Re-discover the joy of live music at The Bowery Theatre over three Fridays in November with some of Australia's best contemporary artists.
Nestled in the heart of Melbourne’s West, Creative Brimbank has become a welcoming and vibrant hub for artists and the community coming together, bringing quality experiences in performing and visual arts to the west, and delivering an engaging program of creative workshops, festivals and events.
Following on from the recent Resonate Youth Music Showcase at Be Bold Festival, the team at Creative Brimbank has announced Resonate Live Music Series, a curated program showcasing the best contemporary music Australia has to offer alongside our local and emerging artists.
Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
Hosting three incredible nights of Victoria’s most talented music artists, the event will be one of Creative Brimbank’s most exciting ventures to date, aiming to not only inject performance and live music back into the west but also invite audiences to discover new voices, be inspired by songs, and find connection through sound.
The series will run over three Friday nights in November, bringing two special acts to the Bowery Theatre stage for each edition.
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First up, on Friday, November 4, Emma Donovan and the Putbacks will grace the stage alongside special guest Pirritu.
By now, you’ve likely come across the acclaimed Indigenous vocalist Emma Donovan and Melbourne rhythm combo The Putbacks. They first burst onto the Australian scene with their album Dawn in 2014, announcing a new voice in Australian soul music. After six years, the band reunited launching the long-awaited Crossover in 2020 to great acclaim.
Donovan’s songwriting is optimistic, impassioned, and bruisingly honest, The Putbacks’ music is fluid, live and raw, and the collaboration has won friends and admirers all over the world. The Putbacks are stone-cold pros, grizzled veterans of all the tours and all the studios. They’re one of the tightest, sharpest, slickest, most dynamic musical units ever to exist when they come together. Their collaboration with Donovan elevates their music and Donovan’s songs to another level.
Having toured and recorded with the likes of Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, Spinifex Gum, Christine Anu, Yothu Yindi, Jimmy Little and Paul Kelly among others, the renowned Indigenous soul singer and powerhouse has a voice that deserves to be heard.
You won’t want to miss this spell-binding experience, especially with a support slot from Pirritu. The musical moniker of proud Wangaaypuwan mayi of the Ngiyampaa clan, a creative thinker, educator, storyteller and musician Brett Lee, Pirritu’s music is gentle, honest and melodic, enticing you into the depths of his personal journey, to sing you a story of sadness, love and hope. Prepare to be mesmerised.
The following Friday, November 11, will see Didirri perform with special guest Mercii Makepeace.
Growing up in Warrnambool, Melbourne-based storytelling truth seeker Didirri turned to music as a way to be honest. Piano came first, but he later picked up guitar and found the connection to the instrument ran deep.
Since then, Didirri’s challenging and thoughtful writing, charming melodies, combined with on-stage charisma and relatable depth has continually won over listeners around the world. With millions of streams to his name and a knack for writing songs that are simultaneously heartbreaking and healing, and approaching real issues with smile, Didirri is an artist with something to say.
Inspired by acoustic covers growing up, Queer Pasefik singer-songwriter Mercii Makepeace will take to the stage ahead of Didirri, promising a truly spellbinding evening for the west.
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The final night of the series, on November 18, spotlights the ever-talented Kee’ahn, a proud Kuku Yalanji, Jirrbal, Zenadth Kes song woman.
Venturing from her home town in North Queensland, to pursue her dream in the Kulin Nation, Kee’ahn aims to honour her name (meaning to dance, to sing, to play) and Ancestors through her soulful music that weaves lush melodies and words reminiscent of heartbreak and healing.
Her rich vocals and hopeful lyrics champion the idea that finding strength in our struggles, encourages us to reflect, reinvent, and rejoice in all of our own individual healing journeys.
“As a First Nations woman, my connection to music is strong because of my connection to my culture. I come from a long line of disruptors. My matriarchs were told to quieten their voices, but our stories were always shared and heard. My voice and my music allows me to connect to my Ancestors and to my purpose.”
Her impressive performance credits include Laneway Festival alongside Courtney Barnett and Thelma Plum, Port Fairy Festival and Dark Mofo.
Soli Tesema, who you might recognise from The Voice 2014, joins as the special guest for the final evening. One of the city’s finest up-and-coming R&B acts, Tesema is heavily inspired by Gospel music with her velvet soulful tones captivating audiences Australia-wide.
The Resonate Live Music Series will run on Friday, November 4, Friday, November 11 and Friday, November 18 at 33 Princess Street, St Albans. Tickets are $32, concession is $26 with groups of six or more at $20 each.
You can find out more and book tickets here.
This article was made in partnership with Creative Brimbank.
