LINEUP
HENRY Wagons
Henry Wagons is a formidable artistic force: a songwriter, baritone, troubadour, broadcaster, storyteller and wildly entertaining live performer whose early work was instrumental in forging a place for outlaw country in Australia through the early 2000s. His genre-defying live shows incorporate heavy doses of twang, alt-folk, psychedelia, rock ’n’ roll and an ever-growing vine of twisted tales woven throughout.
Over more than two decades, Henry has carved out a singular career across every aspect of music and entertainment and remains very much at the peak of his powers. A multiple ARIA Music Awards nominee and AIR Awards winner, he first emerged as the frontman of alt-country outfit Wagons, forging his career through relentless touring, acclaimed albums, and sweat-and-tear-filled live shows balancing chaos, craft, dark humour and heart. Across 12 albums spanning both band and solo releases, Henry has built a body of work that is literate, melodic and cinematic, while collaborating with artists including Alison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather), Robert Forster (The Go-Betweens), Mr Hudson and many more.
jeff LANG
Melbourne based guitarist-songwriter-vocalist-producer, Jeff Lang has built a reputation for making startling music that is accomplished, intricate, gutsy, melodic and loaded with soul. Often taking unexpected turns, he has consistently inspired his audiences by creating a stylistically diverse catalogue over 32 albums.
As many journalists have written over the years, Jeff is not one to be easily pegged, though in a general sense it’s fair to say he largely trades in roots-oriented rock; wider reaching in collaborations with the likes of roving guitar anthropologist Bob Brozman, American blues-rocker Chris Whitley, India’s desert-dwellers Maru Tarang and world music virtuosos Bobby Singh and Mamadou Diabate. Jeff’s work with the latter won the 2010 ARIA for Best World Music Album, while he and Brozman took one home for Best Blues and Roots Music Album in 2002. Jeff received his third ARIA in 2012 for the album ‘Carried In Mind’.
REBECCA BARNARD & SHANE O’MARA
Barnard and Shane O’Mara have a rich history in Australian music .
They have played with everyone from Paul Kelly , Tim Rogers, Renee Geyer , Stephen Cummings and many more.
They formed Rebecca’s Empire in 1995 appearing on Triple J’s Top 100 three years in a row.
They will be playing their favourite songs from the golden era of Rebecca’s Empire, Rebecca’s solo albums, select gems from Joni Mitchell to Jimi Hendricks to Talking Heads and Billie Holiday. A rich feast of songs replete with married couple banter !!
THE PLEASURES
The Pleasures are Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan. It’s a collaboration that began with a few late-night texts and quickly spiralled into a feverish week of writing and recording in Melbourne. Fast forward five years and the band has releaded two acclaimed records, graced big festival stages, toured the USA and Europe and scored themselves seven Golden Guitar Nominations.
Debut record The Beginning of the End appeared to pull together the best elements of both Lachlan and Catherine’s worlds, blending rock’n’roll and classic country in a manner that led the folks at Apple music to describe The Pleasures as “a match made in Americana heaven”. The album catapaulted the band on to major festival stages across Australia, earned them official showcases at both Folk Alliance and AMERICANAFEST in the US, scored debut UK appearances at Maverick Festival and Shrewsbury Folk Festival and enabled a headline tour of Scandinavia – all in 2024.
In 2025 The Pleasures released Enemy Of My Enemy. The new collection of songs bristled with fuzzy but instantly-memorable guitar riffs, soulful basslines, Gospel-tinged Hammond organ and joyous melodic hooks. Lyrically, they swing wildly from mischief and mayhem to heartbreak and true romance. It attarceted stellar reviews worldwide and asserted The Pleasures' position as a must-see Americana act.
ANGE BOXHALL
Ange Boxall is an award-winning Tasmanian singer-songwriter whose album Skipping Stone debuted at #1 on the ARIA Charts. Blending Country, Folk and Pop with the spirit of the great female singer-songwriters of the 1970s, her music is known for its vivid imagery and heartfelt storytelling. Ange has written, recorded and toured extensively across the UK, Europe, Australia and the USA, collaborating with artists including J.D. Souther, Grammy Award-winner Jim Lauderdale and Bones Hillman. Now based on Tasmania's East Coast, she draws inspiration from the island's natural beauty and complex cultural landscape.
BLUES ROULETTE feat. ISEULA & JESSE VALACH
Get ready for a night where the unpredictable meets the unstoppable. Blues Roulette is back, and we’re upping the ante by stripping away the safety net.
The concept is simple but electric: we take Australia’s most elite blues legends, put them on the spot with the formidable Roulette rhythm section, and let the sparks fly in a high-stakes, one-time-only performance.
This session features a truly triumphant return. We are thrilled to welcome back Melbourne’s own Jesse Valach. After a life-altering stroke in 2021, the fiery singer and lead guitarist is proving his resilience with his newest release, Stroke of Luck. Having cut his teeth alongside icons like Russell Morris and the late Chris Wilson, Jesse is back to reclaim his reputation as one of the most soulful, formidable performers in the country.
Joining the fray is the powerhouse Iseula. Best known as the driving force behind Blue Eyes Cry, she’s now carving a solo path that highlights her incredible vocal range and deeply evocative songwriting. Whether she’s channelling raw blues or soulful fusion, Iseula brings a level of intensity that demands your full attention.
joyce prescher
Dutch singer-songwriter Joyce Prescher writes introspective folk shaped by a distinctly European sensibility and contemporary storytelling. Now based in Melbourne, her songs balance quiet intensity with melodic richness and poetic depth.
Her debut album Home introduced her as a songwriter of lyrical nuance, while Out Of My Mind (Cheersquad Records & Tapes) earned national chart recognition and expanded her sonic palette.
Drawing comparisons to artists such as Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief, Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen, Joyce’s music balances intimacy with quiet intensity.
Recent collaborative releases with Lachlan Bryan further highlight her evolving artistry.
A finalist at the Australian Folk Music Awards in 2022 and 2023, Joyce continues to build a dedicated following through immersive live performances across Australia.
pirritu
PIRRITU’s music is a gentle, honest, and melodic personal journey that entices you into the depths of sadness, love, and shimmering hope.
With two album releases under his belt, The songman’s work honours a cultural journey to connect back to land, language, and family with a continual thirst for deeper understanding of his people and country.
Pirritu’s music features folk instrumentation weaving amongst his unique vocals like the gentle wind and waters that the Ngiyampaa man sings of.
YELO
Yelo is a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter creating intimate indie folk rock with Americana undertones.
Originally a bass player rooted in rock and metal, Yelo never planned on launching a solo project. That was until Melbourne’s pandemic lockdowns pushed her inward, where songwriting quietly became a lifeline. What began as private reflection soon grew into a catalogue of tender, story-driven songs exploring love, heartbreak, betrayal, vulnerability and hope.
james howlett
James Howlett is a Melbourne songwriter and professional musician who has spent years performing with bands across Melbourne and country Victoria.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Crowded House and The Beatles, his songs often begin as frantic journal entries before finding their way onto a guitar. On stage, James shares them with easy-going charm, dry humour and the kind of stories you'd expect from someone who's spent a good chunk of his life making music. He also happens to have a beautifully wholesome voice.
hazel & the THeif
Step into the world of HAZEL & The Thief, where Australian storytelling meets the raw energy of folk, all filtered through a unique alt-country lens. Hazel’s enigmatic vocals, Celtic influences, and distinct Australian accent weave emotionally charged narratives. Her sound innovatively blends traditional country elements with haunting melodies, rhythmic instrumentation, and introspective lyrics.
Hazel & The Thief, is the stage persona of Heidi Luckhurst, a poet, storyteller, and musician with a passion for live Australian music. She's known for her hard work and advocacy in the music scene, having launched venues and festivals and currently curating and producing over 100 major gigs a year at The Shed Theatre at The Pig & Whistle.
THe bobby valentine outfit
The Outfit is a bunch of Ol’ Mates from the glory days of Melbourne’s Music scene augmented by an everchanging cohort of Musos for hire. The latest incarnation of a renowned roster of Bobby Valentine Bands, The Outfit busts at the seams in order to realise the many and varied aspects of a Bobby V Show.
Bobby has been a professional entertainer for over 30 years appearing nationally and internationally, working with Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Rod Stewart and Jerry Lewis (Mr.Lewis requested Bobby to open for him again when he returned the following year) plus many Australian legends. As a successful solo artist Bobby has notched up many significant private performances including Hugh Jackman’s wedding, 3 milestone Birthdays for AFL Legend Mike Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Barnes' 40th.
DANNY WALSH BANNED TRIO
Danny Walsh Banned are a Naarm and regional Victoria-based band known for their distinctive Australian storytelling and energetic live shows that feel at home in city pubs and regional halls. Anchored by songwriter and frontman Danny Walsh, the band draw on folklore, half-heard histories, and characters who don’t usually make it into the history books. Now touring their fourth LP ‘No Monument’, Danny Walsh Banned Trio bring their songs to life on the Marysville stages.
JUNGLE JiM SMITH
Armed with a 3-string cigar box guitar, trusty 6-string, and shed-built foot drums, Jungle Jim Smith is a one-man-blues-band with a rock’n’roll heart. Delivered with a raw croon, he blends dirty blues and swamp boogie that pumps with rockabilly grit, forging a full-band sound uniquely his own. Chugging out tunes from an impressive arsenal of originals, his infectious hooks and riffage finesse beckon to the dancefloor, making fast fans and friends of music lovers all over the country.
With a solid EP ‘Electric Boogieland’, LP ‘This is Ghost Country’ and a fistful of singles under his belt, Jim is planning his hotly anticipated new album release for 2027.
ALYCE’s R O O M
ALYCE PLATT is a singer, songwriter guitarist and actor who has had an extensive career in music, television, stage and film. She has recently moved to the Murrindindi Shire where she has strong family roots.
Drawing on folk, pop and jazz influences, Alyce’s R O O M brings you her striking original songs; new material like “Whispers” and tunes from her critically acclaimed album “Funny Little World”.
Alyce also surprises you with bold interpretations of hidden gems from a magical songbook.
Joining Alyce’s R O O M for this performance will be Nicky Del Rey on guitar.