Work got you down? Need a little R&R? We may just have your plans sorted for you...
The August forceast is shaping up to be even more gloomy and frigid than the last. Worry not though, here at the Memo spirits are always high! And also conveniently available at the bar, along with a smattering of other warming libations sure to keep even the most persistent frigid sea air at bay.
Come take your place within the Memo’s storied halls and settle in for a month of music worth remembering, a place that’s sure to reinvigorate you every single time. So, why not pay them a visit? Or three? Or five? There’s absolutely nothing stopping you, it’s a no-brainer, really.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Into the Mystic: The Music of Van Morrison
- Saturday, August 3rd.
- Buy tickets here.
- Selling fast!
On the 3rd, get ready for a retrospective like no other as Mystic Joe Creighton takes us for a ride across time, giving us a masterful reading of the Irishman’s best work from his decades-long career. Though he’s not quite our Belfast Cowboy, there’s genuinely no one more qualified for the job than Joe and his slicker-than-slick 8-piece band, who’d give Van the Man a run for his money any day of the week. The Memo is no stranger to this show, so it’s safe to say that Joe and co. have every base covered.
Hugh Cornwell (UK)
- Sunday, August 4th
- w/ Little Murders
- Buy tickets here.
- Selling fast!
The 4th will go down as a momentous occasion, and one not to be missed by anyone claiming to own half a brain. Hugh Cornwell of the Stranglers is coming to St Kilda! A poet laureate forged in the crucible of punk, Cornwell paved the way for punks breaking into the new wave and was a trailblazer amongst his contemporaries, rocketing the Stranglers to their throne atop the British music charts in the late 70s. Since parting ways with the gang after sixteen wonderful years in 1990, Cornwell’s kept himself more than busy, and with the Memo being only one of eight stops on this tour Down Under, we can safely assume this train won’t be losing steam any time soon. Supported by power-pop legends Little Murders, it’s never a frown with golden brown.
George Michael & Whitney Houston: Keep the Faith
- Friday, August 9th
- w/ Greg Gould and Sarah C
- Buy tickets here.
What’s that? They’ve done what? They’ve brought George Michael and Whitney Houston back from the grave? That can’t be true, can it? Well, not quite, but hot damn have they done a pretty amazing job, even with big shoes (and big hair) to fill. Come down to the Memo to see some of the best in the biz channel the spirit of some of the greatest to ever grace the airwaves. Feeling a little sceptical? Normally we would too, but with a duo like Sarah C and Greg Gould on stage, the voice is in good hands. We’ll see you there, no careless whispers included.
BABBA 30th Anniversary
- Saturday, August 10th
- Buy tickets here.
Mamma Mia, here I go again, my my, how can I (the reader) resist you (going to Memo Music Hall to see BABBA celebrate their 30th anniversary)? If you had your eyes closed, you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference between these cats and the fated Swedes themselves, bringing pitch-perfect renditions of all their greatest hits to stages the world over for the past three decades. Renditions so pitch-perfect, that Benny Andersson himself has paid them some recognition, commending them for going “twice as long as we did it for” back in 2019, so what better time for a bit of a victory lap on home soil?
Seventh Wonder
- Sunday, August 11th
- Buy tickets here.
Come bear witness to Seventh Wonder, as they play Fleetwood Mac’s seminal album Rumours in full, for one night only. This is truly a world-class show and the effort that’s been put into faithfully reproducing the lighting in a bottle captured by the Mac is palpable, minus the infidelity and drug abuse. At the helm of it all is Bloom, who has made quite a name for herself through her dedication and deep appreciation for the band. While we may never have our very own mirage tour experience, this might just be the next best thing, and you’d be remiss passing this up.
Queen Forever
- Friday, August 16th
- Buy tickets here.
It seems that August may be the month for tribute bands at the Memo, with yet another on the lineup, with this group of cool cats taking on the elegant, the exuberant, the eccentric, the ever-indulgent Queen. Though no small task at all, these funky few barely even break a sweat as they completely transform into Queen’s live roster circa 1986, with Gareth Hill becoming our very own Freddie Mercury, Scott Bastian metamorphosing into Brian May as he lives and breathes, Brad Hodgkinson the one and only Roger Taylor, Darryn McLaughlin holding down the fort as John Deacon, and Danny Oakhill and Spike Edney rounding out the whole affair on keys. They really are quite impressive, and they’re definitely going to punch a hole in the sky should they get their way.
A Night with TINA
- Saturday, August 17th
- Buy tickets here.
Let’s turn up the heat a little! This ain’t your grandma’s tribute show (maybe more of a weird aunt?), as the Memo turns into a cabaret jazz club for the night, with a twist. Prepare to be received in ultra-high-definition technicolour splendour as Tina goes drag! Strap yourselves in the dazzling Fabio Cattafi summons the very spirit of Tina herself, a second wind of sorts, bringing the late and great Queen of Rock n Roll back to life! Backed up by 6 professional dancers and over 35 years of experience in choreography, you won’t know what hit you, they’ve really pulled out all the stops.
Jason Singh
- Friday, August 23rd
- Buy tickets here.
- w/ Errin Kelly
- Jeff Buckley’s Grace turns 30!
Everyone’s got a Jeff Buckley story, truly the voice of a generation cut far too short under most unusual circumstances (how do you decide to go for a swim, fully clothed, in the middle of the night, stone-cold sober, then get caught in the wake of a boat and drown?), but I digress. In light of this, the 23rd marks the 30th anniversary of the release of his seminal album Grace, and who better to perform it in full than Jason Singh of Taxiride! Can it be done? There’s only really one way to find out. We’ll see you there.
Raw Brit: The Boys are Back in Town
- Saturday, August 24th
- w/ Mick Pealing, Dave Leslie, John Favaro, Peter “Maz” Maslen & Tim Henwood
- Buy tickets here.
The boys are back! Which boys you may ask? Only some of the heaviest hitters in the Aussie rock canon, alumni from the likes of the Baby Animals, Stars and Boom Crash Opera to be exact. The 24th will be a hot and sweaty one, as these old codgers show us folk that they’ve still got plenty in the tank, and enough in their back pockets for a six-pack of brews and a deck of Winny blues to go! On top of that, they’ve got a secret weapon in tow in the form of Tim Henwood, who’s a bit of a maniac with a guitar in his hands, serving up all the hottest licks. They’ll be slinging some of the best in hard rock to come out of Britain in the 60s and 70s; think Led Zeppelin, 10cc, Bad Company, Thin Lizzy etc. You get the picture. Let’s get loud!
Soul Sacrifice: The Music of Santana
- Sunday, August 25th
- Buy tickets here.
Witness a historical recount of the musical history of the one and only Carlos Santana, the progenitor and pioneer of Chicano rock, a fusion of rock, blues and jazz, infused with the essence and the sounds of Latin America. Though the man himself may not be gracing the Memo with his presence, we are being blessed by the arrival of some of the genre’s most dedicated disciples: Soul Sacrifice! Playing tunes from across the Santana catalogue, be it the classics or the modern standards, get ready to move what your mama gave you for one night only!
An Evening with Andrew De Silva
- Friday, August 30th
- Buy tickets here.
With a career spanning 3 decades, marked with setbacks and success, Andrew De Silva is above all else, a fighter. Coming up with chart-topping R&B group CDB, De Silva has built up quite the solo career over the years, the 30th marks a night of celebration, a statement from a man who knows his place within the musical canon, someone who has worked tirelessly to be where he is.
Taylor Sheridan
- Saturday, August 31st
- w/ special guest Kathleen Halloran
- Buy tickets here.
We’ve got an album launch! on the 31st, songwriter and auteur Taylor Sheridan will be launching his much-anticipated debut album, Troubadour. He won’t be going at it alone however, backed by a band of some of the most talented in the industry, though “talented” is probably an understatement; these cats have their paws in all kinds of modern music pedigree, be it Tina Arena, Angus and Julia Stone, Cat Empire, Charli xcx, the list goes on! This intimate, one-off show, will offer audiences a rare chance to walk around inside the ambitious songster’s head, a chance to see where all the stories and music come from. Supported by the fine Kathleen Halloran, it’s sure to be a night you won’t soon forget.
Want the memo on all things Memo Music Hall? Find their website here.
