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Bringing the exciting new Jailhouse Concert Series to the heart of Kew, Victoria! 🎶

05/11/2026

Only two weeks to go!

The High Street Drifters, led by Daniel Watkins and Justin Vilchez, will be playing at the Kew Court House as part of the Jailhouse Concert Series 2026.

This Aussie bluegrass band released a self-titled debut EP that won the 2025 AFMA (Australian Folk Music Award) for Debut Album of the Year. The High Street Drifters also received Country Music Association of Australia Golden Guitar Nominations for their standout single “Snakes Reach” for Bluegrass Recording of the Year and Instrumental of the Year.

If you enjoy performances in an intimate setting, pop along to their concert in Kew on Saturday, 21 November 2026.

Advanced bookings recommended. https://thehighstreetdrifters.eventbrite.com.au

Matsumura Blues Festival
The High Street Drifters
What's On Boroondara
AusGov Office for the Arts

04/11/2026

📣 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

We are delighted to announce that Australian folk legends, ERNEST AINES and STEVE ROMIG, will be our feature artists for the Jailhouse Concert Series on Saturday, 21 August 2027.

Steve and Ernest will offer up a celebration of music, family and shared musical heritage. Bringing together two generations of songwriting, distinctive voices and accomplished guitar playing, their performance offers a rare opportunity to experience the musical connection between father and son and will showcase an intimate meeting of stories, songs and influences shaped by a lifetime of music.

Nominated for Australian Folk Alliance Artist of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, and The People's Choice Award in 2025, Ernest Aines blends intricate fingerpicking, atmospheric arrangements, and a soul-stirring voice often likened to Ray LaMontagne, Nick Drake, Bon Iver, and Jeff Buckley. In June 2026, Ernest completed his debut US headline tour, performing nine shows across the country, including multiple sold-out dates. He returns to the US West Coast in October and November 2026 for a second tour spanning California, Oregon and the Seattle region.

Steve Romig needs little introduction. His songs have been recorded by some of Australia's most celebrated artists, including John Farnham, who recorded two of Steve's compositions, Take You Back and Sometimes. His songwriting has also earned international recognition, including awards from the International Songwriting Competition and Billboard for his blues composition Way Down Homeless Blues. In 2007, the song received further honours at the Tasmanian/Victorian Blues Awards.

Join us for a rare opportunity to see Ernest and Steve return to their roots in this father and son duo at the acoustically superior historic Kew Court House in Melbourne.

🎟 Advance bookings recommended due to limited seating capacity.
🔗 https://ernestandsteve.eventbrite.com.au

27/10/2026

📣 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣

Step inside the historic Kew Court House to enjoy A WHALE CALLED PHOENIX's acclaimed 1970's Californian indie rock sound!

💥 A Whale Called Phoenix have built a reputation on Melbourne’s independent music scene for their distinctive blend of indie rock, pop and rootsy, ’70s Southern Californian-inspired sounds. Their music has earned recognition on triple j Unearthed, including reviews from triple j presenters Steph Hughes and Claire Mooney. Hughes praised their track Bears as “a total stomper” with a hypnotic quality, while their track Free / Happy features a guest collaboration with Australian rock icon Tim Rogers.

This 4-piece band have also appeared at established events including the Queenscliff Music Festival and Balaclava Boogie, winning fans with their melodic songwriting, rich vocal harmonies and engaging live performances. Their sound moves effortlessly between sun-soaked rock, thoughtful storytelling and loose, roots-driven energy, creating music that feels both familiar and refreshingly individual.

🎟 Advanced bookings recommended. Venue capacity is limited.
🔗 https://awhalecalledphoenix.eventbrite.com.au

https://awhalecalledphoenix.com
https://matsumura.com.au

A Whale Called Phoenix
Matsumura Blues Festival
What's On Boroondara

26/10/2026

💥 Get ready for our next Jailhouse Concert at the Kew Court House where we will be featuring THE HIGH STREET DRIFTERS for a bluegrass party night you won't forget! Let's end the 2026 year on a high note!

🎻 The High Street Drifters are a five-piece bluegrass band playing original tracks to festival audiences around the country, having played at most of the biggies this year, including Woodford Folk Festival, Dorrigo Folk & Bluegrass Festival, Gympie Music Muster and Tamworth Country Music Festival. We are looking forward to having the band grace the Kew Court House stage on Saturday, 21 November 2026. Come down to enjoy their performance and to meet the band.

Tickets are selling fast so pop onto Eventbrite - 🔗 https://thehighstreetdrifters.eventbrite.com.au 🎟Numbers capped at this venue at 80 so get in quick!

Matsumura Blues Festival
The High Street Drifters
What's On Boroondara
AusGov Office for the Arts
🙏 Revive Live Grant Program

25/10/2026

📣 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT! 📣

We are delighted to announce that one of Melbourne's leading Blues and Soul singer-songwriters, Oscar LaDell, and his band, will be our feature artist for the Jailhouse Concert on Saturday, 20 March 2027. Catch this spectacular rising star at the Kew Court House while you still can! There is no question that Oscar LaDell is quickly developing a global reputation as he solidifies his international touring career having toured to the UK, Europe and the United States.

Back at home in Australia and New Zealand, LaDell enjoys a growing audience due to local touring and a string of high profile support slots. LaDell has warmed the stage for Blues legends Charlie Musselwhite, Robben Ford and Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram. In April and May 2025, LaDell travelled with Blues Troubadour Eric Bibb as the support act for his Australian tour and for local acts such as the Bondi Ci**rs from Sydney, Wilson Blackley (NZ) and his father King Leo (NZ).

A second generation musician, LaDell’s early life was soundtracked by Blues and Soul albums from artists like Curtis Mayfield, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt and Sam Cooke. The results of this musical diet are immediately evident in his work.

Direct, yet hard to define, LaDell’s songs are anchored by his rich, storied voice and feature minimalist arrangements. In November 2026, Oscar will celebrate the release of his debut solo album "Untouchable", telling the story of living his 20’s in the 2020’s; a coming-of-age characterised by heartbreak, resilience and the need for change.

Don't miss your chance to see Oscar perform in an intimate setting at the Kew Court House where you can enjoy the very best of what Oscar and his band have to offer!

🎟 Advance bookings are recommended as these tickets won't last for long.
🔗 https://oscarladell.eventbrite.com.au

https://www.oscarladell.com
Oscar LaDell

Photo Credit: Charlie Ashford

https://matsumura.com.au
Matsumura Blues Festival
What's On Boroondara

24/10/2026

📣 ARTIST ANNOUNCEMENT 📣

💥 A unique double bill you won't want to miss!

Matsumura Blues Festival Inc is delighted to host the opening Jailhouse Concert for 2027 at the Kew Court House, featuring JOE H HENRY from Nova Scotia and our very own Blues royalty, FIONA BOYES from New South Wales.

Joe and Fiona will join forces for the first time at this Double Bill concert, in the cosy setting of the Kew Court House. Both musicians have spent time during their music careers in the Mississippi Delta, so if Delta blues are your thing, come on down to immerse yourself in some seriously good Delta slide guitar and single chord Mississippi Hills grooves, which we are bound to hear during this unique collaboration!

Joe H Henry is a Nova Scotia-based, Red River Métis (indigenous) singer-songwriter, who has been lighting up stages in Canada and around the world with a sound that fuses early rhythm and blues, with Americana grit and deep-rooted emotion. Joe will be making his way back to Australia in February 2027 en route to perform at the 50th Port Fairy Folk Festival and the Blue Mountains Music Festival 2027. If you prefer a more intimate setting to enjoy Joe's music, this concert is for you!

https://www.joehhenry.com
Joe Henry

Armed with her electric guitar and unique cigar box instruments, internationally acclaimed blues woman Fiona Boyes, is the only Australian musician ever to be recognised by the American Blues Foundation (Memphis) "Blues Music Awards", with 8 nominations, including 2019 "Traditional Female Artist of the Year", USA.
Fiona won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2003, in the solo/duo category and was inducted into the Blues Music Victoria Inc Hall of Fame in 2022.

Fiona is a magnetic and distinctive blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, and her music draws on a myriad of traditional styles, taking her audience on a "virtual Blues road trip".

https://www.fionaboyes.com
Fiona Boyes

DOUBLE BILL Concert on Saturday, 27 February 2027
Late afternoon show: 5.30pm to 7.00pm
Evening show: 8.00pm to 9.30pm

🎟 Early bird tickets ON SALE NOW through Eventbrite.
🔗 https://joeandfiona.eventbrite.com.au

What's On Boroondara

22/10/2026

📣 2027 PROGRAM RELEASE!

We are delighted to announce the 2027 program for the Jailhouse Concert Series at the Kew Court House. 👏

🙏 Next year's program will receive some support by the Australian Government under its Revive Live Grant Program and through venue subsidies provided by the City of Boroondara. Thank you!

🙏 Thanks to the artists who have signed up to perform as part of next year's concert. We wish to acknowledge all artists who submitted an application this year, and hope you will apply again next year for the 2028 concert series. We haven't ruled out adding a few more concerts this year but will see how things go.

🎟 Tickets will go on sale soon, so stay posted!

https://matsumura.com.au
AusGov Office for the Arts
What's On Boroondara
Beat Magazine
Australian Musician
Blues Music Victoria Inc.
Hume Blues Club Inc

📸 Sebastian Parker

10/10/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to PAULINE BAILEY for her incredible success in launching the music encyclopedia BLUES PORTRAIT VOLUME 6!!

To launch this book in style, a succession of the blues music greats of Melbourne played yesterday at Pauline's Book Launch down at Stingos. A great afternoon was had by all!

You can buy your copy of the Blues Portrait by contacting Pauline on https://paulinebaileyart.com. This is a highly recommended edition to your home library or coffee table. Once again, well done Pauline for your impressive contribution to the Australian music industry.

Blues Portrait - A profile of the Australian blues scene by Pauline Bailey

27/06/2026

🎺🧐 So what's up next in the Jailhouse Concert Series 2026?

🌺 In August, Kris Mizzi, Amy Vee and Anna Weatherup will perform a mini folk fest down at the Kew Court House. Tickets for this show have sold out BUT!...we have tickets on sale for the following two concerts:

Sat 17 October 2026, featuring the Joshua Batten Band, Montana Sharp & Justin Yap
Sat 21 November 2026, featuring the The High Street Drifters.

Tickets for these two concerts won't last long, so advance bookings are highly recommended to secure your spots!

🎫 https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/jailhouse-concert-series-2026-kew-court-house-4784003

Address

Kew, VIC
3101

Website

https://linktr.ee/matsumurabluesfestival

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