Thomas Rocky
2026-07-23 20:00 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
Thomas Rocky is a Melbourne based songwriter whose songs drift between intimate folk, piano ballads, and storytelling. Influenced from artists such as Leonard Cohen and Nick Cave, his live performances are raw and deeply personal. With a focus on lyricism, atmosphere, and emotion, Thomas aims to create a sense of intimacy only music can manifest. At The Drunken Poet, he’ll be playing a stripped back set of original songs, sharing stories and music in one of Melbournes most loved rooms for folk music.

Beth and Ted
2026-07-23 21:00 - 23:30
Introducing the dynamic duo, Bethany Graf and Ted Coutts, now based in Melbourne, Australia. Formerly of the rock band Atomica, Beth and Ted bring a unique blend of powerful vocals, rich harmonies, and engaging musicianship to every performance.
Drawing inspiration from artists such as Paramore, Oasis, Royel Otis, The Cranberries and Fleetwood Mac, their live shows feature a diverse mix of crowd-favourite classics, modern hits, and heartfelt ballads, alongside original music that showcases their distinctive sound.
Whether performing intimate acoustic sets or energetic sing-along favourites, Beth and Ted create a warm and memorable atmosphere that connects with audiences of all ages. They are thrilled to be performing at The Drunken Poet and look forward to sharing an unforgettable evening of live music with you.

The Pheasantry
2026-07-25 21:00 - 23:30
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!

Roz Girvan
2026-07-26 16:00 - 23:30
A country-soul songwriter with a talent for finding the extraordinary in the everyday, Roz Girvan has been part of Melbourne’s roots music community for many years.

The Twa Corbies
2026-07-26 18:30 - 23:30
The Twa Corbies are a Victorian based two-piece that love to share the fun, exciting, and occasionally lamenting sounds and stories of Celtic folk music.
Enjoyable to all who love tunes about rebellion, romance and of course a night on the good stuff.

Victor Stranges plays the songs of Stiff Little Fingers
2026-07-28 20:00 - 23:30
Victor Stranges returns to the songs that shaped him with Get Stiffed – a rare, one-night-only dive into the catalogue of Stiff Little Fingers, the Irish punk band whose songs defined a generation. As a teenage drummer in Melbourne’s underground ’80s band Drunk ’n’ Disorderly, Stranges cut his teeth on this material across the pub circuit. Now, 37 years on, he brings them back reinterpreted solo, with weight and perspective. Expect material from the band’s early run through their first split in 1983, spanning Inflammable Material (1979), Nobody’s Heroes (1980), Go For It (1981) and Now Then… (1982). Tuesday 28 July, 8:00pm at The Drunken Poet.

The Blow Out
2026-07-31 20:30 - 23:30
Authentic and original blues & roots from the bohemia of the South.
Salty Trevarthen (Vox & Harmonica, Guitar) leads the band with Morgan Klose (Guitar), Peter Beulke (Bass) and Peter Hodges (Drums) – some of the finest players in the blues/roots genre. Acid blues guitar, jazz influenced drumming, rock solid bass. Butterfield inspired electric harp – Great blues, style and attitude to burn.

Rhythm Kitchen
2026-08-01 15:00 - 23:30
Rhythm Kitchen are bringing their infectious tunes, foot stomping energy and good times to The Poet!

The Get Down Gang
2026-08-01 21:00 - 23:30
The Get Down Gang are back, and they’re bringing the good vibes to The Drunken Poet!
Serving up a spicy stew of funk, soul, and reggae, these groove merchants can turn any frown upside down. After time spent on other projects, the original crew have reunited with fresh energy, new tunes, and a passion for playing that’s impossible to resist.
Come on down, sink a pint, and let your troubles fade out of sight.

Dave Steel
2026-08-02 16:00 - 23:30
The legendary Dave Steel (ex WPA, Archie Roach Band, etc etc) returns to the Drunken Poet after a long absence….on Sunday August 2nd come along and hear Dave play some old tunes, a few from his latest release ‘Wooden Music’ and a couple of new ones, mixed up with a little blues and slide guitar….stories and songs from a lifetime at the coalface!
See you around 4pm for a couple of poetic sets!

The Maggie Carty Band
2026-08-02 18:30 - 23:30
The Maggie Carty Band play brilliant Irish music, amazing vocals, try not to tap your feet!
Rounding off your Sunday evening afternoon just right with Poet favorites!

THE PRAIRIE OYSTERS playing the songs of THE SMITHEREENS!
2026-08-04 20:00 - 23:30
DAVE MILES and MICK EVANS (from THE PRAIRIE OYSTERS) present the songs of the best
band you’ve never heard of: THE SMITHEREENS.
It took some hard decisions to trim the set down when you have 7 albums of masterful power pop to choose from. But they have curated a 1 hour goldmine of great and memorable songs, from the achingly beautiful “CIGARETTE” to the stomping “TOP OF THE POPS”.
In an intimate “unplugged” setting, these songs will be stripped back to their essence to get a long- delayed hearing by Mick (drums, percussion and vocals) and Dave (guitar, harmonica and vocals).

Yolanda Ingley II Trio
2026-08-05 20:00 - 23:30
There’s a defining old world charm to Melbourne songstress Yolanda Ingley II – equally wielding smoky vocals and impassioned heart, Yolanda’s songs dip into soul, blues and jazz with inherent sophistication that draw to mind the greats of eras passed.
Yolanda is playing two sets at The Poet from 8-10pm.

Open Mic Night!
2026-08-06 17:00 - 23:30
Chop, chop.. sign up from 5pm at the bar! Performances kick off at 7pm.
Legends are made at The Drunken Poet Open Mic Night!

Traditional Irish Music Session
2026-08-07 18:00 - 23:30
Every Friday Night at The Poet!

Ash King
2026-08-07 20:30 - 23:30
Ash King is a blues & roots singer-songwriter from Healesville in Victoria.
With his deep powerful voice and funky guitar work, he balances soulful feel and raw energy. Think John Butler meets Johnny Cash at a BBQ and you’re not far off. As a solo acoustic artist and frontman of blues-rock band Smoke Stack Rhino, Ash has taken his high-energy live show around Australia, often having too much fun dancing across the stage with his guitar that he forgets to sing the next verse.
Over the past year Ash has been recording his debut album. His songs have been described as uplifting, honest, thoughtful and fun. ‘I like the saying that “you don’t write the song, the song writes you”’. Ash is an original storyteller, an electrifying performer, and a fresh voice in Australian blues & roots.

Ruairí Flynn
2026-08-08 15:00 - 23:30
Ruairí Flynn from the small village of Graiguenamanagh, Co.Kilkenny has been gigging in pubs and bars since the age of 18 with a mix of Irish traditional and folk songs.
This has led to Ruairí playing all across Ireland and opening for some legendary acts such as Paddy Casey and The 4 of Us.
Not to be missed!!

Billy Cart Crash
2026-08-08 21:00 - 23:30
Billy Cart Crash are a spirited three-piece band from Melbourne’s northern suburbs, now coming to the big smoke at The Drunken Poet!
They blend rockabilly, jump blues, swing, and swamp into a sound that’s uniquely their own.
With a hard-hitting slap double bass and high-octane guitar solos, their original music invites listeners to dance, unwind, or rock out. Their songs pay homage to traditional rockabilly themes of “fast cars, girls n bars”, using these concepts as playful metaphors for the modern world.
At The Drunken Poet in June, Billy Cart Crash will mix rockabilly roots and greaser flair with a contemporary feel and sound for a two set show!

Nick Charles
2026-08-09 16:00 - 23:00
Nick Charles is known internationally as “Australia’s virtuoso of acoustic roots and blues”. His 35+ year career has seen him accumulate every conceivable accolade including Port Fairy Artist of the Year and The AGE Blues album of the year.
He’s toured with artists including John Hammond, Guy Clarke, Ralph McTell, Robyn Ford and BB King touring the US 13 times in recent years and releasing over 20 albums worldwide.
This is dazzling fingerpicking roots magic and a lifetime’s stories and songs from the world’s musical highways. In the words of Bruce Elder from the Sydney Morning Herald “he plays guitar like an angel!”

The Galway Rovers
2026-08-09 18:30 - 23:30
Ciaran Boyle and Declan Simpson have joined together as THE GALWAY ROVERS!
Spend your Sunday evening at The Poet with these legends!

Brittle Sun & Peter O'Shea play the songs of Velvet Underground
2026-08-11 20:00 - 23:30
Brittle Sun & Peter O’Shea play the songs of Velvet Underground

Safari Motel
2026-08-12 20:00 - 23:30
Safari Motel is back with fresh energy and new grooves! Join Nicole, Jason, Simon, and Damo at The Drunken Poet in West Melbourne for a night of electric tunes and infectious rhythms. With fresh faces on guitar and drums, we’re bringing a whole new level of passion to the stage—ready to do what we were born to do. Don’t miss the revival of the Safari Motel experience!

Mason, Shane, Joe
2026-08-13 20:00 - 23:30
Mason, Shane and Joe are a newly formed trio – from The Poet’s Open Mic, to our legendary Thursday nights!

The Dead Reckoners
2026-08-13 21:00 - 23:30
The Dead Reckoners are an Americana duo playing primarily original material, a couple of well worn musicians in a relatively new band!

Traditional Irish Music Session
2026-08-14 18:00 - 23:30
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.

Gwyn Ashton
2026-08-14 20:30 - 23:30
Ashton is on the top of the list of the new wave of modern blues rock artists, spearheaded by The Black Keys, Jack White, Seasick Steve etc. Live, his dynamic performances also include haunting and mesmerising bottleneck and lap steel moments.
Laying down a dirty backbeat on a foot drum kit, bass lines with his thumb, he attacks his guitar with a bottleneck slide, sings and blows blues harp into a lofi radio microphone, creating the illusion of a full band. From a scream to a whisper in a split second, his dynamic sensitivity on all these instruments defines his musicality and flexibility.
With a new single Get Outta Town feat Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus and members of Australian bands Cold Chisel and Superjesus, the Welsh-Australian recently appeared across Europe with prog rockers Wishbone Ash, co-headlined the Adelaide Guitar Festival in Australia and blazed his way across the UK, Germany, Balkans, Czechia, Slovakia and Poland. He’s played dozens of festivals across Europe, UK, Mexico, Brazil, Australia and Russia and tours with some of the biggest names in rock and blues.
Inspired by the likes of Hendrix, Ry Cooder and David Lindley, his “guitarsenal” includes a rack of electric and acoustic instruments including lap slide, resonator, 12-string and old pawn shop guitars. He plays venues, festivals, guitar shows and conducts masterclasses worldwide.

Pat McKernan
2026-08-15 15:00 - 23:30
Pat is a favourite at The Poet and brings his legendary tunes to our Saturday afternoon. Pat has toured extensively as guitarist for Irish folk legend Finbar Furey and has had his song “Geraldine’s thinking of Galway” recorded by the Furey brothers.

The Lonesome Wranglers
2026-08-15 21:00 - 2026-10-31 23:30
The Lonesome Wranglers bring their infectious blend of vintage country and rockabilly to the Drunken Poet. Expect originals, obscure covers and re-imaginings of some unexpected favourites. Come git some grit!

Steamboat Whistlers
2026-08-16 16:00 - 23:30
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!

Stephen Kennedy
2026-08-16 18:30 - 23:30
Poet fave Stephen Kennedy returns!
