’s cherished and legendary musicians.
Elly McK (pronounced “Mack”) & The Unbelievers have been carving up the Americana/Alt-country scene with a string of standout singles that highlight the band’s dynamic range. From the classic country feel of “Down On Your Luck” and the haunting “Bones,” to the driving grooves of “The Wind Up,” the 70s-tinged “Too Early,” and their latest bluegrass-inflected release “Don’t Stay Away,” each track explores a different corner of the genre. Frontwoman Elly McKinnon leads the charge with her soulful vocals, backed by the formidable talents of The Unbelievers – Sam Price on drums, Jordy Hickey on double bass, and Monty Price on guitar.
Register from 5pm, performances from 7pm!
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.
Nick Howells is back at The Poet, this time as a duo, bringing original music from the back catalogue of his band - “The Distant South".
Nick's song writing is honest, confessional, raw, and instantly relatable, blending the sounds of Country, Folk, Blues, and Soul. With two EPs and a full-length album already behind him, in 2026 "The Distant South” will release their second studio album - “Map of My Life”.
Sure to be a great evening of interesting stories and confessional folk songs.
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.
Dan Dinnen & Shorty dish up a bluesy gumbo of rootsy goodness. Original tunes and cherry-picked standards laid down with hypnotic fingerpicking guitar, peppered with tasty blues harp, wrapped up and driven along by lush drums ‘n’ percussion.
With a pulsing, swinging juke-joint groove, it’s a little bit delta swamp, a little bit hill country, a lot its own flavour.
“Dan Dinnen is one of the most authentic blues voices on the scene, but with an individual sound.” - Helen Jennings, PBSFM
Anthony “Shorty” Shortte - well regarded for his past work with ARIA award winning blues act Collard Greens and Gravy - is an astoundingly original drummer/percussionist with a feel grounded in deep South grooves.
Archer the wild crayzed loner country-bluesman is feeling positive about 2026. Despite all the fukked up shit Goin on everywhere there is also magic and beauty. And of korse the human race still has the limitless potential to turn things around and fulfill our right-way destiny. So he's putting together a little trio with Peter Baylor and Andi Cooper to sing sum songs for the people in celebration of waking up this morning.
Singer-songwriter and artist Roesy may now live in Melbourne Australia, but his journey began in Birr, Ireland, singing along to his father’s records as a boy. From an early age his notebooks of sketches and words documented a fertile imagination and a sensitivity to the images, sights and sounds that surrounded him. Just as innocence inevitably turns to experience, Roesy moved on to writing lyrics which soon turned into songs once he taught himself to play guitar.
Roesy plays us Irish Ballads on a sweet Sunday eve at The Poet!
Peter Baylor plays the songs of Django Reinhardt!
Django Reinhardt was a pineering Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer, widely celebrated as the pioneer of Gypsy jazz (also known as jazz manouche) and one of the most influential guitarists in music history.
Join us as Poet legend Peter Baylor pays tribute to this extraordinary musician!
Girl Friday & The Sepia Tones return to The Poet!
The Dead Reckoners are an Americana duo playing primarily original material, a couple of well worn musicians in a relatively new band!
Start your weekend off right, every Friday night we have Trad Irish Music at The Poet!
The Sweet Souls are a fresh new band lead by poet fave Oscar LaDell! Don't miss this!
Conan Smith - a favourite here at The Poet!
This Irish born, Melbourne based musician brings the greats to life, the perfect way to spend your Saturday afternoon.
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!
Join us for this special Newstead Live Music Festival Special Event!
Featuring: Jimmy Stuch & Charlie McQueen Duo (of The Hootie Tooties) at 4pm
Gaudy, bawdy and borderline boozy, the Tipplers are a Melbourne-based Irish band consisting of guitar, mandolin, fiddle and double bass. Performing a mix of old Irish traditional folk tunes and some newer favourites they are sure to get tongues tippling and toes tapping. The band provides a platform to present a musical culture spanning centuries.
Since forming in mid 2013 the Tipplers have been playing consistently around Melbourne. They’ve played numerous gigs locally, played festivals around Australia and have been featured in an advertising campaign for Black Swan dips.
The music is shrouded in sorrow, sentiment and hilarity, with a reproachful gaze at melancholy and a watchful eye on optimism, much like Mother Ireland herself. Upbeat and down and dirty this is one Irish outfit that won't leave you feeling green.
Stu Thomas plays the songs of Lou Reed!
Kaliopi & the Blues Messengers play The Poet!
KALIOPI and the BLUES MESSENGERS recently celebrated their 1st year anniversary performing St Kilda Blues Festival after officially launching at the Glenmaggie Blues & Roots Festival 2022 to vibrant receptions. In that time, Kaliopi’s band has supported some of our country’s blues icons for Double Trouble Blues Sessions with her team of seasoned musicians.
Kaliopi and the Blues Messengers have honed in on the works of Memphis Minnie as a fundamental mentor and the line of powerful women in blues since pre-WW. They have developed their unique texture using the Double bass like a sousaphone with flavours of early Dixieland piano, weaving clarinet blues licks and Delta Blues guitar over swinging groove shuffles topped with Kaliopi’s powerfully soulful vocals.
Their live shows are energetic and engaging attracting and building a steady following in Melbourne. They are receiving national raving reviews for their live performances and single releases through AMRAP, Australian Musician Neos Kosmos, the latter celebrating their native blues-woman.
Chop, chop.. sign up from 5pm at the bar! Performances kick off at 7pm.
Legends are made at The Drunken Poet Open Mic Night!
Dean Hatani plays the Poet!
Miss Lou is a favourite here at The Drunken Poet!
