The Drunken Poet is one of Melbourne's best live music venues, providing a unique community atmosphere between musicians and punters. If you are an artist looking to perform at The Drunken Poet, get in contact with us here.
All gigs are FREE ENTRY
A rare gem indeed; Jessey Jackson is quite simply a force to be reckoned with! Far from your average ‘run of the mill’ female performer; this self taught singer/songwriter/multi-
Now having completed her recent Ireland and Northern Territory Tours Jessey has returned to Victoria and is bringing the very best of her raw, emotive, and highly relatable original tunes to the Drunken Poet on Wednesday Oct 11th. If you long for the return to a time of truly unique and soulful original music... this is a show not to be missed!
KickHeavy are a Melbourne based band bringing you alternative rock with a splash of country and a slap of energy from the bass player. Come on down!
Every Friday night, welcoming you into the weekend with the warmth of real Irish music!
Nature in the City is a folk-rock band based around the voice, guitar and songwriting of Robin Sellin born in Germany, now living in Naarm/Melbourne.
What started out one year ago as a duo soon turned into a full band infused with some serious Melbourne vibes with violin, drums, and bass.
Nature in the City invites the listener on a sonic journey rife with improvisation and with no two sets ever the same.
The Westernairs deliver authentic Country/Honky Tonk and Western Swing music in the traditional 1950s/60s style, covering songs from famous Country artists such as Hank Williams, George Jones, Faron Young, and Marty Robbins, plus other lesser known Country/Hillbilly stars of the 1950s/60s. Their repertoire also includes an ever increasing list of self penned tunes by Kieron himself. The music is guaranteed to have your feet a tappin’ and your body movin’.
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.
A Poet favourite!
Katankin sings the song of the iconic Dolly Parton!
Kaliopi & the Blues Messengers play The Poet!
KALIOPI and the BLUES MESSENGERS recently celebrated their 1st year anniversary performing St Kilda Blues Festival after officially launching at the Glenmaggie Blues & Roots Festival 2022 to vibrant receptions. In that time, Kaliopi’s band has supported some of our country’s blues icons for Double Trouble Blues Sessions with her team of seasoned musicians.
Kaliopi and the Blues Messengers have honed in on the works of Memphis Minnie as a fundamental mentor and the line of powerful women in blues since pre-WW. They have developed their unique texture using the Double bass like a sousaphone with flavours of early Dixieland piano, weaving clarinet blues licks and Delta Blues guitar over swinging groove shuffles topped with Kaliopi’s powerfully soulful vocals.
Their live shows are energetic and engaging attracting and building a steady following in Melbourne. They are receiving national raving reviews for their live performances and single releases through AMRAP, Australian Musician Neos Kosmos, the latter celebrating their native blues-woman.
Kaliopi the Blues Messengers released their debut single “When the Levee Breaks” with raving reviews, national airplay, and support and have recently rolled out their second original single “Troublin’ Blues” and Sampler “Highway #9 Studio Sessions EP” on Bandcamp from their forthcoming debut album due September-October 2023.
Sign up from the bar at 5pm, music from 7pm. First in best dressed!
Start your weekend off right, every Friday night we have Trad Irish Music at The Poet!
When Aaron Gillett (harmonica), Benny Gerrard (drums, vocals) and Alex Stewart (guitar) entered the 2020 lockdown, they were mere individuals. After months of pupation in the chrysalis of isolation, they have emerged, united as The Windsavers. They've released a new album recently, come and hear their new tunes!
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.
Leo is a Virginia-born Blues singer and multi-instrumentalist currently residing in NZ and would be playing with a band of seasoned cats from VIC and SA. Leo's the real deal and brings a rare level of depth to 50's and 60's Blues styles, he's played with Bo Diddley, Pinetop Perkins and Big Bill Morganfield and brings a killer show.
Moonee Valley Drifters are back at The Poet!
Louise and Bruce have come together to create Miss Lou’s Blues, and are making an impact on the Melbourne Blues scene.
Having recently performed gigs including the feature act at Stingo’s Blues Club and The Blues Train, as well as appearing on Barry Maxwell’s ‘Blues On The Hill’ radio program and The Juke Joint on PBS, Miss Lou’s Blues are bringing their charismatic and flamboyant Blues stylings to The Poet.
Miss Lou’s sassy and bawdy juke joint style vocals are complimented by Bruce’s rhythmic guitar, creating a repertoire of songs extending beyond the Blues to incorporate elements of Jazz, Country and a litty bitty Gospel.
Embark on a musical odyssey with Rhys Tolhurst, a true artisan of sound, who traded the tropical vibes of Cairns for the eclectic beats of Melbourne in 2016. Rhys, a prodigy since his appearance as a Finalist on Australia's Got Talent at the age of 17, has evolved into a versatile artist, leaving his mark not only as a musician but also as a judge on 'All Together Now' (7 Network).
Joshua Batten is a modern-day troubadour, using music as his language to connect with his audience. Batten's style of 60’s-70’s inspired bluesy folk-rock is characterised by passionate vocals, accomplished guitar playing, layered arrangements and insightful lyrics. Drawing on personal experience, his music provides both an escape and perspective in a complex world.
Join Poet Favourites Maggie Carty Band as we kick off Saturday afternoon the best way we know how!
The Pheasantry are a Melbourne based Alt Country band of 5 gents going back over 20 years.
These days the boys have turned back to the electric style with the Telecaster twang running strong with that Pheasantry vocal harmony still leading the way. It's Melbourne Americana.
Based on the lifelong mistakes of steel guitarist Kier Stevens, Melbourne band Doggerel flog their own roughhouse brand of bung blues and black ballads on drinking, dishonour, and death and yet, the good news continues... A heavy focus on ratbaggery and having a rollicking good time keeps the music fresh and raw like a wound.
And just like a scar you love to tell the story of, Doggerel is the weird thing on your shoulder that everybody wants to ask about.
Cillian is a musician hailing from the Isle of Ireland, we welcome him back to The Poet - a favourite here!
Raised on trad and folklore he was inspired to keep the culture alive.
With his warm vocal tones and emotive guitar playing you'll be in for treat to hear Cillian performing traditional tunes and ballads at The Poet!
Peny Bohan is an award winning local Melbourne singer songwriter whose sweet croonings will make you want to stay, buy a drink and let yourself be wrapped up in her melodies.
Honest, gritty and a wee bit seductive, Peny spins tales of her every day life, love, anxiety and her sometimes desire for hirsute men.
Sign up at the bar from 5pm, first in best dressed. Music from 7pm
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.
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!
We will be closed on 25th and 26th December for Christmas.
Brittle Sun are a bluesy, psychedelic garage folk band from Melbourne. With soulful vocals that are as fragile as they are powerful, they weave lyrical narrative with stripped back grooves and evocative melodies. In 2017 the released their EP ‘Elemental Skin’ which was followed up by ‘Space Dogs and Orphans’ in 2018. They released ‘Little Blue Heart’ in 2020. In 2022 they released the single ’This Lovesick Heart’.
Tasmanian born solo artist Wolf-Arrow Rain, began her musical career at age 19, playing in folk circuits of the Dandenong Ranges in Victoria. Since then she has been involved in numerous collaborations and projects. Her releases include 2 singles, an E.P while she is also featured on 2 compilation albums including one from Melbourne radio station 3MDR called A Mountain of Sound with her track 'The Raven'.
Wolf-Arrow endeavors to make music that takes the listener on a magical journey into the imagination. She is a student of the occult and also works as a psychic for UK company The Circle. Her folk songs have medieval overtones and are reminiscent of the rites of passage that can be seen in the Tarot.
Katankin is the solo moniker of Melbourne singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and producer Helen Catanchin.Helen’s uniquely warm tone – simultaneously earthy and incredibly pure – and a true bard’s ability to deftly expose the beating heart of every song, along with her poetic and poignant, cuts-to-the-bone songwriting, all put their unmistakable stamp on Katankin’s songs.
Mark Campbell and The Ravens return to their favourite pub in the world, The Drunken Poet, to preview their forthcoming debut album. Recorded with ARIA-winning producer Jimi Maroudas, it features members of Augie March (Dave Williams), You Am I (Davey Lane), Cash Savage and the Last Drinks (Kat Mear) and Kylie Auldist.
The band’s blend of alt. country, rock, and folk has seen them support icons of Australian music including Henry Wagons, Sarah McLeod, and Ross McLennan.
"That lyric was so good. I had to write it on my arm for later." - Glen Hansard (“Once” feature film, ex-The Frames)
Mojo Mafia is a blues band whose original material ranges from traditional &modern blues to funk and even elements of rockabilly.Mojo Mafia has released three albums so far and their latest is titled“Judgement Day” which many independent blues/roots music critics believe is their finest work to date.
Frank Carnovale, being the singer, songwriter & guitarist for the band has put together a killer line up of experienced and talented musicians with Ross Puglisi on drums, Orlando Zilich on bass and Mr. Ton keys.
“The band Mojo Mafia is an example of the fact that energy, passion and soul is what separates the good from the great.”(Barry Maxwell–President of Blues Music Victoria)
CLOSED DECEMBER 31 & JANUARY 1
Happy New Year! See you in 2024 at The Poet
