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
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.
Sign up from the bar at 5pm, music from 7pm. First in best dressed!
Every Friday night, to start your weekend right!
The absolutely wonderful David Cosma returns to the Poet to get your Friday swinging!
David Cosma's music has been described as “a straight ahead, thinking person’s songwriter that speaks volumes to what a terrific talent we have in our midst"- Inpress Magazine, while The Age wrote "his full-bodied croon pairs the silken wryness of Elvis Costello and the gravel of Bob Dylan”.
Inspiring lyrics accompanied by sumptuous melodies and harmonies, together with his unique method of playing the guitar, guarantees an impassioned live performance.
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. Come and be merry!
Daryl Roberts & Hey Gringo have performed across Oz and internationally for over 30 years with their fun tongue in cheek, catchy blues, funky soul and roots music with choice favourites to get the audience involved in the vibe.
Hey Gringo have just released their 8th album "Keep On Moving" of original songs together with previous albums have charted up to No 2 on The Oz Blues & Roots Airplay Charts. Daryl also plays keyboard with Oz legends Spectrum, performed and written songs with renown Oz legends Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool/Modo Rock), American Blues Legend Jimmy Witherspoon and performed internationally from Amsterdam to New Orleans and Tokyo to Clarkesdale Mississippi.
Still brandishing the same uptempo, energetic and often frenetic Jumpin' Blues and Jazz, Lindsay Davies (double bass and vocals), Adrian Sims (tenor saxophone) and Alexander W Sims (4-string guitar) combine with Gerry Nelson (piano) to create a vibe that the punters can't help but get involved with. This quartet will certainly immerse you in the Groovetones spirit.
The Strayaways Duo Alex (fiddle) & Holly (guitar) are a Celtic folk duo based in Melbourne playing your favourite Irish jigs, reels & ballads. The music ranges from joyously fast and crazy to slow and heartrendingly melancholic, with calm and sober melodies played at a reasonable pace also.
Girl Friday & The Sepia Tones return to The Poet!
Oscar LaDell was born in the US and raised in Purakaunui, Dunedin. A second-generation musician, Oscar started out playing standards in bars around Dunedin, featuring songs by Muddy Waters, BB King and Guitar Slim. Over the years, funk, rock, soul, R&B and more have found their way into Oscar’s music.
In the space of one of LaDell’s original songs, the sound can range from a gentle slow dance to explosive and hypnotic guitar solos. Oscar’s powerful and expressive guitar playing and soulful singing act as one to create a sound that is both reminiscent of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and fresh.
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.
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.
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’.
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 Simpson Three are a high energy Celtic trio from Melbourne. They are award-winning musicians who play predominantly Irish music, with a few interesting flavours! These cheeky siblings sure know how to have fun whilst pumping out tight arrangements of crankin’ tunes and songs.
Rory Newman plays the songs of James Taylor.
Whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering his iconic melodies, Rory’s heartfelt renditions will transport you straight to the soul-soothing sounds of JT.
The Stragglers are a 3 piece all female, bastard-bluegrass band.
Traditional instrumentation with non-traditional themes. The Stragglers have mastered the art of shit talking to 3 chords. Not for the feint-hearted, but maybe for the broken and definitely for the hungover. .
Register from 5pm, performances from 7pm!
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.
The Danny Walsh Banned have been playing fever-pitched shows and jumping on tables for over a dozen years, serving up country-soul and rock’n’roll flavours infused with a touch of 70s Aussie boogie that will probably have you dancing on the tables, too.
“Walsh’s lyrics depict each landscape and emotional swirl with the caress of a bona fide bush poet...looking back and yearning ahead”' - Forte Mag
Moonee Valley Drifters are back at The Poet!
Rubita will be returning to The Drunken Poet this February 5th with fresh songs and instruments.
She’ll be joined by Henry Smithers on bass guitar, delivering soulful bass lines and groovy solos, along with Christian Silva, a world-class percussion player showcasing an array of rhythms and beats.
Tying it all together with Rubita’s smooth guitar chords and velvety vocals, the band will perform an array of bossa nova, pop, and jazz-inspired tunes written by Rubita.
Come along for a night with the Rubita Trio at one of your favorite local spots—The Drunken Poet.
*** Sign up from 5pm / Music from 7pm ***
Start your weekend off right, every Friday night we have Trad Irish Music at The Poet!
Born out of love for the Blues and a need to escape the ennui of COVID lockdowns, The Maskell-Love Band is a fresh project brought forth by a seasoned collective of musicians, each with a considerable local music pedigree.
Fronting the band is Pete Maskell, a man with a rare gift for lyrical interpretation. His style is unassuming yet feisty, with vocals akin to smoked honey. Pete’s no slouch on slide, lead and rhythm guitar, either. A great songwriter in his own right, Pete’s debut album Accidentally Happy, (produced by Jeff Lang) won critical acclaim, and was voted runner up Australian Debut Album of The Year by Rhythms Magazine’s reader’s poll.
Fans of The Mojo Corner, Chris Wilson, Sweet Felicia and Wayne Jury will already be acquainted with Troy Love’s fine guitar work. Troy’s honest, straight-from-the-heart style, combined with intensely uplifting and intricately crafted solos mark him as one of Geelong’s premier and truly unique Blues guitarists.
Providing momentum in the engine room, keeping this Blues machine grooving steadily forward is Adrian Gardham on drums. With a lifetime of drumming under his belt, inspired by a wide variety of music including Led Zeppelin & Jimi Hendrix.
Performing with several Geelong bands including Sessions with Troy 'back in the day. To complete the rhythm section, Luke Hynes (The Tufftones, Chubby Rae and the Elevators) injects a solid groove and energetic stage presence, bringing a powerful and soulful foundation to every performance. His ability to seamlessly blend traditional blues elements with modern influences sets him apart in the blues scene.
The Maskell-Love Band is shiny new and ready to sweep you up and take you with them as they embark on their remarkable Blues journey.
UK festival favourites Dan and Emily bring to the stage a unique blend of English folk music fused with country/Americana.
An energising combination of distinctive warm and powerful vocals and guitar interlaced with a dexterous meld of celtic- and country- style fiddling and beautiful harmonies mesmerises a multi-genre audience.
Andy Baylor plays the Bob Dylans Country songs
Les Thomas is a country-folk singer-songwriter and storyteller. With guitar, voice and emotional authenticity, he connects with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Les draws on inspiring histories of song, grassroots resistance and the poetry of everyday life, listeners are left with fresh ideas and uplifted spirits.
This pair is part of Melbourne’s Musical Furniture. Both have decades-long histories in this town.
Champs fronted The Fabulaires in the 80s, & still in the 80s, played in Young Homebuyers & Maniac Rockers From Hell.
In the noughties Greg formed Useful Members of Society, with Daddy Cool’s Wayne Duncan & Ross Hannaford.
Maybe best-known for 41 years with radio’s Coodabeen Champions.
Pete Fidler is sideman to the stars. A virtuoso on lap steel, dobro, mandolin, and guitar too.
In heavy demand to play bluegrass, or Hank Williams shows. They’ll loosen up at the Poet.
