Merri Bar brings a run of Melbourne singer-songwriters, folk duos and jazz outfits worth clearing your weekend for.
Trivia keeps the front bar humming, Open Mic Night settles into its new weekly home, and August at Merri Bar brings a run of Melbourne singer-songwriters, folk duos and jazz outfits worth clearing your weekend for.
Trivia continues every Tuesday from 7.30pm. Open Mic Night is now a permanent weekly fixture every Thursday from 7pm, and the first Thursday of each month belongs to Women’s Open Mic Night, hosted by NEGOMi, landing on Thursday 6, this month.
On the weekend stage, August moves from looping singer-songwriter pop to lockdown-born folk, gritty Geelong storytelling, French-inflected jazz and instrumental Latin-soul, closing out with a horn-heavy jam band straight off Winfield Road.
Free entry for all shows. Dogs welcome in the beer garden.
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
Ari Davis
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- Saturday 8 August, 7pm
Indonesian-born and Melbourne-based for over two decades, Ari builds a room fast, pairing powerhouse vocals with looping and guitar work across a deep catalogue of covers and originals. Expect a set that reads the crowd and takes them somewhere.
Tall Timber
- Sunday 9 August, 4pm
Formed in Melbourne during 2020 lockdowns, this folk duo pairs swing guitar with trombone for a sound unlike most acoustic acts. Maxine Sutcliffe and Stephen Lebsanft blend vintage and original songs with warm brass and wooden tones.
Thom Johnston
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- Saturday 15 August, 7pm
A Geelong singer-songwriter with an ear for the contemporary and roots planted firmly in the classics. Thom writes for young people still working themselves out, turning everyday moments into something worth sitting with.
Triur
- Sunday 16 August, 4pm
An original three-piece led by singer-guitarist-songwriter Cornell Davitt, with Claude Bombaci on drums and Kevin McDonald on bass and backing vocals, bringing tight, band-driven original songs to the Sunday slot.
Sanfona
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- Saturday 22 August, 7pm
Sanfona bring French and European groove jazz to life, reworking the likes of Django Reinhardt and Richard Galliano through high-energy improvisation. Festival-hardened and Melbourne-loved, they’ve steadily built a following across the city and regional Victoria.
Tim Richards
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- Sunday 23 August, 4pm
Northern Victoria’s Tim Richards has eight years of gigging behind him and a setlist that swings from Irish trad to alt-rock, country and pop-rock. A versatile, road-tested performer built for moving a Sunday crowd.
Alice Isabella
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- Saturday 29 August, 7pm
An emerging indie-pop singer-songwriter from Naarm/Melbourne, Alice blends acoustic textures with honest storytelling. Her songs move through love, identity and nostalgia, landing somewhere warm and personal well after the last chord fades.
The Winfield Road Experiment
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- Sunday 30 August, 4pm
An instrumental soul, Latin and jazz outfit that’s become a Melbourne must-see. Expect thunderous horns, flamboyant percussion, wailing solos and infectious rhythms from this eclectic, jam-heavy ensemble straight out of Winfield Road.
For more information, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Merri Bar.
