Chapel Off Chapel has been home to countless iconic musos and their fans, hosting more than 20,000 artists and crew and close to a million patrons since opening its doors in 1995.
This May, the beloved venue is bringing back its signature music series, Chapel Sessions. Some of Australia’s most captivating voices and musicians will bring the heat to the altar of music, paying tribute to the legacy and future of the iconic gig space.
This isn’t any old anniversary, and these aren’t any old gigs. From stripped-back sessions to sonic experimentations, each show will deliver a prolific artist with an intimacy like no other. Suffice to say, the experience will be a near-religious one – all taking place, of course, under The Chapel’s famed stained-glass window.
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The Music of Ennio Morricone & The Spaghetti West
- Saturday, May 3
Fans of spaghetti westerns unite – the iconic genre is coming to life at Chapel Off Chapel. Helping to muster the music of Italian cowboys to the stage will be the legendary artists behind The Counterfeit.
“We’ve been diving deep into the music of Morricone and the Spaghetti West, and it’s been a thrilling ride,” says musical director Harley Stewart.
“It’s our first time at Chapel Off Chapel – and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s the perfect venue to bring the Wild West to life with our 10-piece posse, new material and the incredible Freya Josephine Hollick out front. We’re pulling out all the stops for our Chapel Sessions debut.”
Thndo
- Saturday, May 17
She’s not dubbed the ‘First Lady of soul and R&B’ for no reason. After years of being a regular at Chapel Off Chapel, this gig is a homecoming for Thndo.
“I’ve had the immense privilege of developing my craft on the Chapel Off Chapel stage since as early as 2014,” she reflects.
“From musical theatre to rock to pop, the four walls of this space have been instrumental in helping me find my voice. There’s a certain magic that exists here… something feels safe about exploring and sharing my gift at Chapel. As I reassess my path forward in the music industry, it feels fitting to bid farewell to my artistry as you know it right here at my home base.”
Thndo will be accompanied by Caleb Shand, James Bowers and Anthony Murray, with musical direction from Cristian Barbieri.
Riebl Tedesco McGill
- Sunday, May 18
Flamenco guitarist Richard Tedesco is teaming up with The Cat Empire’s Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill for a show that will combine solo original work, reimagined The Cat Empire deep cuts and new collaborative works. The intimate show will act as a forum to premiere the trio’s new collaboration. We can only cross our fingers and hope that it’ll be the first of many more.
“Chapel Off Chapel has held a special place in my heart ever since I first played there back in 2006 with The Cat Empire. There’s a certain magic in venues like this – intimate, character-filled spaces where music truly connects. They’re vital in the cultural landscape, and it’s more important than ever that we support them,” says Riebl.
“ This upcoming show is going to be something really special, together with Ollie McGill and Richard Tedesco. It’ll be a night full of surprises – we are so looking forward to this.”
Mo’Ju
- With Lewis Coleman
- Friday, May 23
To cap off Chapel Sessions, sonic superstar Mo’Ju will be taking over the stage. The multi-talented artist will bring an intimate piano and vocal performance, traversing stories and sound. Lewis Coleman will also be joining the lineup, putting his groove-heavy indie rock on full blast.
“I’ve had the good fortune to play a lot of shows in my career, from pubs and clubs to theatres and concert halls, festivals, stadiums and arenas,” says Mo’Ju.
“But for me, I think there is really something magical about playing venues like Chapel Off Chapel. There’s so much storytelling in my music and the intimacy between artist and audience in rooms like these creates the perfect atmosphere for the stories at the heart of the songs to shine through. These types of shows are where I thrive onstage.”
For more information on Chapel Sessions and to book your tickets, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Chapel Off Chapel.
