The Drunken Poet

Matt Sier
2026-04-23 20:00 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
Matt Sier is a unique singer/songwriter from country Victoria. He loves singing about things he knows, such as growing up in the country, moving to the city, moving from the city, travelling through Australia and overseas, and working in various jobs from offices to shearing sheds. He has performed on streets, at farmers’ markets, pubs and wineries and has also performed his music at festivals such as the Woodford Folk Festival, Yackandandah Folk Festival and Uranquinty Folk Festival. You won’t want to miss this authentic, warm and heartfelt performance!”

El Montez
2026-04-23 21:00 - 23:30
Deep, dark, electric tales from the interior weather of the heart.

Electric-leaning grunge-folk with expansive vocals and intimate storytelling, shaped by travel between bush and city. Australian-Irish artist El Montez first carried a guitar along dusty roads, dry creek beds, and under eagle shadows among the granite of Djaara Country. From those beginnings grew a signature blend of grunge-folk poetry, taking listeners on a journey from Central Victoria to Central Park, New York.

Performing a stripped-back solo set to celebrate the Bandcamp release of Bitch Sonnet (Remastered).
“El Montez: the absolute cure for overdone, turbo-processed, commerciality…HUZZAH!” — chicago_word_brigade

Adam Waldron Trio
2026-04-24 20:30 - 23:30
Journeyman guitarist and singer/songwriter Adam Waldron returns to the Poet for another night of swampy, rockin’ and psychedelic blues explorations.
Joining Adam for the return to the Drunken Poet will be session and touring ace Craig Strain on bass, and Melbourne shuffle-king Neil Richardson on kit.

The Ferriters
2026-04-25 15:00 - 23:30
Maree, Seamus, Rory and Van make up Geelong’s The Ferriters. Named after the last Irish Chieftain Pierce Ferriter, and playing Irish and Aussie trad classics and also Van Walker originals, including The King of the Irish Rebels, a song regarding their revered namesake, The Ferriters are a rare blend of old and new, Irish and Australian, and always a rollicking live experience.

Redfish Bluegrass plays the songs of Dwight Yoakam
2026-04-28 20:00 - 23:30
Redfish Bluegrass plays the songs of Dwight Yoakam!
Dwight Yoakam is famous for his pioneering country music. Popular since the early 1980s, he has recorded more than 21 albums and compilations, charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, and sold more than 25 million records. Yoakam has recorded 5 Billboard #1 Albums, 12 Gold Albums, and 9 Platinum Albums, including the Triple Platinum This Time.
Join us for a night of Country swagger at The Poet!

Kier Stevens
2026-05-01 20:30 - 23:30
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!

No Sleep Till Texas
2026-05-02 21:00 - 23:30
Hailing from Melbourne, Australia and fuelled by a love of classic honky tonk and vintage country music, come No Sleep Till Texas. Paying homage to their own heroes, the likes of Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, Doug Sahm, Dwight Yoakam and Willie Nelson, this Melbourne outfit are throwbacks to when country music was exactly that. Delivering their honest and bare bones take on country classics, combined with their own like-minded original creations, No Sleep Till Texas are all about a good time.
Their success and reputation saw them join illustrious company at 2024’s Out On The Weekend festival, playing alongside top international and local acts. Catch them at the Drunken Poet when they roll their honky tonk roadshow in, on Saturday 23rd August.

The Wobbly Boots
2026-05-03 16:00 - 23:30
The Wobbly Boots are a six-piece Old Time hillbilly mountain music band, bringing high-energy string band sounds and back-porch harmonies to the stage. Led by Charlie Sanford on fiddle and Peter Holmes on banjo, the group also features brothers Tom and Matt Rodd (of Shaky Stills fame) on steel-string guitar and mandolin. Holding down the rhythm section are Andrew La Blanc on double bass and Andy Reid on washboard. It’s boot-stompin’, heart-thumpin’ mountain music the old-fashioned way – raw, rambunctious, and full of soul.

Melbourne Jazz Project
2026-05-03 18:30 - 23:30
Melbourne Jazz Project – featuring James Shortland, Tony Barrett, Matthew Morgan.

Kier Stevens playing the songs of Tex, Don & Charlie
2026-05-05 20:00 - 23:30

Cate Taylor
2026-05-06 20:00 - 23:30
Cate Taylor is an award winning, indie-folk/alt-country singer songwriter from Melbourne who has worked with a swathe of talented musicians including Justin Brady, Matthew Arnold, Nina Rose, Greg Hamilton and Ben Franz.
Cate’s music is rich, natural and grounded in resonant, spacious lyrics with a performance style that is authentic and engaging. Her songs reflect social, personal and environmental themes moving between raw, sparce arrangements to fuller compositions.

Rachel Clark
2026-05-06 21:00 - 23:30
Rachel Clark returns to The Poet for Wine, Whiskey, Women!
Self-taught Singer-Songwriter, Rachel Clark, has crafted a musical journey that blends heartfelt storytelling with a sultry and soulful acoustic folk vibe. With raw honesty, she delves into the depths of the human experience, heartache to humour, offering introspective narratives on loss, love, and the battles we all face.

Waz E James with Andrew Pendlebury
2026-05-08 20:30 - 23:30
Waz E James returns to the Poet!
Join us on Saturday eve for Waz E James, often referred to as ‘Australia’s best kept secret’. Joined by Andrew Pendlebury this week.

MacCrimmin
2026-05-09 15:00 - 23:30
Music from the Irish and Scottish traditions! Jigs, Reels, Polkas and songs all fly from MacCrimmin.

Paper Jane
2026-05-09 21:00 - 23:30
Paper Jane, original Central Victorian Americana/Electric Folk band feature country heartache with tight grooves and uplift harmonies. Paper Jane’s eclectic range of original music reflects their journey and speak with candour about life beyond first loves and happy endings.
Paper Jane has temporarily downsized to a duo of Buck Edwards and Dom Redfern. Bucky is out front on guitar and lead vocals with Dom on acoustic fretless bass (hear thar mwah!) and backing vocals. Paper Jane leaves the sounds exposed for the listener, joyous and evocative.

Tall Dan & The True Stories
2026-05-10 16:00 - 23:30
Tall Dan (Dan MacMinn) plays original gritty love songs and insightful ballads from deep suburban landscapes and the iconic regional beyond. Delivering deep notes and stunning country melodies with a rock edge, accompanied by Paul Jonas on backing vocals and violin, together they weave luscious and compelling music, but it’s the emotional storytelling that connects to audiences.
This magnetic duo promises a rich and satisfying session of folk tales in a modern Australian context.

Rossa Murray
2026-05-10 18:30 - 23:30
Rossa Murray is an Irish alt-folk artist blending melancholic tones, profound lyricism and irresistible hooks into something distinctly his own. With eight years of international touring across the UK, Ireland, Australia and Canada, he’s built a reputation for captivating live shows, including multiple sell-outs in London, Liverpool, Dublin, Belfast and Vancouver.
He’s graced stages at festivals like Secret Garden Party, Cambridge Folk Festival and Night and Day, and supported artists including Ryan McMullan and Hermitage Green. With over 3 million streams and airplay on BBC Introducing and Amazing Radio, Rossa’s new EP Shimmer lands August 1, alongside a headline tour.

Rufous Whistler play the songs of Mandolin Orange / Watchhouse
2026-05-12 20:00 - 23:30
Rufous Whistler play the songs of Mandolin Orange / Watchhouse “10 years of Blindfaller” performing the album front to back.

Grace King
2026-05-13 20:00 - 23:30
Grace King has an eclectic love of music, homemade and raw songwriting.

Connor Moore (NZ)
2026-05-13 21:00 - 23:30
Connor Moore is a prolific singer-songwriter with a voice like honey and lime. She’s a songwriter based in Melbourne who loves people watching and writing music. Connor is intrigued by the way we operate as humans and hope that you can relate or reminisce with her music in a timeless space.

Rory Newman
2026-05-14 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.

Shayne Cook
2026-05-14 21:00 - 23:30
Shayne Cook returns to Drunken Poet on the back of recent releases of his upcoming album. With recent release of single I don’t recognise and Single launches along Australian East Coast. A true natural fit for the venue with influences a many adorning the walls of The Drunken Poet, shayne is known for timeless songwriting and vocal presence.

Joined by friend and collaborator Sean Frayne – an Irishman himself well known to the Poet who brings an eclectic mix of pop / folk .

Mr. Alford
2026-05-15 20:30 - 2026-05-22 23:30
Mr. Alford, a country song writer from Melbourne, covers many themes and aspects of country music from traditional to modern bluegrass. At this stage he has 5 released albums with a new one on the way. It’s going to be a hoot this one!

Kid James
2026-05-16 21:00 - 23:30
‘Kid’ James (James Schembri) is the new kid on the block in the Melbourne Rockabilly scene.
A nineteen-year-old singer/songwriter and guitarist that is performing authentic Rockabilly tunes like it was done by teenagers in the 50’s!
Be sure to catch ‘Kid’ James at The Drunken Poet.
Come on down for a night of wild and authentic rockabilly music!

The Backyard Banjo Club
2026-05-17 16:00 - 23:30
The Backyard Banjo Club is a four-piece trad-jazz/bluegrass bonanza. Think Tom Waits meets Django Reinhardt and plays a jazz cover of a Radiohead tune. High energy up-tempo jazz and the occasional sultry ballad, good times guaranteed.

The Otago Players play the songs of BB King
2026-05-19 20:00 - 23:30
The Otago Players play the songs of BB King!

Candice Alisha
2026-05-20 21:00 - 23:30
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.

The Northwest Grifters
2026-05-22 20:30 - 23:30
Come down for a great Friday night of entertainment as the Northwest Grifters make their debut at the Drunken Poet. The NWG hurl their heart & soul in your face and get you rocking on the dancefloor before you can say ‘Americana’. A 5-piece band featuring twanging & acoustic guitars, harmonica, accordion, keyboards and a sweet rhythm section. Fronted by a displaced Canadian (#Canadiana) ably supported by his Australian brothers. Songwriting at its heartfelt and honest best. The sets are complimented with some choice covers to get you dancing or at least tapping your toes! Currently recording their debut album for release in early 2026.

Adam Waldron Trio
2026-05-23 21:00 - 23:30
Swampy, twangy, rockin’ and sometimes psychedelic blues trio led by guitarist/singer Adam Waldron

El Rollo
2026-05-24 16:00 - 23:30
Ride the sonic wave with El Rollo at The Drunken Poet on Sunday May 24. This Bass Coast outfit throws surf music into the blender and cranks the heat, serving up a scorching, guitar-drenched mix with a twist of swamp and psychedelia. Drawing inspiration from surf bands across the globe—from Sweden to Venezuela to Italy—El Rollo’s original tunes fuse Balkan, Middle Eastern, Latin and Californian rhythms into a reverb-soaked brew that’s impossible to sit still to. Toss in some swinging ’60s psychedelic pop from Nancy Sinatra and Sonny & Cher, and you’ve got the perfect soundtrack for a hip Sunday session. Catch the wave early—this one’s guaranteed to move your head and feet.
