The Drunken Poet

Gallie
2024-11-03 18:30 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
Gallie, the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter was born in Dublin city, Ireland, in the seventies.
Picking up guitar in his early teens, helped him navigate ‘the streets’, something he now reflects on as having provided him with a wealth of material for songs and stories that he continues to draw from.
Gallie’s music is captivating from the get-go; his performance can move from a lonesome whistling entrance sounding like a miner in the Klondike, through to a wild folk guitar crescendo, and gorgeous baritone voice giving the grittiest performance of his life.

Daniel Watkins & Justin Vilchez
2024-11-08 20:00 - 23:30
Daniel Watkins & Justin Vilchez are live at The Poet.

Daniel Watkins & Justin Vilchez are the Melbourne arm of the group High Street Drifters and have recently been featured in bluegrass festivals throughout Victoria and South Australia.

These guys are more than great pickers. Their song choice and harmonies brings in listeners who have never heard bluegrass with a curious interest and an unforgettable night.

Stu Thomas plays the songs of Tom Waits
2024-11-12 20:00 - 23:30
Stu Thomas – international man of mystery and musical maverick.
He met Tom Waits in a dream, where Tom said to him: “You’re going the right way…”

Stu has been consulting with Mr Waits via ouija board or crystal ball ever since. On occasion, they meet on the astral plane in a bullet train where they share small trays of chicken-fish and green chartreuse.

Via a system of smoke signals and flying trout, they share brain jewels of inspiration. They also co-own a timeshare umbrella in Micronesia.

Stu Thomas plays Tom Waits on Tuesday 12th Nov at The Drunken Poet. Don’t miss it or Medusa will stone you silly.

Rubita
2024-11-13 21:00 - 23:30
Rubita is coming back to the Drunken Poet with a new line up of songs and guitar pedals. She’ll be playing some of her recent Rubita compositions, along with some new songs with jazz guitar chords and soft, catchy melodies. Prepare for a heartwarming night with Rubita!

Jesse Lawrance
2024-11-14 21:00 - 23:30
Jesse Lawrance returns to the Poet!
Jesse is a seasoned singer-songwriter hailing from Castlemaine, Victoria.
With roots firmly planted in the Texas songwriter tradition and a deep appreciation for country and Americana genres, Jesse crafts songs that are gritty and poetic.
His lyrics combine powerful imagery with deft story-telling to create moving vignettes from the raw materials of life.

Niamh and Tiarnan
2024-11-17 18:30
Tiarnán Smyth is a guitarist and singer who has been playing traditional music since the age of 7. He is a former student of the Armagh Pipers Club and his playing is inspired by the musical style from the region of South Ulster.
From a musical family, Tiarnán performed regularly as a duo with his sister Méabh, and the pair released a self-titled EP in 2017. In the same year, they were semi-finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Musician of the Year award.
He has played all over Ireland, Scotland, France and Italy with various ensembles.
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Niamh Maguire is a fiddle player and singer from Monaghan and has had the privilege of growing up in the Irish Traditional music community from a very young age. Her style is influenced by the playing of fiddle players from South Ulster.
She has played with various ensembles for weddings and gigs, many of such with her two brothers. She competed in the Fleadh for many years and has a number of Ulster titles.
Niamh and Tiarnán played together for years with the Armagh Pipers club with whom they travelled to Scotland for gigs.
They play weekly for fun in sessions in Melbourne with friends and love the Irish community in Melbourne.

Oscar LaDell Band play the songs of Freddie King
2024-11-19 20:00 - 23:30
Oscar LaDell Band play the songs of Freddie King!
Freddie King, known as “The Texas Cannonball,” was a legendary blues guitarist and singer whose electrifying style influenced generations. Merging Texas and Chicago blues, his powerful voice and stinging guitar solos defined hits like “Hide Away” and “Have You Ever Loved a Woman.” A true blues icon.

Ash King
2024-11-22 20:30 - 23:30
Ash King is a blues & roots singer-songwriter from Healesville. With his deep powerful voice and funky guitar work, he balances soulful feel and raw energy. As a solo acoustic artist and frontman of blues-rock band Smoke Stack Rhino, he has taken his high-energy live show around Australia. Ash is an engaging storyteller, an electrifying performer, and a fresh voice in Australian blues & roots.

Presley Davis Jr
2024-11-23 21:00 - 23:30
Presley Davis Jr. released 3 different albums in 3 different genres this year. If you like Soul, Country, or even New Orleans Jazz he has it covered. Justin Yap plays in the blues band “Rambal” which combines the sounds of soul, funk and blues with incredible harmonies. Together Presley and Justin have put a duo together that spans the many styles between them. Featuring the warm, rich vocals of Presley Davis Jr. and the fantastic guitar world of Justin yap their duo performances are exciting audiences across Victoria. Decades of performance experience and a deft touch from each artist makes this show a must see.

Kier Stevens plays the songs of Nick Lowe
2024-11-26 20:00 - 23:30
Get ready for another incredible Tribute Tuesday at The Drunken Poet!
This week, Kier Stevens takes the stage to celebrate the legendary Nick Lowe.
Known for his melodic craftsmanship and witty lyrics, Lowe’s influence on British rock and power pop has been monumental. Join us as Stevens dives into Lowe’s timeless repertoire, bringing beloved hits and deep cuts to life with his unique style and passion.
Don’t miss this intimate night of classic tunes, cozy atmosphere, and pints flowing at Melbourne’s iconic Irish pub.

Kye Arnot
2024-11-28 21:00 - 23:30
Kye Arnot is a 19 year old Singer-Songwriter living in the Yarra Valley. He found his love for music during lockdown, where he taught himself how to play guitar and sing, and used it as a way to turn his poetry into song.
Kye is new to the Melbourne music scene, and can’t wait to share his stories to The Drunken Poet crowd through his music.

The Treblettes play the songs of The Andrew Sisters
2024-12-03 20:00 - 23:30
The Treblettes are a sassy vocal trio performing iconic songs from The Andrew Sisters!

Dakota East
2024-12-04 20:00 - 23:30
Earnest and soulful, Country/Indie artist Dakota East travels both on a lonesome mountain dirt road and an inner city street.
“I was surrounded by Country, Folk & Blues music for as long as I can remember,” says East of her musical upbringing.
“Mum would have Bonnie Raitt & Shania Twain playing around the house. Dad being Canadian loved North American folk singers like Neil Young, John Denver and Joni Mitchell. Growing up in a log cabin on a small island in the middle of a lake in Ontario Canada, the music married with the scenery so well and was the perfect soundtrack to my childhood. As I’ve gotten older I’ve been influenced by so much other music but the essence of pure, raw and unrefined musical emotion has always stayed strong within me and is what I try to evoke as an artist.”
2017 saw East follow her ears and move to Melbourne where she has established herself as a regular performer amongst Victoria’s most loved music venues and has opened for Australian music legends Jon Stevens, Travis Collins, Wendy Matthews & Jo Camilleri and The Black Sorrows.

The Coastalaires
2024-12-08 16:00 - 23:30
The Coastalaires play Southern American music.
The trio of Jeremy Hanley (vocals, electric guitar), Leigh McDowell (electric bass), and Clifford Booth (drums), play compelling arrangements of ‘grown-up’ soul, country and R&B classics from the repertoires of the song centers of the South: Texas, New Orleans, Memphis, Muscle Shoals and Nashville

Van Walker play the songs of The Kinks
2024-12-10 20:00 - 23:30
Join us at The Drunken Poet for a night dedicated to the legendary sounds of The Kinks, as Van Walker takes the stage to bring these classic tunes to life! Known for his unique storytelling and heartfelt performances, Van Walker is ready to dive into the gritty, raw, and infectious energy that made The Kinks iconic.

khoy & Samara Cullen
2024-12-12 20:00 - 23:30
Two very familiar; sad and squishy; faces of the local folk punk scene are taking the double slot at the Drunken Poet Thursday 12th December. For a night of melancholic folk and sad singalongs. 8-10pm.

Samara Cullen and khoy have been pals for ages and you may have seen them around when the Stragglers, the Dead Peasants or Whiskey Dram were on the bill.

While Samara Cullen is an old stand of the Drunken Poet Stage, we are bloody delighted to introduce you to khoy, who after years of being a little band bandit, is stepping into the spotlight. You’ll love them!!

There will be haunting melodies, a couple of shared songs, feelings, sass and a healthy dose of self deprecating humour.

It’ll be delightful!!

Peter Baylor plays the songs of Django Reinhardt
2024-12-17 20:00 - 23:30
Peter Baylor dives into the timeless songs of Django Reinhardt. Known for his masterful guitar work, Reinhardt brought the world of jazz to life with his captivating gypsy swing, and Peter Baylor is just the one to carry on that magic! Expect soulful melodies, impeccable guitar skill, and the kind of atmosphere that only The Poet can deliver.

Christmas Eve!
2024-12-24 12:00 - 23:30

Niamh & Shane
2025-01-01 18:30 - 23:30

The Ceili Ozstars
2025-01-04 15:00 - 23:30
SPECIAL SHOW!
The Ceili Ozstars, a talented Irish trio comprised of brothers Danny & Bryan Murphy and local legend Liam Davis. These lads are sure to have the pub tapping along to their lively renditions of traditional Irish tunes and songs.

Good Guy Hank play the songs of Hank Williams
2025-01-07 20:00 - 23:30
Good Guy Hank play the songs of Hank Williams!

The Hornets play the songs of Howlin Wolf and Willie Dixon
2025-01-14 20:00 - 23:30
Wolf and Willie aka Louis Burstin guitar, Bruce Haymes keys, Chris Tabone drums and Craig Horne vocals and guitar, play the dirty down home blues of Howlin Wolf and Willie Dixon. That’s songs like I’m Ready, The Same Thing, Hoochie Coochie Man, 300 Pounds, Little Red Rooster, Evil, Killin’ Floor and more, see you at The Drunken Poet in the New Year…too good to miss

Hey Gringo!
2025-01-18 21:00 - 23:30
Daryl Roberts & Hey Gringo have performed across Oz and internationally for over 30 years with their fun tongue in cheek, catchy blues, funky soul and roots music with choice favourites to get the audience involved in the vibe.
Hey Gringo have just released their 8th album “Keep On Moving” of original songs together with previous albums have charted up to No 2 on The Oz Blues & Roots Airplay Charts. Daryl also plays keyboard with Oz legends Spectrum, performed and written songs with renown Oz legends Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool/Modo Rock), American Blues Legend Jimmy Witherspoon and performed internationally from Amsterdam to New Orleans and Tokyo to Clarkesdale Mississippi.

Bill Barber plays the songs of Drive By Truckers
2025-01-21 20:00 - 23:30

Romaan
2025-01-23 20:00 - 23:30
Romaan has always been a storyteller. Sharing her stories through an indie-folk / blues pop influence originally from Meajin, Brisbane, she ventured down to Narrm, Melbourne mid-2023 to pursue a career in Music.

She seeks to interpret her own mind, mental health and process the world. Joined only with her acoustic guitar and raw vocals, Romaan curates an experience that invites those to nestle in and enjoy her uniquely intimate melodies.

Rory Newman plays the songs of James Taylor
2025-01-28 20:00 - 23:30
Rory Newman plays the songs of James Taylor.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering his iconic melodies, Rory’s heartfelt renditions will transport you straight to the soul-soothing sounds of JT.

The Stragglers
2025-01-29 20:00 - 23:30
The Stragglers are a 3 piece all female, bastard-bluegrass band.
Traditional instrumentation with non-traditional themes. The Stragglers have mastered the art of shit talking to 3 chords. Not for the feint-hearted, but maybe for the broken and definitely for the hungover. .

Teresa Dixon
2025-01-29 21:00 - 23:30
Teresa Dixon is a Tasmanian based singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist

Maggie Carty
2025-02-01 15:00 - 23:30
Maggie Carty has joined forces with Máirtín Staunton, Rhys Crimmin, Gerry McKeagueand Thomas Botting to form the Maggie Carty band. The group performs a mix of traditional Irish tunes and folk songs with three-part harmonies and jazz undertones alongside didgeridoo and percussion. On stage the group have a natural ease with each other, and their enjoyment and sense of fun is palpable and infectious!

The Strayaways Duo - Alex & Holly
2025-02-02 18:30 - 23:30
The Strayaways Duo Alex (fiddle) & Holly (guitar) are a Celtic folk duo based in Melbourne playing your favourite Irish jigs, reels & ballads. The music ranges from joyously fast and crazy to slow and heartrendingly melancholic, with calm and sober melodies played at a reasonable pace also.
