Four-time ARIA winner Meg Washington will premiere her new album GEM at Monash University Performing Arts Centre this October.
MPAC’s 2025 artist-in-residence, Meg Washington brings her latest musical chapter to life with a one-night-only performance featuring her full band alongside Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music students. GEM marks Washington’s first album of original material in five years, created in collaboration with producer Ben Edgar and released independently via her own Batflowers Records.
Washington’s residency represents more than just an album launch. She’ll work directly with Monash University music students, who will provide vocals and strings for several new songs during the performance. Student winners of Monash’s 2025 Songwriting Prize will open the show, presenting their own original material as part of the university’s growing Popular Music stream.
Meg Washington
- Friday 10 October
- Alexander Theatre, Monash University Performing Arts Centre, Clayton
Check out our gig guide here.
GEM, Washington’s name spelled backwards, explores themes of nature, creativity and self-determination through shimmering, guitar-laden arrangements paired with deeply personal lyricism. Also known these days as the voice of Calypso on Bluey, Washington has built a reputation as a masterful storyteller whose genre-bending approach continues to evolve with each release.
Monash University stands as one of very few institutions offering a Popular Music specialisation, with this cohort now forming 40% of its School of Music. Washington’s residency provides an unparalleled opportunity for young singer-songwriters who don’t always fit traditional conservatoire settings, striking a chord with her own artistic journey.
Beyond the main performance, MPAC will also present Sayes Arares from 16-19 September, a poetic multichannel visual and sound documentary exploring Papua New Guinea’s Middle Sepik region. Additionally, Bell Shakespeare returns to MPAC on 23 October with their acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet.
This collaboration between Washington and Monash’s music students creates an incredibly engaged performance opportunity, showcasing how established artists can nurture emerging talent while presenting their own work in fresh contexts.
For more information, head here.
