It's going to be an exciting month at the Merri Bar, as the finest talents in town take the stage in the weekends to bring you country, rock, folk, blues and a jolly good time.
Yet again, this beloved gem of Preston delivers an amazing lineup of artists to keep us enthralled in this cold winter season. Sit back and relax, as these talented artists bring their guitars and light up the stage at the weekends.
If you are interested in joining the stage yourself, pull up to their open mic competition held every first Thursday of the month. Hosted by the charismatic Mr Alford, the competition is just plenty of fun all around! Sign up here if you believe you’ve got what it takes to woo the crowd. Plus, every Tuesday night is The Merri Bar’s famous trivia, with prizes to be won…
On the live music front, the likes of classic blues, alternative country, math rock, post-folk and much more are all to be enjoyed at the venue this August. Read on for a list of the special musicians who will be the venue’s entertainers for the month.
P.S. we’ve got the goss that The Merri Bar is going to get an incredible in-house kitchen very soon…stay tuned for more info on that later.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Nick Howells (The Distant South)
- Saturday, 3 August
- 7pm
If you’re into the likes of Sierra Ferrel, Jason Isbell and Gillian Welch, then you’ll have a lot of fun with Nick Howell. As someone who’s spearheaded The Distant South since its formation, Nick knows something about alt-country and Americana. His rich storytelling covers the sentimental journeys of love, depression, heartbreak, ecstasy and everything else that lies in between.
Troy Wilson
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- Sunday, 4 August
- 4pm
Original songs, blues and juke joint stomps, Troy Wilson and his resonator guitar have got everything you need for a merry afternoon! If his excellent skills on the instrument don’t get you smiling or laughing, then it might just get you singing along with tears in your eyes.
Alister Turrill
- Saturday, 10 August
- 7pm
Having won the 2011 Melbourne Youth in Blues award and shared the stage with Jeff Lang, Geoff Achison and Lloyd Spiegel on several occasions, Alister Turill is well-seasoned in the Australian blues. His early breakout made him an exceptional songwriter who never stopped maturing and growing, blending an exceptional true blues playing style with an intricate songwriting approach.
Rhys Thompson
- Sunday, 11 August
- 4pm
Rhys writes reflective and at times melancholy songs informed by memories, fond and less so, of late nights and bleary-eyed mornings he’s collected throughout the era of inescapable adulthood that typifies a modern-day coming of age. Influenced by storytellers the likes of Justin Townes Earl and Gillian Welch his music draws on the time-honoured musical traditions of Alt-Country and Americana to bring his narrative to life.
Previously Thompson has toured the country in a number of musical success stories, whilst this is Melbourne’s first insight into new original works exploring a folk narrative that’s been engrained from the beginning.
Matt Burrows
- Saturday, 17 August
- 7pm
Drawing influence from artists such as Sam Brookes and Bon Iver, Matt Burrows’ special indie sound blends folk and blues to create songs that are beautifully introspective and full of emotion. He delivers these tunes with such a raw and powerful voice,
James Fahy
- Sunday, 18 August
- 4pm
It’s the perfect opportunity to sit back with a cold one and warm yourself at the Merri Bar, as James Fahy’s music takes you on an undeniably relaxing journey of post-folk goodness. His special sauce is in the way he bops and weaves through melodies on top of an already mesmerizing fingerpicking technique that acts as the backbones of his tunes.
Ebi Nori
- Saturday, 24 August
- 7pm
Ebi Nori’s storytelling and soulful voice is the forefront of the exciting Phantom Fingers, who together with Ebi’s soulful voice, bring new fusions of grunge, math rock and post-punk in ways like no other. Ebi and the gang have been known to speak politically and personally with harsh guitar tones and strong interwoven grooves. Their words are strong and impactful, with the music to back it up!
Hugh McGinlay
- Sunday, 25 August
- 4pm
As a musician, Hugh and his trusty acoustic guitar is known to brilliantly cross genres with his music. Not only that, but his background as an author has also added an intelligent and poetic layer to his songwriting that perfectly complements his sound.
The Tipplers
- Saturday, 31 August
- 7pm
This Irish quartet blends guitar, cello, fiddle and mandolin with brilliant synergy to create a nostalgic traditional Irish folk sound that is sure to get your toes tapping and stuff strutting. Ciaran, James, Olly and Alex have brought their musical culture in the best way possible, combining melancholy and optimism for songs that bring out the best of both worlds.
Check out everything else coming up and follow The Merri Bar here.
This article was made in partnership with The Merri Bar.
