The Drunken Poet

James Cisco plays the songs of Willie Nelson
2024-09-17 20:00 - 23:30 (Australia/Melbourne)
James Cisco plays the songs of Willie Nelson!

Ramshackle Army
2024-09-13 21:00 - 23:30
High Voltage Celtic Punk from Melbourne Town, Australia!

Suzette Herft plays the songs of Classic Country Queens!
2024-09-10 20:00 - 23:30
Don’t miss this tribute show – Poet fave Suzette Herft plays the songs of Classic Country Queens!

The Band She
2024-09-08 18:30 - 23:30
The Band She are a duo hailing from Co Tyrone, Ireland and currently living in Melbourne. Having met whilst playing in 5 piece indie rock band ‘False Friends’, they branched out in 2021 and began to play together in bars and pubs in Glasgow, Scotland.

After moving to Melbourne in 2023 they have been performing regularly at various venues and events.
Their main goal is to get people to sing along! Expect country, folk, Irish, pop and rock.

The Chilli Pickers
2024-09-08 16:00 - 23:30
The Chilli Pickers trio play old time, folk and bluegrass tunes, featuring Kate Connor on fiddle, Gus Macmillan on banjo and suitcase, and the amazing vocals and guitar of Jane McCracken.

Hayden Butler
2024-09-06 20:30 - 23:30
Special guest Hayden Butler (Texas, USA) is coming to The Drunken Poet!

Rory Newman plays the songs of The Triffids
2024-09-03 20:00 - 23:30
Rory Newman plays the songs of The Triffids
The Triffids formed in 1978 by mainstay David McComb, his school friend Alsy MacDonald together with Phil Kakulas. Their first release was a cassette tape, Triffids 1st recorded in May, by September they had added Byron Sinclair and released, Triffids 2nd with four more cassette tapes released by 1981.

Jan Preston
2024-09-01 16:00 - 23:30
Jan Preston is a knockout boogie singer and pianist who has captured audiences around the world with her energy, magnetic boogie/blues grooves and expressive singing.
Winner of 5 music awards, Jan plays concerts and festivals throughout Australia, NZ, and Europe, writes music for film, and has supported international blues acts such as
Robert Cray and Bo Diddley. She has also performed shows with some of Australia’s greatest Blues musicians such as Dutch Tilders, Phil Manning, Chris Wilson, Jim Conway and Nick Charles. Recently Jan’s piano instrumental “Trout Blues” has become the title music to BBC Radio London’s Evening Show.
“an inspirational and gifted pianist, performer and entertainer” Rhythms Magazine

Dusty Dimes
2024-08-30 20:30 - 23:30
Driven by a love of the blues, The Dusty Dimes will whisk you down South to a dark, smoky juke joint in an alley way of who-knows-where, USA.
Having raised eyebrows in music venues all over Melbourne in the last few years, the boys will be coming by for a special performance at the Drunken Poet.
With swampy electric guitar grooves, loose gravelly vocals and devil-conjuring harmonica wails, these guys will have your feet tapping all night.

Noah Peters plays the songs of the White Stripes
2024-08-27 20:00 - 23:30
Noah Peters plays the songs of the White Stripes!
The White Stripes, formed in 1997 by Jack and Meg White, are a Detroit-based duo known for their raw, minimalist sound blending blues, punk, and garage rock. Their iconic hits like “Seven Nation Army” and “Fell in Love with a Girl” redefined rock, earning them global acclaim.

Pop Up Gaeltacht at 6pm
2024-08-25 18:00 - 23:30
JOIN IN!

The Groovetones
2024-08-25 16:00 - 23:30
The Grooovetones have emerged from a two-year hiatus. Still brandishing their same up-tempo, energetic and often frenetic jumpin’ blues and jazz, Lindsay (double bass & vocals), Adrian (tenor saxophone) and Alexander W. Sims (4-string guitar) welcomes Gerry Nelson on piano. All combined, this quartet will immerse you in The Grooovetones spirit.

Kaliopi play the songs of Memphis Minnie
2024-08-20 20:00 - 23:30
Pictured: Kaliopi plays the songs of Memphis Minnie.
Memphis Minnie (1897–1973) was a pioneering American blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. Renowned for her powerful voice and intricate guitar work, she became one of the most influential female blues artists of the early 20th century. Over her four-decade career, she recorded more than 200 songs, including classics like “Bumble Bee” and “Me and My Chauffeur Blues.” Minnie’s innovative style and bold, independent persona helped pave the way for future generations of blues musicians.

Mitch Bullen + Arty Redsocks
2024-08-18 18:30 - 23:30
Join us at The Drunken Poet in Melbourne on August 18th at 6:30 pm for an unforgettable evening of music featuring Mitch Bullen and Arty Redsocks.
Mitch Bullen, known for his soulful and bluesy style, will captivate with his soaring falsetto, dynamic gravelly belting, and contemporary songs that reflect deep emotion and thought. His set promises a powerful blend of blues and soul that resonates long after the music ends.
Arty Redsocks, Mitch’s father, brings a touch of classic Nashville country to the stage. A prolific songwriter, Arty’s lyrics are as reflective as they are engaging, weaving heartfelt and insightful stories.
Though they’ll perform separately, their music will offer a rich tapestry of emotion and storytelling. Don’t miss this special performance from a talented father-son duo in the intimate setting of The Drunken Poet!”

Allan O'Connell
2024-08-17 15:00 - 23:30
Allan O’Connell joins us at The Poet to kick off your Saturday afternoon just right! Cheers!

Helen Ryder plays the songs of Bobbie Gentry
2024-08-13 20:00 - 23:30
Following on from her show at The Caravan Music Club and Out On The Weekend 2021 Helen Ryder will present an intimate duo show of her favourite Bobbie Gentry songs accompanied by special guest Lachlan Bryan on guitar for the Drunken Poet’s Tuesday Tribute night.
Gentry’s first single Ode To Billie Joe, released in 1967, created the haunting southern gothic style she became famous for and is considered one of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Hailing from Chickasaw County, Mississippi, her career spanned seventeen years with seven studio albums, 30 compilation albums, a duet album with Glen Campbell and a live album from her BBC TV show.
Blessed with a voice that could dig deep on country soul like Mississippi Delta or tender and sultry on pop ballads like Morning Glory, Gentry remains ever influential and enduring today, especially with the release of her 2018 boxset; the 2019 reinterpretation of Delta Sweete by Mercury Rev featuring the likes of Lucinda Williams.
This one hour performance includes the fascinating and mysterious story of one of the first female singer songwriters to write, record and produce her own material, who in Roseanne Cash’s words ‘ruled the airwaves in 1967 with her #1 hit Ode To Billie Joe.

Jay Howie
2024-08-09 20:30 - 23:30
For many of us, music is much more than just a form of expression. This sentiment rings true for Australian musician Jay Howie. For him, music offers an unadulterated emotional release; a profound outpouring of one’s soul that fills the proverbial cup of each of Jay’s Blues compositions.
Influenced by an amalgamation of old delta Blues players, as well as the Chicago Blues scene and British Blues of the late ’60s and ’70s, Jay’s approach to the genre is marked by his ability to thread together the emotional fibres of his past, present and future.
His undeniable ability with the guitar is matched only by his raw vocal palette, with his lyrics echoing insightful and heartfelt storytelling abilities. He is currently sitting on a discography containing a full-length album (Tales of Woe and Coincidence), an EP (Dirty Habits), and a single (Leaving Me). His solo material has taken him across Australia, sharing the stage with the likes of Ash Grunwald, Lloyd Spiegel and Dutch Tilders. Today, Jay continues to position himself as a Blues artist to watch in the future.

Clark
2024-08-08 20:00 - 23:30
Clark is a musician hailing from New Zealand and based in Melbourne for the past decade. Playing a set of original acoustic songs, his fingerpicked classical style and vocals take influence from Simon and Garfunkel, The Tallest Man on Earth, and Jose Gonzalez amongst others.

Nick Charles and Mick Pealing play The Great Protest Songs
2024-08-06 20:00 - 23:30
Two icons of Australian roots music, Mick Pealing and Nick Charles present a once only show featuring some of the greatest protest songs from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Rousing songs of courage, redemption, and rebellion. So many great songs with so much to say! Don’t miss this opportunity.

The Incident
2024-08-04 18:30 - 23:30

Tonchi McIntosh
2024-08-02 20:30 - 23:30
Tonchi McIntosh is coming to The Poet! Do not miss this artist from Broome in town for one week only!

Girl Friday plays the songs of Portishead
2024-07-30 20:00 - 23:30

Mike Harrington
2024-07-28 18:30 - 23:30

Andrea Robertson
2024-07-28 16:00 - 23:30
In the intimate world of Andrea Robertson, the change of seasons is not just a meteorological phenomenon; it’s a musical journey that has captivated audiences.
The award-winning Ocean Grove artist launched her fourth independent album ‘Seasons’ earlier this year and since then has been gigging regularly around the State to promote the new release.
The stunning album has been lauded as Andrea‘s best body of work today, and she’ll be bringing her trademark tasty fusion of blues, roots, folk, rock and alt-country back to The Drunken Poet on 28 July, performing as a trio with David Robertson on drums/percussion and Jack Meredith on harmonica.

Sianon
2024-07-25 21:00 - 23:30
Join Sianon for an unforgettable night of music at the Drunken Poet. With her rich Celtic voice and heartfelt performances, Sianon will captivate you with her unique, stripped-back renditions of beloved Irish favorites like “The Wild Rover” and “Dirty Old Town.”
Having grown up between England and her family’s farm in County Clare, Ireland, Sianon‘s journey across the world has only deepened her connection to her roots. Her award-winning songwriting and emotive performances have charmed audiences everywhere. Don’t miss this intimate evening of music and storytelling with one of the folk scene’s rising stars.

nat
2024-07-25 20:00 - 23:30
After years behind the scenes as an event organiser for the experimental music scene nat emerges from self imposed exile with new music of surprisingly emotionally raw performances.
nat makes his Drunken Poet debut with acoustic versions of tracks from his epic double album “Creation” – a sprawling concept album of edgy rock that explores what it means to make art, to make a life and to be a part of the cosmos. With special guest Eneti Waretini on bass.

Kier Stevens and Rosie Luby play Tex, Don & Charlie
2024-07-23 20:00 - 23:30
Kier Stevens and Rosie Luby play the songs of Tex, Don, & Charlie at the undoubtedly inimitable Drunken Poet.

Rosie Luby is a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Melbourne. From her earliest years Rosie has been surrounded by music, particularly Irish traditional music and other acoustic folk styles, and reflects this lifelong commitment back through numerous shows and lessons around Melbourne and at festivals. Her passion for voice is matched by her towering command of it and is evident to any new listener from the very first note.

A Melbournian for the last decade, guitarist Kier Stevens has honed and refined his instrumental and songwriting work and discovered a great passion for steel guitar (dobro, lap steel, and pedal steel). After many many gigs around town Kier’s proficiency and unique voice on the instrument grows and sees him place it in unusual genres – experimental, Indian, etc.

Kier and Rosie perform and write together in their cello/dobro duo named Come Heavy Sleep but come together with guitar/mandolin/pedal steel on this occasion to share a mutual love of sad songs in the fine work of Tex, Don, & Charlie. This undoubtedly excellent evening occurs on Tuesday 28th March at that great venue, The Drunken Poet.

Small Town Alien
2024-07-21 18:30 - 23:30
They come in pieces. While they may be Australia’s premier comedy rock act, Small Town Alien are not afraid to make forays into various other genres such as funk, jazz, hip-hop and country. No genre is safe. Dubbed “Nietzche’s answer to the Wiggles,” they are hard to understand but easy to love.

Hayley Mary
2024-07-17 20:00 - 23:30
Hayley Mary, solo rock artist and front woman of The Jezabels with is excited to announce she will be playing an intimate acoustic set at The Drunken Poet. The set with be a journey through the years of her career, including some Jezables songs, tracks form her three solo EP’s and recent singles, combined with a selection of covers that have been influential on the singer. “They say the root of a good song is just two chords and the truth,” Hayley says of the upcoming gig, “I can’t wait to re-imagine these rock songs in true acoustic tradition in the intimate space of the legendary Drunken Poet.

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