The Drunken Poet

Ash King
2024-11-22 20:30 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
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.

Thomas Kendle plays the songs of Flatt and Scruggs
2025-02-04 20:00 - 23:30
Flatt and Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys did much to popularize bluegrass music. Their sound became widely recognized in the 1960s through their recording of “The Ballad of Jed Clampett,” the theme for the network television show The Beverly Hillbillies.
Both Flatt and Scruggs grew up in rural farm homes immersed in rich musical traditions. Both worked in textile mills before becoming full-time musicians. Flatt, who left school at the age of twelve and married at the age of seventeen, began his radio career in 1939 and worked in several bands, including that of Charlie Monroe and his Kentucky Partners, with whom, in 1943, he sang tenor and played guitar and mandolin. In 1945, Flatt was hired as guitarist and lead singer in Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys.

Boogie Brothers
2025-02-07 20:30 - 23:30

Dan Webster and Emily Lawler (UK)
2025-02-09 16:00 - 2026-02-08 23:30
UK festival favourites Dan and Emily bring to the stage a unique blend of English folk music fused with country/Americana.
An energising combination of distinctive warm and powerful vocals and guitar interlaced with a dexterous meld of celtic- and country- style fiddling and beautiful harmonies mesmerises a multi-genre audience.

Andy Baylor plays the Bob Dylans Country songs
2025-02-11 20:00 - 23:30

Les Thomas
2025-02-13 20:00 - 23:30
Les Thomas is a country-folk singer-songwriter and storyteller. With guitar, voice and emotional authenticity, he connects with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Les draws on inspiring histories of song, grassroots resistance and the poetry of everyday life, listeners are left with fresh ideas and uplifted spirits.

Jean-Claud Sam-Dan
2025-02-15 21:00 - 23:30
Jean–Claud Sam–Dan are back at The Poet!
Jean-Claude Sam-Dan is a duo comprising Sam Young and Dan Banks.Guitars, Banjos, Hand Drums and eclectic song choices are backed by soaring harmonies and a hilarious name.

Greg Champion with Pete Fidler
2025-02-16 16:00 - 23:30
This pair is part of Melbourne’s Musical Furniture. Both have decades-long histories in this town.
Champs fronted The Fabulaires in the 80s, & still in the 80s, played in Young Homebuyers & Maniac Rockers From Hell.
In the noughties Greg formed Useful Members of Society, with Daddy Cool’s Wayne Duncan & Ross Hannaford.
Maybe best-known for 41 years with radio’s Coodabeen Champions.
Pete Fidler is sideman to the stars. A virtuoso on lap steel, dobro, mandolin, and guitar too.
In heavy demand to play bluegrass, or Hank Williams shows. They’ll loosen up at the Poet.
