Hello everyone. It’s wild to think it has been nearly 4 years since we last ran a Folk Club. I thought i’d write a little update on life since Folk Club and any future plans. I moved back to Melbourne in late 2017, and have continued to focus on running Heartstop Music, managing a roster of 5 artists. I have been tempted many times to pull out the banner and restart Folk Club but the timing hasn’t felt right with so much international travel in particular. It still sits in a box at the house, and the poles that go with it are in the garage, and I think there will come a time where at least a monthly show feels right to bring back. The real dream is to run a monthly night with no line up announced, and songwriters in the round. Drop me a line at alastair at heartstopmusic.com if you have any great venue ideas in Melbourne, and i hope everyone is doing okay out there in trying times. Miss you all! x Al

We had such a beautiful show the other night. Michael Waugh really knocked it out of the park to a sold out house and everyone was really cool about us finishing up Folk Club.

We’re less than 3 weeks out from our final show and tickets are rolling along for that. Please jump on board early so we don’t have to play the old ‘how do we squeeze more people into this tiny room’ game when people rock up on the door. I promise you it’ll be a cracking show, and we’ll probably give away lots of free drinks (at least all the whiskey as no one seems to buy it and it’s of no use after this final show).

I look forward to celebrating the finale with everyone on the 14th.

Al & TMFC team

So after a huge first year, and a very stop start second, we have decided that May 14th will be our final Folk Club, for now.

I am moving overseas in June to focus on managing my acts international careers, and while it seems obvious to just get others to run the show and keep it alive, it just isn’t taking shape.

I’m not convinced we can do the best job for the artists/venue/audience and in the end, half the reason for running these events for me is to be connected to a community of musicians and music lovers. The other half is to run the best live event for musicians and audience members, and neither seem feasible without putting a lot of time and energy into it.

So we’ll put the banner in the cupboard for now, and when we feel like we’re ready to absolutely smash it again, we’ll be back. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has come out and support us since the first shows in April 2014.

That does leave 2 final shows at the Bakehouse on April 16 and May 14. Both are fantastic line ups, with Michael Waugh releasing his beautiful new record this Saturday with special guests Mandy Connell, Matt Glass & Gretta Ziller, and James Kenyon releasing his new single for our final show, alongside rising WA star Davey Craddock and one of Port Fairy Folk Festival’s stand out acts, The Grand Magoozi.





We would love to see everyone who has been part of the Folk Club to date to come out for these final shows.

Al & TMFC team

In March, Tim Guy brings his full band to play his brand new album Chords. This record is packed full of outrageously catchy songs, and see TG upbeat, optimistic and having a great time. It’s infectious and his band has some of Melbourne’s best musicians so the live show more than does justice to the tunes.

Check out his video for St Petersburg HERE and Tim’s album in full on bandcamp HERE.

He’ll be joined by Emily Barker who returns to Australia for a brief run of shows. Emily grew up in WA, but has made the UK her home and built an acclaimed career in that part of the world. She has released four albums, done extensive global touring, and had her music featured prominently as the theme song in BBC shows Wallander and The Shadow Line. Here is one of those tracks, with no lack of Melbourne references in it!



Let me introduce you to Michael Waugh through his classic folk tune Heyfield Girl. It’s an absolute beauty for mine, but the album is full of them.



I feel like our timing is perfect for Michael’s album launch on April 16 at Folk Club. I’ve been seeing his name in the media a lot lately as everyone begins to discover his gorgeous new album.

I remember seeing Michael at Port Fairy Folk Fest years ago, and it immediately grabbed me how authentic, honest and effecting he is as a songwriter and person. Many a tear in the audience that day.

The Australian gave it 4 stars over the weekend (see HERE) and we’re very excited to launch his album at Folk club on April 16! Check out 3 of the albums track at Michael’s website HERE.

Michael will be joined by Matt Glass and somewhat of a folk club regular in Mandy Connell who has played several times with Stray Hens and is always outstanding.

A reminder also that our first show of the 2016 series is on Feb 21st with Broads & Dan Parsons. That one is on it’s way to selling out so I suggest grabbing tix in the next couple weeks.

Happy that we’re staying afloat in 2016, in an amazing space at the Bakehouse, and presenting such a great set of concerts to open the year. Hope to see you there!

Al & TMFC team

Hope your year is heading into a relaxed, sunny place. Happy holidays from us at Folk Club and thanks for all the support this year.

We just finished up a magic run of 3 shows at the Bakehouse with the brilliant Mel Parsons & Tinpan Orange on Sunday night playing to a sold out house.

We are planning to have Folk Club once a month in 2016, starting with two of our local favourites Broads & Dan Parsons on Sunday Feb 21st.

You will be hearing plenty more about Broads next year after they release their debut album. It is sure to rocket them to a national profile because the quality of the songs, harmonies, and the intimate dynamic between Kelly Day and Jane Hendry is world class. Every time we see them it’s another level up and come February this will be a memorable set.



Dan Parsons just released his new album Valleywood to critical acclaim. It’s another beauty from DP, who is the master of heartfelt, catchy folk tunes but also displays a broad palette on this album, traversing country, rock and blues, for a record described by Courier Mail as “finely drawn portraits that feel as though they will hang on the wall for years to come”.

Listen to the album HERE



Back with more announcements for March and beyond very shortly.

xx Al & TMFC team

Well we’d like to thank everyone who made it out to Don McGlashan the other week. We were a little nervy about being in a new space for the first time, but the feedback was incredible and i’m sure everyone who was there agrees it’s the perfect space for folk club.

I’m a terrible photographer and this is no exception, but here is a taste from the back of the room



This Saturday we are back with Shane Nicholson & Lucy Peach who is over from WA to open the show. Shane is up for 2 ARIA Awards tonight, so pretty great to have one of the countries finest at Folk Club two nights later.

Tickets are limited for both this and Tinpan Orange + Mel Parsons on Dec 13th so we suggest pre buying asap

Thanks!

xx Al & TMFC team

Well the travelling continues at this end – most of our crew are outside Melbourne at the moment, with Mikaela spending the winter working at Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Loni just arriving in London yesterday, myself spending the week at CMJ Festival in New York and Rhea about to head to Woodford Folk Festival for the rest of the year. Crazy times! (and far less glamorous than it might sound)

Not to fear though – we’ll be back home in time for the magnificent Don McGlashan on November 14th (less than 40 tickets left for that!) and we have two exciting new shows on sale today!

The first is Shane Nicholson on November 28th. I have said it many times that Shane played my favourite Folk Club set of our first year. It was perfection. So i’m very pumped that he’ll be back playing tracks from his 2-time ARIA nominated new album Hell Breaks Loose. 

Check out the first single from that album Second Hand Heart HERE

Shane will be joined by Lucy Peach from WA. A friend sent her tunes through a while back and they immediately grabbed me. Check out a live song HERE

We then have local legends TinPan Orange releasing their new single You’re Not There on December 13 with special guest Mel Parsons.

TPO are fronted by Emily Lubitz, and she has one of the most beautiful voices in the country (I have always adored her version of THIS SONG) and the band includes the rhythm guitar and vocals of her brother Jesse, multi-instrumentlist imprasario Alex Burkoy and the outrageously talented founder of The Cat Empire, Harry James Angus. They have released four brilliant albums to date and are always outstanding live. We’ll send you the single when it’s out Oct 30th.

This is quite a bill also, with Kiwi Mel Parsons opening the show. Mel is a good friend of ours, and has an incredible track record as 2 x Folk Album of the Year finalist in the NZ Music Awards and finalist for Song of the Year this year in NZ land. Her songs are heartfelt, poignant and rhythmically dynamic, and Mel is one of the true champions of the music scene – absolute legend.

I should include her new single, but HERE is my favourite Mel Parsons song from her first album

A reminder that we are now at Bakehouse Studios – with entry on Little Hoddle Street. Beer & wine will be available, with a members discount on drinks. This is the space without tables & chairs out.



Grab tickets for all shows HERE and let us know if you have any questions/complaints/demands/suggestions.

xx Al & TMFC team

We’re finally back with a new show in a new space! The legendary Kiwi singer/songwriter Don McGlashan will join us on Saturday November 14th with special guest Jed Rowe. We have been wanting Don at Folk Club since before it existed. He is one of our absolute favs. So this will be special – featuring songs from his brand new album.

We are also in the beautiful space that is Bakehouse Studios in Richmond, in their Scrap Museum room. It’s gorgeous, rustic, intimate and very rarely hosts gigs so it’ll be a little special.

We’ll have Mountain Goat wine, Spanish Acquisition wine and some kind of baked goods all set for ya.

Wondering about more shows? So are we. Life has got a little hectic for us folk club folks, but we’re planning on a few more to close the year as we work out 2016!

Even we’re surprised at just how successful The Melbourne Folk Club’s first 12 months has been, and we’re taking a well-earned break in May. But fear not, we’ll be back soon with another great program of quality acts so make sure you become a member to stay up to date!

Ladies and Gentleman, we bring to you The Melbourne Folk Club’s 2015 summer program!

Jan 7th – John Smith (UK) + Caitlin Harnett
Jan 8th – Unplugged show w/ The East Pointers (Canada) + Tolka
Jan 14th – David Francey (CAN) + James Kenyon + Lucy Wise
Jan 21st – Oh Pep! + Open Swimmer
Jan 28th – Laura Jean + Darren Hanlon + Single Twin
Feb 4th – Jeff Lang + Julia Jacklin + Matt Langley (NZ)
Feb 11th – The Mae Trio + The Once (Canada)
Feb 18th – Machine Translations + Broads
Feb 25th – Shane Howard (Album Launch) + Skyscraper Stan
March 4th – Ruth Moody & Band (Canada) + Scott Cook (Canada) + Nadia Reid (NZ)
March 11th – Jordie Lane (Interview & Show)
March 18th – Breabach (Scotland) + Stray Hens
March 25th – All Our Exes Live in Texas + Kim Richey (US)

Every Wednesday at the Bella Union. Tickets from www.themelbournefolkclub.com and www.bellaunion.com.au