Monthly Events

Monthly Events - Melbourne's East and South-East

Here is a personally compiled list of regular music events chronologically arranged to provide a better view of what's happening during the month. These events are either jams, open mic blackboard concerts, professional concerts or combinations of all three. Most are venues which welcome visiting artists on short or little notice. However, it does often pay to contact the organiser in advance to confirm a spot. It's geographic area of focus is Melbourne's East and South-East (with a some exceptions).

Most of these venues tend towards acoustic styles of music, particularly folk which is my personal bias. Some places accept a tad of poetry as well, particularly bush poetry. In some places like Upwey RSL and Peninsula Folk Club, you can buy dinner and have a beer, others have tea/coffee and biscuits. Most readily accept solo acts backed by a full PA. Some places like Ringwood Folk (or VMFC) really encourage ensemble playing in their sessions and have no electronics or amplification whatsoever. One special place even has mulled wine on offer but you'll have to try all the venues to find out which one! They are all different, with different personalities but all quite wonderful in their own unique way. Events are arranged according to days of the week.

I started compiling this list in approximately 2012/2013 a couple of years after I had moved into the area and it has since grown substantially. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to let me know.

Details change constantly each month. The list has changed so much that I now keep old listings there as a historical record showing how the music scene changes. It's interesting to see some venues and events come and go and often someone will ask about an event that has ceased. Where possible I have put a link to its relevant website or Facebook page.

Have fun exploring!

Jose

(Last updated May 2019)

Day, Event

Mondays

Weekly every Monday - Monday Musos

Tuesdays

Weekly every Tuesday - Folk Sessions

Weekly every Tuesday - Arcadia Hotel Open Mic

Weekly every Tuesday - The Irish

First Tuesday every month - Monbulk Jam

Last Tuesday of each month - Mountain Pickers Association

Wednesdays

Weekly on Wednesdays - Dancing Dog Open Mic
(Update: These sessions are now discontinued.)

Weekly on Wednesdays - Leggacy Sessions
(The Wednesday sessions have been discontinued.)

Weekly on Wednesdays - Paddy's Tavern Open Mic

Weekly on Wednesdays - Thornbury Local Open Mic

Weekly on Wednesdays - Whole Lotta Love Bar

Weekly on Wednesdays - Little Oscar Open Mic

Fortnightly Wednesdays - PLUMS Sessions
(1st and 3rd Wednesdays)

Fortnightly Wednesdays - Balnarring Muso Night
(2nd and 4th Wednesdays)

Fortnightly Wednesdays - Oscars Alehouse Open Mic

3rd Wednesday of each month - Dandy Mountain Rangers
(Update: These sessions have been re-named to the Jells Park Sessions, re-scheduled to every fourth Saturday and relocated to Jells Park.)

Thursdays

Every Thursday - The Oak Tree Tavern

Every Thursday - The Roo Bar Open Mic

Every Thursday - Melbourne Unplugged Open Mic

Every Thursday - West Village NYC Open Mic

Every Thursday - Kelly's Open Mic
(Update: these sessions have been discontinued)

First three Thursdays of each month - Pud's Tavern Open Mic
(1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursdays)
(No longer running - now the Hysteria Lounge, recorded here for reference only.)

Last Thursday of each month - Acorn Open Mic (Currently not unning, please advise if/when it re-starts, recorded here for reference only.)

Last Thursday of each month - Groovin' on The Edge
(Updated - discontinued, recorded here for reference purposes.)

Fridays

Fortnightly on Fridays - The Watering Hole Open Mic
(1st and 3rd Fridays)

Fortnightly Friday - Our Kinda Country Club
(1st and 3rd Fridays)

1st Friday of each month - Selby Folk Club

2nd Friday of each month - Fathers In The Chapel

3rd Friday of each month - B.A.D. Folk

4th Friday of each month - Acoustic Night

Last Friday of each month - Doveton Open Mic Night

Saturdays

1st Saturday of each month - Coronet Bay

1st Saturday of each month - Gemco Open Stage

2nd Saturday of each month - Jammalong in Melbourne

3rd Saturday of each month - F.U.N.

3rd Saturday of each month - Verandah Music

4th Saturday of each month - Jells Park Sessions

Sundays

Every Sunday - Dazzle at the RasSLe

Every Sunday - "Hidden in the Hills Open Mic"

Fortnightly on Sundays - Grumpys Green Open Mic

1st Sunday of each month - Upwey Country Music Club

1st Sunday of each month - Mahogany Bluegrass Jam

1st Sunday of each month - Peninsula Folk Club

1st Sunday of each month - Warneet Open Mic

2nd Sunday of each month -
PLUMS Concert

2nd Sunday of each month - People's Place Music Club

Last Sunday of each month - Celtic Music Seisiun

Lost Sunday of each month - All Stars Open Mic Showcase - Maroondah

Last Sunday of each month - Pony Music Open Mic

What and Where

General music session/jam run by Faye Doherty at the Hastings Community House - 185 High Street, Hastings. $2.00 entry.

Victorian Folk Music Club (VFMC) AKA Ringwood Folk. Sessions run each week except for the 2nd Tuesday of the month when there's a formal concert. Sound is strictly acoustic - no PA and no electronics whatsoever! There's also a dance held on the first Saturday of each month and an annual ball. 8pm, The Community Hall at Knaith Road Reserve, Knaith Rd, Ringwood. $6, $5-members

Arcadia Hotel - 2 Toorak Road, South Yarra. From 9pm onwards. Free performer drink.

Open Mic Night at The Irish otherwise known as Seamus O'Toole Irish Pub, Shop 2215, Westfield Knox, 509 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South, net to Village Cinema. Ph. (03) 9801 0655. 8pm start.

***NEW!*** Singalong-Jam session at The Watering Hole Tavern, 250 Olinda-Monbulk Road. 7.30pm - 9.30pm. All acoustic. Suitable for all abilities. For more details contact Concertina Fuzzy on 0448 090 494 or by email on [email protected]

"Last Tuesday Club Night". Bluegrass oId-timey and associated music in the hills, at Ferntree Gully Bowling Club - Glenfern Park, Glenfern Road, Ferntree Gully. Burrinja Cafe in Upwey. Typically has a blackboard concert followed by featured acts. It used to be held on the first Tuesday of the month at Burrinja Cafe in Upwey but then moved to Upwey RSL and then eventually to the Ferntree Gully Bowling Club. To book a table at the cafe call 9753 5888 . To book a spot on the next upcoming club night, call Jim on 9704 7573 or email [email protected]

One for the "Westies"! Weekly open mic. Songs, poems, jokes, stories, instruments... whatever! Performers get a free drink. 7pm, 42A Albert St, Footscray.

Formerly known as Kelly's Cabin Sessions and originally held at Kelly's Cabin, then Dudleys, Olinda. It is now held at Oscars Ale House in Belgrave. After Alex passed on, his friends continued his vision for musical utopia through an artist sponsorship program and promoting local live music. Wednesdays, 7.30pm at 7 Bayview Road, Belgrave.

Weekly open mic in a pub setting. Meals and drinks available. 7.30pm-11pm, 34 Forest Road, Ferntree Gully.

Weekly open mic. Hosted by Tim Woodz and Kate Walker. $10 pizzas all night. 8pm, 635 High Street, Thornbury.

Play music with a picture of a burning zeppelin behind you! It's on from 7pm-11pm, the Whole Lotta Love Bar, 524 Lygon St, East Brunswick. Run by Ben Bray. Contact him by email if you want a spot - [email protected].

At Little Oscar - 41 Lygon Street, Brunswsick East. Hosted by Impact Events.

PLUMS (Peninsula Laidback Underground Musicians Society). Fornightly acoustic jams. There is a also a monthly concert on the 2nd Sunday of each month. Acoustic jams are held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday, commencing at 7.00pm. The Open Mic concert is held on the 2nd Sunday starting around 12.30. Senior Citizens Clubroom, 38 Valetta Street, Carrum.

Open mic on the peninsula. 8pm-11pm, Balnarring Community Hall, 3041 Frankston-Flinders Road, Balnarring. Tea and coffee, $5.

Held every second Wednesday Miss May hosts this Belgrave Open Mic. Signup is at 7pm. Music starts 7.30pm. Discounted drinks for performers! Contact Miss May for more details.

Dandy Mountain Rangers. Note this location and time slot there was a jam run by the Mountain Pickers Association but was discontinued. Emphasis on bluegrass, old-timey and related music. Beginners welcome! Upwey Belgrave RSL. 7.pm,1 Mast Gully Road, Upwey. Phone 9754 3665 for table bookings at the RSL, if you want a meal.

Run by Phil Smith. 8 - 11pm. (Arrive by 7pm) 367 Forest Rd, Ferntree Gully.

The Roo Bar - 645 Centre Road, Bentleigh. 7.30pm till late. Was originally held on Thursdays but changed to Fridays near te end of 2016.

At Mt Erica Hotel, Prahran - 420 High Street, Prahran. Started in 2016. Run by Paul Johnson, Reuben Slaney and Alex Mate. 7pm-1am.

West Village Melbourne - 31 Dukes Walk, South Wharf, Melbourne. 6.30-9.30pm. Run by Andrew Grant from Impact Events. 1/2 price performer meals, free performer drink.

At Kelly's Bar & Kitchen - 1510 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda. Used to be on Wednesdays and run by Alex Legg. As of December 2016, run by Angus Legg, Alex's son.

Was run by Steve Pinzone. Held on the first, second and third Thursday of each month. 7.30pm, Pud's Tavern, 243 Main Street, Lilydale. Now called the Hysteria Lounge and they have DJs on Fridays, cover bands on the weekend and somtimes Sunday afternoon sessions. If anyone has more details, please feel free to inform me.

Open Mic at Acorn on Forest restaurant. 7.30pm, Acorn on Forest, 375 Forest Road, The Basin.

Neesy Smith and Pierre Rispoli showcase some great talent in an open mic which is more like a musos club. 6.30pm-9.30pm, The Forest Edge Pizza Bar, 29905 Gembrook-Launching Place Road, Gembrook.

Clive Weeks (0412 116 8160) and Sue Klein (0423 913 587) run this event with full PA and strong local support. Meals and drinks available. 7.30pm, at The Watering Hole Tavern, formerly known as the The Beer Engine. 250 Olinda-Monbulk Road, Monbulk.

Country music in the Latrobe Valley. Held at the Clubhouse at Crinigan Road, Morwell at 7.30pm. Fortnightly open mic nights. Special concerts are held from time to time with guest artists. 100 Crinigan Hall, Morwell.

Live acoustic music with strong local support. Monthly concerts which welcomes spot acts plus featured artists. Just like a house concert, except it's in a community house! 7.30pm, Selby Community House, 1 Minak Road, Selby.

"Fathers" is a completely unplugged venue, allowing just your voice(s) and your instrument(s) - it's strictly and purely acoustic! The sound properties of the chapel allow the spoken word to be heard even right at the back. 7.30pm at St. Johns Anglican Church, Childers Street, Cranbourne.

Make sure you contact Mick before you turn up, it can be packed. Call 0419 562 992.

The Berwick and District Folk Club. Supports amateur and professional artists. Doors open 7:30pm, music starts at 8:00pm. The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Rd., Berwick.

At Nar Nar Goon. Rounds format, you go around the room and each person takes a turn with a song or poem. Acoustic instruments only, No PA involved. Held in the wooden St. Johns church on the main street of Nar Nar Goon. Gold coin donation.

Blackboard concert at Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre, 34 Oak Avenue, Doveton. Full PA, gold coin donation.

Local community music gathering, but all welcome. 7pm, Community Hall at Fred Gatton Reserve, Bantering Bay Road, Coronet Bay. There is no website.

Unplugged music and frivolity (yes.. frivolity!) at Emerald, hosted by Carol McCoy. All sorts of artistic acts welcome! Be prepared for interaction. 8pm, The Gem Community Arts Centre, 19 Kilvington Drive, Emerald. $5, $3-performers.

Free jam session, acoustic music in a public park setting. No amplification. Musicians of all levels welcome. Held near Madeline's Cafe at Jells Park, usually near the picnic shelter.

Cranbourne Folk Uniting Night (FUN). Community minded concert, with funds supporting the local church and its community projects. Spot acts and featured acts. It's best to contact them before the event if you want a spot. $7 Entry, $5 for spot acts. Featured acts and children free. Includes supper.

Spot acts, no bookings needed. Full PA provided. 1pm-5pm. Dromana Community Hall, 359 Point Nepean Road,Dromana. No website.

Commenced in March 2019 previously known as Jelly Roll Sessions and prior to that in 2018 was the Dandy Mountain Rangers held on the

Open mic at the Upwey Belgrave RSL. Blackboard concert format. 7.30pm, 1 Mast Gully Road, Upwey.

At the Sooki Lounge, run by Pia Nesvara. Email Pia at [email protected]. 2-6pm. 1648 Burwood Highway, Belgrave.

Grumpys Green - 125 Smith Street, Fitzroy. Check Facebook for dates. Free performer Drink.

The Guides Hall, Underwood Road, Fermtree Gully. Graham 5964 8298, 1-5pm.

Bring your preferred Bluegrass instrument for a jam session. Formerly at the Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre, now in Dromana. Led by Jamez. 1.30pm-4.30pm, Dromana Community Hall, Cnr. Hodginson Street and Verdon Street, Dromana. $5.

Informal jam sessions: 5.30pm-6.30pm. Concert from 6.30pm-9,30pm. Booked spot acts, followed by featured acts. Frankston Bowling Clubrooms, Cnr Yuille & William Sts, Frankston. $7, $5-members.

Open mic afternoon at Westernport Bay. Warneet Yacht Club, Rutherford Parade, Warneet. 2pm-6pm. No website.

PLUMS (Peninsula Laidback Underground Musicians Society). Monthly open-mic concert. 12.30pm. There are also fortnightly acoustic jams on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, commencing at 7.00pm. Senior Citizens Clubroom, 38 Valetta Street, Carrum.

Previously held at the Mahogany Neighborhood house on the third Sunday of each month. Now at Somerville Bowls Club, on the 2nd Sunday of each month. 259 Jones Rd.
Open mic 2-5pm. No website.

One big celtic jam session in Chelsea. Mainly instrumental but does have the odd song or two. It would probably be best suited to instrumentalists who already have some degree of musical proficiency, but an audience is always welcome. Bar available, but no meals. Feb to Nov, 4-7pm. Chelsea Yacht Club, Kelvin Road, Chelsea. Gold coin donation.

Run by Neesy Smith and Ian Green, this is an open mic held at the Maroondah Sports Club, Cnr of Mount Dandenong Rd & Dublin Rd, Ringwood East. Ph. 9879 92922. (Formerly Legacy Sessions Open Mic - Maroondah.)

Musicians, bands, music lovers welcome. Perform, listen, network. One artist each month will be invited to record a song in their studio. Four songs or 20 minutes. 2pm-5pm, 3/37-41 Hallam Road, Hallam.