This original chamber trio lives in the spaces between jazz, folk, classical, and experimental music, featuring Sophie Dunn on violin and viola, Robbie Melville on guitar, and Phil McLeod on accordion. Join us for this wintery program and enjoy mulled wine on the side.

Combining live music performance and storytelling, The Village Square captivates with stories of love and loss, misfortune and mirth. Featuring renowned cellist Zoe Knighton, guitarist/composer Robbie Melville, and the singular Richard Piper as The Narrator. Evocative, enchanting, human.

Juniper Common's very first House Concert!

The Village Square, set in an imagined town some years ago (as all good fairy tales are), is a narrative of love and loss, misfortune and mirth, the graceful and grotesque.

Featuring renowned cellist Zoe Knighton, award winning guitarist/composer Robbie Melville, and the charismatic and much-loved Richard Piper as The Narrator, the fables sparkle with the magic of traditional mythology.

In The Fruit Mechanic, the engine of an obnoxious tourist’s thunderous motorcycle is transformed into silence by an artful greengrocer. In The Fog, a thick cloud descends upon The Village, sending the entire population into a deep sleep until The Dogs discover a way to rouse them. Kind And Sorrowful tells the story of a young man who is saved from drowning by the River Spirit with unforeseen repercussions.

Evocative, enchanting and above all, human, The Village Square is a captivating combination of music and spoken word.

Featuring Sophie Dunn on violin and viola (Devil Goat Family String Band) and accordionist Phil Mcleod (The Blue Grassy Knoll), the The Secret Trio explore a juxtaposition of heavily-structured arrangements with free-spirited extemporisation.

Their music is informed in equal measure by contemporary jazz and Norwegian folk, the sparse and playful writings of Richard Brautigan, the photography of Viktor Kolář, and the film soundtracks of Mark Orton.

Nat’s quartet is best known for their reinterpretations of her classical albums – such as their ARIA-nominated jazz lullaby album Forever More, and the critically acclaimed 2023 release Hope Renewed. Their recordings responds to powerful collective experiences: motherhood, climate change, the pandemic, gender disparities and more. Their live shows are deeply moving, addressing themes with enduring relevance – a chance to sit and reflect, feel emotions, and find the silver linings during difficult times. Nat Bartsch Quartet has performed for audiences across Australia, including Phoenix Central Park, Melbourne Recital Centre, Montsalvat Arts Centre, Woodend Winter Music Festival, The Jazzlab, and The Street Theatre.

Sophie Marcheff is a classically-trained guitarist whose practice spans contemporary/experimental classical music, popular Brazilian music, and chamber music (Melbourne Guitar Quartet). Sophie’s original compositions explore contrapuntal textures paired with an understated yet rich harmonic language.

Robbie Melville is a genre-bending guitarist and composer whose compositions incorporate influences of jazz, folk and classical. His latest albums 'Tangled Trails' and 'Music From The Village Square' successfully weave together such disparate elements into a unified, enchanting musical world. Marcheff and Melville draw on their shared musical passions to present solos and duets, original compositions and free improvisations.

The Invisibles is a dynamic Melbourne-based modern jazz trio led by prominent drummer and composer Ronny Ferella. The band frequently performs a blend of improvised American jazz and roots repertoire in a raw, stripped-back fashion.

Mary Doumany is an Australian harpist, singer and composer. Classically trained, she is fluent across multiple genres including jazz, contemporary, folk and experimental and is known also for creating ground breaking works for harp and other instruments/combinations.

Mary Doumany - vocals/harp Gideon Brazil - saxophones Robbie Melville - guitar

After a 10 year break, raising children, mid life crises and watching the world spin round, Half Bent have gathered a new team of young and inspiring change makers to bring music to the streets of West Brunswick. The festival champions new and creative music, and diversity of thought and artistic practice; but most importantly the festival aims to connect curious listeners and people from all walks of life: with each other, with live music, with their own community.

Solo guitar tunes from "Tangled Trails" and other albums, maybe some covers....improvisations....who knows.

Fiona Ross has secured her reputation as a highly gifted interpreter of Scots song. Her honest, earthy singing style and extensive repertoire showcase the richness of the Scots song tradition. Fiona was a Finalist for Scots Singer of the Year in the prestigious Scots Trad Music Awards 2019. Her most recent album, Sunwise Turn (Fiona Ross & Shane O'Mara), won Best Folk Album in Music Victoria's 2020 Awards and was Finalist for Traditional Album of the Year in the Australian Folk Music Awards 2021.

We've been trying to get together for a gig for several years now. It's finally happening!

Original solo guitar tunes. Maybe some covers. Maybe a special guest bass player called "Bug".

Liz Frencham is an acoustic singer/songwriter and double bassist from Central Victoria, Australia. Renowned for her raw, intimate performances where she seamlessly blends voice and double bass, Liz crafts songs that span genres like folk, swing, and Americana.

With Jacob McGuffie & Robbie Melville

Evocative, enchanting and above all, human, The The Village Square combines live music performance and storytelling. Set in an imagined town some years ago (as all good fairy tales are), The Village Square presents stories of love and loss, misfortune and mirth, the graceful and grotesque.

Robbie Melville - guitar Zoe Knighton - cello Richard Piper - The Narrator

Nat Bartsch is a critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning jazz and classical pianist and composer. Her meditative, lyrical music defies the conventions of genre and deeply resonates, often in profoundly personal moments. Nat's quartet brings this music to life with extraordinary sensitivity, lyricism and emotion.

Liz Frencham is an acoustic singer/songwriter and double bassist from Central Victoria, Australia. Renowned for her raw, intimate performances where she seamlessly blends voice and double bass, Liz crafts songs that span genres like folk, swing, and Americana.

Liz Frencham is an acoustic singer/songwriter and double bassist from Central Victoria, Australia. Renowned for her raw, intimate performances where she seamlessly blends voice and double bass, Liz crafts songs that span genres like folk, swing, and Americana.

Liz Frencham is an acoustic singer/songwriter and double bassist from Central Victoria, Australia. Renowned for her raw, intimate performances where she seamlessly blends voice and double bass, Liz crafts songs that span genres like folk, swing, and Americana.

Liz Frencham is an acoustic singer/songwriter and double bassist from Central Victoria, Australia. Renowned for her raw, intimate performances where she seamlessly blends voice and double bass, Liz crafts songs that span genres like folk, swing, and Americana.

Ragtime Tavern is celebrating 7 years of music, business & community with the High Rotation Festival. Featuring over a dozen acts spread across 3 days.

Presented by Small Space Music

Sophie Marcheff is a classically-trained guitarist whose practice spans contemporary/experimental classical music, popular Brazilian music, and chamber music (Melbourne Guitar Quartet). Sophie’s original compositions explore contrapuntal textures paired with an understated yet rich harmonic language.

Robbie Melville is a genre-bending guitarist and composer whose compositions incorporate influences of jazz, folk and classical. His latest albums 'Tangled Trails' and 'Music From The Village Square' successfully weave together such disparate elements into a unified, enchanting musical world.

Marcheff and Melville draw on their shared musical passions to present solos and duets, original compositions and free improvisations.

9pm Nick Haywood Trio Bass player composer Nick Haywood premier’s a new trio with longtime colleague Ronny Ferella on drums and one of Melbourne's bright new stars Abi Lee on piano.

The trio will perform both standards and originals but will mostly be focussed on group communication and conjuring the spirit of in the moment music making.

Evocative, enchanting and above all, human, The The Village Square combines live music performance and storytelling. Set in an imagined town some years ago (as all good fairy tales are), The Village Square presents stories of love and loss, misfortune and mirth, the graceful and grotesque.

Robbie Melville - guitar Zoe Knighton - cello Richard Piper - The Narrator