Friday, 2 June
Rich Webb Band + Madeleine Clare (Launch Show)
Rich Webb’s ‘RIGHT!’ was one of the albums of 2022, scoring rave reviews and bags of radio. He’s back with an incredible band to launch brand new single ‘Brunswick St’ south of the river at George Lane as part of this amazing double bill. Americana-UK described RIGHT! as “A cohesive collection of songs that show a true understanding of what makes Americana great, with the breezy cool of Tom Petty running through them.” Rolling Stone touches of Dylan and Springsteen.
Madeleine Clare is a Melbourne-born singer songwriter with a point to prove: that she can still make great music and love performing even after quitting the muso life more than a decade ago. And prove it she did, with her debut solo album The Eleventh Hour out 5 May on all platforms and launched officially at the Ballroom.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Thursday, 8 June
Jo Meares’ Silver Bullets + Gareth Skinner
Sydney songwriter Jo Meares returns to Melbourne for a special Georges Lane show with his brilliant Melbourne band Silver Bullets. The phenomenal Gareth Skinner with his cello will be performing on the night also.
“Meares, collaborating with Melbourne musician Anth Dymke of Pony Face, manages to draw in those elements of music that make it so cathartic and moving – think of artists like Tindersticks, Sigur Ros and the like who manage convey such feeling and emotion into their work, resulting in extremes: a sort of euphoria mixed with melancholy.” Arun Kendall Backseat Mafia.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Friday, 9 June
Blackbirds F.C
“Melbourne’s Blackbirds FC create beautifully layered lush sonic journeys that make you nostalgic for some of the great Australian bands of yesteryear. The Church springs to mind, but it’s also for fans of The Chills, REM, and Prefab Sprout, for starters”. The AU Review
Featuring members of The Hollowmen, Helvelln, the Vanda’s, and Flicker, Blackbirds FC play their own brand of new wave, country rock inspired by The Go-Betweens, REM, Wilco, and, oh yeah, The Church.
With a couple of singles, Transport Planes and Island of the Dogs, under their belts in 2021, the band are raring to release new material and play their second show at St Kilda’s regal George Lane band room. Badinage will be supporting on the night.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Saturday, 10 June
Gordon Holland – EP Launch
(George Lane Matinee Sessions)
W.A born, St Kilda based multi-instrumentalist, Gordon Holland is finally releasing his debut solo EP, Skipping Stones On A Salt Lake, June 9th everywhere and you can experience the record live in concert Saturday, 10th June at George Lane, St Kilda, for a special matinee, full band performance starting at 3pm.
Skipping Stones On A Salt Lake, follows on from the release of his breakthrough solo single ‘Melbourne Bitter’ and the highly anticipated follow up ‘I’m Looking Forward To Winter’.
Having played across Australia in his garage rock band The Naysayers, and various live bands, Skipping Stones On A Salt Lake, takes a different tone, marrying Gordon’s love for storytelling and Australiana with his folk rock soundtrack.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Saturday, 10 June
The Modfathers w/ Special Guest – Steve Lucas
The Modfathers play from 1964 to 1984. Music that started it all. The Mod & Mod revival. The Jam, Joe Jackson, The Who, The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Specials and more. They are bringin’ it to George Lane June 10th. Dust off the Harrington , Polish up the Docs. Find that Fred Perry, and get down. Special Guest for the show, the fantastic Steve Lucas …we all know where he’s been. He’s been Awesome!
Multiple Ticket prices + BF
Friday, 16 June
Kevin Borich Express
With a professional career spanning 47 years, Kevin Borich has done it all. Beginning with the LA- DE- DA’S in New Zealand, writing the classic hit ‘Gonna See My Baby Tonight’, to his KEVIN BORICH EXPRESS and The PARTY BOYS, Kevin has performed at some of the biggest Rock events Australia has seen.
KB has been at the pinnacle of the Rock, R&B and Blues music scene since he came to Oz from NZ with the La De Das in the mid 60’s. From that time he has maintained a reputation for high-energy performances and musical excellence. Kevin has played/ recorded or jammed with Renee Geyer, Carlos Santana, Bo Diddley, Ritchie Blackmore, Ron Wood, John Mayall and Taj Mahal. He was a founding member of the Party Boys who undertook tours with Joe Walsh and is truly a guitar playing legend.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Saturday, 17 June
Perry Keyes
George Lane Matinee Sessions 3pm
OR
Evening Show from 7:30pm
Perry grew up in the inner city working class area of Sydney known as Redfern. He grew up in a home populated by various uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents. Every Saturday morning his grandmother would do the house work whilst playing the likes of Ray Charles and Roy Orbison at a volume loud enough to spill out onto the neighbouring streets, lined with tightly-packed terraced houses, warehouses and textile factories.
during his first year at high school that his family moved to the neighbouring area of Waterloo, with its high-rise Department of Housing blocks. It was within this environment that Perry formed the band The Stolen Holdens in 1988. Musically inspired by the likes of The Clash and Elvis Costello and lyrically taking his cue from artists like Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen, Keyes and The Stolen Holdens developed a small but loyal following in the local Sydney music scene. We have added a second Perry Keyes show due to popular demand.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Thursday, 22 June
Les Thomas – Single Launch + Teresa Duffy-Richards
In the winter of 2016, Les Thomas experienced the most harrowing crisis of his life. Like some modern day Don Quixote, he was pushed to his emotional and psychological limits during a campaign to close the Don Dale youth detention centre. In the immediate aftermath and near-hospitalisation, he wrote a song called Man on Fire that poetically captured how it affected him, his family and his fellow activists. The song is about drawing on those painful lessons in a way that can give hope and eventually “to the prize, we rise again.”
Anyone who’s been through an ordeal with extreme highs and lows can relate to, with a chorus that takes off like a spaceship.
It’s frequently the most requested song in Les’s sets and he always knew this would be the lead single for his next album.
Now it’s time to make this song launch official with a very special debut full band show.
Supporting on the night is Teresa Duffy-Richards. “Teresa’s depth and artistry is astonishingly beyond her years and is one of the most exciting voices in alt-country this country has heard in a long time – absolutely gorgeous!” – Kath Devaney, ABC Country
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Friday, 23 June
Dave Wright & The Midnight Ramblers – Album Launch Show
City born but country raised, when Dave Wright puts pen to paper and pick to guitar
strings he knocks out epics and ravers and boozers about girls, cars, Australia, mariticide, Diggers, truckers, sadness, sickness, drunks, heartbroken mothers, angry fathers, desperate sons … and death. Lots of death. It’s a dark road rutted by Holden rust buckets and RSL relics but between 2012-2021 Dave and his band the Midnight Electric released 4 albums and 2 EPS of searing roots rock music.
In July for one night only the band will launch their brand new album Darkness Calling by playing it in full, in sequence at George Lane in St Kilda in a rollicking, thoughtful, and intimate show that is not to be missed.
The band will be joined by supports ‘The Cartridge Family’ and Charlotte Le Lievre on the night.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Saturday, 24 June
The Hornets
(George Lane Matinee Sessions)
The Hornets are steeped in the blues, they rise out of the Yarra Valley delta meeting at the mythical crossroads where Chicago grit has blown in. This is an earthy blues band with a pedigree of outstanding musicians…. the Age’s Warwick McFadyen
Exciting things have happened to The Hornets since they last played George Lane. Not only did they celebrate their Silver Anniversary in 2022 they also recorded a brand new EP and it’s a beauty. Secondly they have been signed by Laneway Music who will publish, not only their new material such as the EP, but also the entirety of their back catalogue, plus a host of unreleased material. The June 24 show will see the band play cuts from the new EP and a selection of songs from their entire career …not to be missed.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Saturday, 24 June
Sweethearts
Sweethearts revive and enliven Soul, Funk & Blues with their trademark Sass that has afforded them return appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Jazz à Vienne & the Porretta Soul Festival with music legends!
“Sweethearts are keeping the music of soul alive and I feel confident that it’s in great hands” Vivian Sessoms, Vocalist, USA.
Experience Sweethearts for yourself and see why artists/music lovers around the world are talking about this band.
“Sweethearts will always be welcome at Montreux Jazz Festival.” Claudia Regolatti, Festival Programmer.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
Friday, 30 June
Nikki Nicholls (Single Launch)
Following on from her album ‘Bridesmaid’ and last single ‘Gravity,’ Nikki is launching her latest song “La La Land” at George Lane on Friday 30th June 2023. When asked about the song she replied, “It’s fascinating how two people can have a totally different narrative regarding a conversation. One is the truth and the other is so far from it, they must be living in La La Land.”
Nikki was the original backing vocalist for The John Farnham band also recording her vocals for the ‘Whispering Jack’ album. She toured with Kylie Minogue throughout the world and at home with Australian Crawl, Suzi Quatro, Richard Clapton, Lulu as well as hundreds of sessions.
Nikki’s special guest on the night will be the fabulous Steve Wade who has won Australian Singer/Songwriter of the Year two years in a row and also replaced Glenn Shorrock in the Little River Band for four years mainly touring the United States of America.
Multiple Ticket Prices + BF
