The Drunken Poet

Bag O'Nails play the songs of Gary Moore
2024-07-16 20:00 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
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.

The Leigh Sloggett Trio
2024-07-14 16:00 - 23:30
Following the success of his fourth album ‘Wait For the Change’ reaching No.1 position on the U.S. based ‘Roots Report Top 50 Australian Album Chart’, Leigh Sloggett will be bringing his trio to the Drunken Poet on Sunday July 14 from 4-6pm. Described by – Mark S. Tucker from The Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange, U.S.A. as “…a letter perfect blend of folk and blues, one of the best I’ve ever heard”, Leigh’s earthy songs and commanding style extend beyond the diverse foundations of blues and folk and are brought together with searing roots guitar, lap slide, double bass and drums.

Hey Gringo!
2024-07-13 21:00 - 23:30
Renown FuNkY Groove Injected Blues & Roots, Hey Gringo are no strangers to the Drunken Poet with their tongue in cheek original songs from their 7 charting albums and more. Formed by Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Daryl Roberts accompanied by some of Melbourne’s most respected musicians over the years, so you just never know who may be in the line-up on the night, but you will always be in for a good time.
Welcome back to The Poet!

Benjamin Smith
2024-07-12 20:30 - 23:30

Tom Redwood
2024-07-11 20:00 - 23:30
Tom Redwood is an Australian songwriter and performer. Tom’s unique and lyrical songs have received praise from music critics and a number of esteemed Australian musicians. Tom has written and recorded five albums and one EP all released through Walking Bird Records. “Tom is the unreal deal” -Matt Walker (Cruel Sea, Tex Perkins).

Duncan Phillips plays the songs of Gram Parsons
2024-07-09 20:00 - 23:30

The Incident
2024-07-07 18:30 - 23:30

BackBeat Play Early Beatles
2024-07-02 20:00 - 23:30
BackBeat play the songs of the early Beatles!
Sixty years ago The Beatles performed in Melbourne at Festival Hall. Just a few weeks later they released their first movie, A Hard Day’s Night. For those of you that missed these fun events back in the day! BackBeat will be playing the set list as performed by The Beatles during their Melbourne performance as well as other fab early Beatles numbers from their rocking, sweaty Hamburg & Cavern club days. BackBeat are looking forward to their debut gig at the Drunken Poet – it’s sure to be one hell of a 60’s shindig!

The Last Hotel
2024-06-29 21:00 - 23:30

Kraken
2024-06-29 15:00 - 23:30
Kraken is back at The Poet – COME ALONG for a Kraken singalong!

Rhyece O'Neil
2024-06-27 20:00 - 23:30
Rhyece O’Neill is a songwriter, poet & novelist born on Kurnai country in South Gipplasnd, Victoria, Australia. He grew up on the banks of the Murray River on Yorta Yorta country in North-East Victoria.
Currently he roams the Australian outback in a 79′ Valiant with his best mate the ‘Black Crow Kelpie’ Sonny.

Misty (8pm) & Maja (9pm)
2024-06-26 21:00 - 23:30
Thought- provoking and deeply-personal, Maja’s songs are vulnerable and relatable, displaying a depth and maturity far beyond her age. Looking to the past for inspiration, her songs possess a sound quality and nostalgia that her audiences know so well, echoing soul, blues and folk music. Her diverse ranges of styles come to highlight her fierce vocal performance and direct song-writing style, channeling the likes of Otis Redding, Clairy Browne and the Banging Rackettes, Laura Marling and Fiona Apple.

Samara Cullen
2024-06-26 20:00 - 23:30
Samara Cullen is returning to the Drunken Poet stage after a stint living and playing in Tassie and beyond. One third of the Stragglers, she will be accompanied with the ex-Fremantle angel, Racoo Charles on violin.
“Cullen’s music combines raw and honest melancholic poetry which touches emotions and nerves you never knew you had. Her captivating live shows and fragile song arrangements make you feel like everything could diminish and turn to a puddle of tears at any given moment, a true wordsmith.”
This duo’s debut performance may be a rare one, and not to be missed.

Andlit
2024-06-23 18:30 - 23:30
Andlit is a violin/whistle and guitar folk duo consisting of two brothers.
The duo based in Melbourne, first discovered their passion for the Irish and Celtic music scene playing violin at the Lake School in Koroit. Since then, they have gone on to explore both folk and classical music. In their free time, they enjoy playing and composing folk music together.

NJ Rijs plays the songs of Paul Kelly
2024-06-18 20:00 - 23:30

Suzie So Blue & Kier Stevens
2024-06-13 20:00 - 23:30
Drunken Poet hosts Suzie So Blue and Kier Stevens for a solo set each on Thursday 13th June. Dark folk for tenor guitar and bung blues for dobro is the perfect pairing for your pint of Guinness.

SUZIE SO BLUE AT 8PM: Suzie So Blue is a Melbourne-based singer songwriter who explores love and life with four strings and the truth. Blending the essence of blues into the world of country, Suzie So Blue’s hypnotic tenor guitar style and soulful vocals resonate with a tapestry of Americana and dark folk.

KIER STEVENS AT 9PM: Nestled halfway between the blues rock bombast of Ash Grunwald and the genre-mixing folk-roots wizardry of Jeff Lang, Australian steel guitarist KIER STEVENS knits together a raucous weave of hurtful hollering and gutsy guitar work that can take you from old-timey acoustic blues sounds, screaming steel solos, bung ballads, haunting ambient improvisation, and the odd choice Australian cover.

Sometimes sober listeners have variously described his original compositions as bung blues, dirty swamp rock, and even psychedelic bluegrass. KIER STEVENS is a regular fixture on the Melbourne music scene writing and performing with blues band DOGGEREL, acoustic folk-noir duo COME HEAVY SLEEP, nasty spacejazz improvisors THICKEN, and more!

Girl Friday and the Sepia Tones
2024-06-12 20:00 - 23:30
Girl Friday’s rich, soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics are drenched in the simplicity of a bygone era

Daniel Watkins, Justin Vilchez and Jim Taylor play the songs of Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt
2024-06-11 20:00 - 23:30

Duncan Phillips
2024-06-08 21:00 - 23:30
Born on a rock straddling the North Sea and the North Atlantic known as the Shetland Islands Duncan Phillips may be an unlikely candidate for a country singer songwriter. But having the good fortune to grow up on a musical diet of country, folk and rock and roll he knew he wanted to write his own songs from an early age.
He picked up his first guitar aged eight and by fourteen was playing local gigs and festivals. Influenced by the likes of Tom Petty, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen, Duncan’s take on the country/rock genre has given him success on the Melbourne live music scene, as well as national radio stations PBS and 3RRR. Having had the honour of supporting both Steve Earle and the late Justin Townes Earle, Duncan undoubtably has what it takes to stand alongside the best in Americana. Having enjoyed four trips to the Tamworth Country Music Festival his performances have brought new opportunities his way, notably playing The Toyota Park Stage at this year’s festival for Country Rocks. Other recent appearances of note have been the Deniliquin Festival on the Plains, Cronulla Blues & Roots Festival and The Blue Mountains Blues & Roots Festival.
Duncan’s first album ‘The Wilderness’ was released in 2016 and he has kept himself busy on the live circuit and with regular single releases ever since. His most recent album ‘Home on a Saturday Night’ was released last year to a sold-out Memo Music Hall and is available wherever you listen to music, however if you want the real thing you’ll have to check him out at a live show.

Duplicity play the songs of Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac
2024-06-04 20:00 - 23:30
Join us at The Drunken Poet for an unforgettable night where we perform the best songs of Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac, all brought to life by Duplicity!

Sue Kidd and Brendan Canty, the dynamic duo, will transport you through classics like “Sara,” “Leather and Lace,” “Landslide,” “Edge of Seventeen,” and the poignant “Silver Springs.”
With knockout vocals, mesmerising percussion, and their signature fusion of guitar and ukulele, Duplicity promises an intimate Stevie Nicks & Fleetwood Mac tribute like no other.
Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of Stevie’s timeless tunes.

The Poet Shanty Club
2024-06-02 18:30 - 23:30

Zoe Mortella
2024-05-29 21:00 - 23:30
Zoe Mortella is a Melbourne based Melbourne singer, song writer, loop musician whose music is reflected in her mixed background. Belonging to both the old world of Italy and the new world of Australia, she has created her own distinct style by fusing influences such as Nu Jazz, Trip Hop, Electronic, Acoustic and Soul.
Her loops and mashup covers as well as her original material, turn her live performances into a new experience each time.

David Mather (The Glorious)
2024-05-24 20:30 - 23:30

Mick Daley
2024-05-23 21:00 - 23:30
Mick is founding member of northern NSW country rock and roll outfit The Re-Mains, who from 2000 to present have toured every rodeo and inner city dive in Australia, made three massive tours of Canada and a successful run through Europe.
He’s frontman of Mick Daleys Corporate Raiders, who play all over rural Victoria, South Australia and Melbourne and have toured as far afield as the North Coast National in the Northern Rivers of NSW. They’re releasing a vinyl single post-lockdown and putting the finishing touches to an album begun pre-lockdown.
Mick’s in town recording with the Raiders and a new solo album. His last, Tiny Violins was produced and played on by Matt Walker (Lost Ragas, Tex Perkins) and his new record revels in the same Dylanesque lyricism and arcane Australiana.

Rory Newman plays the songs of Nick Drake
2024-05-21 20:00 - 23:30
Rory Newman is a singer, songwriter and guitarist based in Naarm/Melbourne. Drawing from a wide array of influences including folk, blues and jazz, he blends intricate fingerstyle guitar and a rich baritone voice to create a vivid tapestry of sound.
Nick Drake was an English singer/songwriter active during the late 60s and early 70s. Though under-appreciated during his short lifetime, he went on to achieve cult status in the decades following his death. Known for his gentle, intimate vocals, unique guitar style and use of alternate tunings, Drake’s haunting songs of love, longing and isolation have come to be celebrated by musicians and music fans alike.

Miss Jones
2024-05-15 20:00 - 23:30
ORIGINAL JAZZY BLUES AND URBAN SWING TUNES TO GET YOUR TOES A-TAPPIN’ AND YOUR HEART STRINGS A-PULLIN’.

Throw in some folk and grunge influences and a powerful set of lungs and you have a collection of songs that take you on a journey of personal experience and life’s little adventures.
Writing cheeky lyrics, tales of adventures abroad, of love and of heartbreak all captured in sultry tones, Miss Jones intimately shares her inner landscapes. With decades of performing experience, she brings a confidence and maturity to her live shows.

The Drunken Poet Shanty Club
2024-05-12 18:30 - 23:30
Join us for The Drunken Poet Shanty Club! All welcome.

Tim Richards
2024-05-09 21:00 - 23:30
Tim Richards a solo musician from Northern Victoria who has been playing shows for 8 years around Australia will be coming down to Melbourne. Playing originals and covering songs from a mix of genres and eras, He provides entertaining night for you to enjoy yourself.

Sascha Klave
2024-05-09 20:00 - 23:30
‘Songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist Sascha Klave (of two piece rock and roll outfit Clap Hands) is eagerly making his return to the Drunken Poet; this time in solo mode. Featured favourites, new original material and some unexpected new covers will all be offered up by Sascha on this swell eve.
Come for the uptempo and raggedy tunes, the emotive and moody jams and the usual Poet shenanigans’

Renee Alison
2024-05-08 20:00 - 23:30
Renee Alison is a folk singer-songwriter based in Melbourne, Australia (always was, always will be Wurundjeri land). Renee’s songs speak to life, love, freedom, healing, longing, grief and everything in between. Writing these songs was key to stepping into her own full expression as a person and a woman and she is excited to share this expression with the wider world after so many years of singing only behind closed doors and walls.
