EMILY/GRANT is the formidable duo of rock loving guitarist Grant Staines and conservatorium trained pianist Emily Coyle (piano, vocals).

Together their original songs traverse an “eclectic, complex yet accessible style which effortlessly mixes elements of classical, funk, blues, rock, pop and jazz”( X-press magazine)

Witnessing Grant’s “buckley-esque guitar work” (X-press magazine) alongside Emily’s “soaring vocals” (Hype Magazine) and ivory pounding skill at the piano, you won’t be left wondering why this duo’s cinematic sound and evocative lyrics have captured audiences from Spain, to Paris and New York.

EMILY/ GRANT are returning to the Palais to perform songs from their latest studio releases “The City” and “Turning Around” which consolidated their reputation as one of those unique Australian acts whose style cannot be put into a box.

If you love sophisticated, compelling Australian songwriting, you probably won’t want to miss this show set for Friday evening May 31 at the Palais, Hepburn.

All skill levels and styles will be welcome as The Palais, Hepburn brings back Musicians’ Corner Open Mic Night on the last Thursday of every month, hosted by Ben & Dan.

Starting next Thursday, May 30, the regular open mic nights will be prime opportunities for music-loving patrons to get along to the Palais and enjoy catching the local musos as they showcase their talent in a cosy, community atmosphere with everyone welcome.

Musician’s Corner is an Open Mic night, run by musicians, and is focussed on creating a fun, respectful and welcoming outlet for local musicians to share their music in an intimate live setting.

It’s a chance to meet and mingle with like- minded musos and get involved in the local scene.

Performers of all levels will be welcome and can bring along their friends and family or just meet some friendly people on the night.

The night is held in the cosy salon and runs from 7pm till 10pm, with sign up from 6:30pm, or registrations via the link on the venue’s website.

Much of the audience will be fellow performers and The Palais management says it will be encouraging everyone to stay the whole night and share the love with more details on the venue’s website.

Words: Eve Lamb

B Sharp Burlesk is an exciting new show with a focus on classic burlesque, traditional bump n grind, showgirl dance, vaudeville and comedic slapstick and it’s headed to The Palais, Hepburn early next month.

Aimed at those who love glamour, fancy costumes, feathers and old fashioned tease, the show promises a night of nostalgia but with a modern twist.

Featuring a sensational cast of the creme de la creme of burlesque stars and special guests, B Sharp Burlesk is scheduled for Saturday evening, June 1.

Get Rhythm The Johnny Cash and June Carter Show are heading to the Palais-Hepburn this Mothers’ Day, Sunday May 12 for a pretty special show.

Lead by real life married couple, Mark and Joanne Caligiuri, this duo have gained a reputation as “Australia’s most authentic Johnny Cash and June Carter Show’.

Mark and Joanne started performing as country music’s most famous couple 15 years ago and have gained a lot of attention for their close resemblance and vocals to Johnny Cash and June Carter.

The upcoming Palais gig will be a chance to step back in time and listen to Cash’s biggest hits such as Folsom Prison Blues, Walk the Line, Ring of Fire and famous duets Jackson and Long-Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man.

It’s a matinee afternoon show for 12:45 pm  4:00 pm and dancing is optional.

Luoda is their original music to Victoria’s beautiful Spa Country for the first time, playing songs from their debut album “Running Out of Time” as well as some new music to be recorded this year.

They play the Palias, Hepburn Springs on Saturday evening, April 20.

In addition to some of the country’s finest session musicians, they’ll be unveiling their newest addition – renowned Australian singer, Nina Ferro.

Original vocal-driven soul-rock from Melbourne, the members of Luoda bring extraordinary experience and sophisticated musicality to their songs.

Having pledged a lifelong commitment to refining their craft, members have written, recorded and performed in a staggering array of styles and contexts, spanning Avant-Garde Jazz to Acoustic Folk-Pop to Heavy Metal to Symphonic Orchestral music, to audiences all over the world in jazz clubs, theatres, stadiums, and through television sets.

Luoda’s music marries pop, jazz and rock sensitivities with complex chord progressions, intricate vocal harmonies and stylistic diversity.

The band’s debut album “Running Out of Time” is a powerhouse infusion of pop-rock, RnB and jazz-influenced music.

Rolling Stone Magazine once described Kevin Welch as “One of the best songwriters in America”.

Welch has written songs for Roger Miller, Waylon Jennings, The Highwaymen, Solomon Burke and Linda Ronstadt and he is headed to Hepburn Springs to play the Palais this month together with The Weeping Willows.

Three-times Country Music Assocation of Australia ‘Golden Guitar’ winners and two-times Australian Folk Music and Music Victoria Award winners, The Weeping Willows (Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth) are a couple of old souls, steeped in Bluegrass tradition and draped in Gothic Americana imagery.

They regale their audiences with stories of sunshine and romance, God and the devil, murder and decay.

Together again, Kevin Welch and The Weeping Willows return to the Palais-Hepburn, performing a set each before joining forces for some fairly special collaborations on Friday evening April 19.

The Palais at Hepburn Springs is delving into its in-house spirits as it prepares to host a Paranormal Investigation with medium later this month.

The evening event is set for Wednesday April 17 at the local venue that is reputed to be home to it’s own spirit diva who loves messing with the stage lights and parading her feathers backstage.

There is also said to sometimes be a Mafiosa gentleman sitting and smoking in the middle of the dancefloor, a touchy feely and well known spirit loitering in the ladies room.

Organisers reckon there could be more so they’ve decided t explore with psychic medium and hostess Dolly Adamson of Kyneton Paranormal.

Further details are availabe through the venue’s website.

Felicity Urquhart and Josh Cunningham have created a sacred place in the hearts of those who cross their path with their candid and charming music and storytelling.

They’ll be bringing both to The Palais, Hepburn as part of their Birdsong tour this month.

Their newest album Birdsong (released last September) is a 10-track celebration about conquering the cage and finding your voice, delivered with the masterful songwriting and musicianship listeners have come to expect from the pair.

Rooted in the Blues, Country, and Folk traditions, their music is subtle and arresting, weighty and spacious.

The duo have secured an impressive six CMAA Golden Guitar nominations, including “Group or Duo of the Year”, while their album Birdsong is nominated for “Traditional Country Album of the Year” and “Album of the Year.”

Radio single “Size Up” has also been nominated in three categories, including “Song of the Year,” “CMT Video of the Year” and “Single of the Year.”The freedom song of a bird in full throated ease is glorious and captivating. Don’t miss out on experiencing Birdsong live.

This heavyweight album and show is sure to impact audiences, plus performances feature ARIA and Golden Guitar-winning songs from the duo’s back catalogue that fans know and love. They play at the Palais on Saturday evening March 23.

The New York Times called him ‘deliciously addictive’ and said that when you listen to Harry Manx ‘you are listening to an original.’

Seven time Maple Blues Award Winner, Folk Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and recipient of six Juno nominations, Harry Manx is headed to The Palais, Hepburn next months so locals will soon get the chance to see what the New York Times was talking about.

Manx has spent years fusing eastern musical traditions with the blues, switching effortlessly between conventional guitars, harmonica, and banjo and the decidedly different Mohan veena, a 20-stringed instrument invented by Manx’ Indian mentor Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Manx is often referred to as the “Mysticssippi” Blues Man because musically Harry lives where the depth of Indian music meets the deep groove of the Blues.

Blend Indian folk melodies with slide guitar blues, add a sprinkle of gospel and some compelling grooves and you’ll get Manx’s unique “mysticssippi” flavour. It’s hard to resist and keeps audiences coming back for more.

He will play at the Palais Friday evening, March 15.

Australian folk troubadour Cooper Lower is quickly garnering a reputation as one of Australia’s most captivating young songwriters.

Currently based in London, England, he is nevertheless about to grace the Palais, Hepburn with his presence and musicianship that has been variously described as a “symphony of percussive guitar and melody. Brilliant, articulate, perceptive”.

Lower’s poignant lyrics and soaring melodies have captured the hearts of thousands throughout North America, Europe and Australia, propelling him on a journey from the streets of London into renowned venues and major festival stages.

The songs and stories of Cooper Lower are for thinkers and feelers alike, and locals will now have the chance to share an evening with Cooper at Palais-Hepburn on March 1st.

Notable prior appearances include the Queenscliff Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Tollwood Winterfestival (Germany), Melbourne International Guitar Night and the Fretmonkey Records Guitar Showcase (New York, USA).

Áine Tyrrell is an inspiring and thought-provoking multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and unmissable live act and she’s headed to The Palais, Hepburn to perform this Saturday evening , February 17.

Refusing to be boxed by the music industry with their narrow definition of Irish Folk, she is reclaiming and redefining her rise every step of the way with her own proclaimed genre, evocatively entitled ‘Irish as Fuck’.

Her set moves from singing in Irish, acoustic guitars, powerful vocals, to spoken word and hip hop – all unified by her fire.

Áine Tyrrell has built her international music career by thinking outside the box and saying it how it is.

Her life, an inspiring journey in and of itself, is the canvas for the music, words and powerful performances that make her a thought provoking multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and an unmissable live act.

Emerging like mist from a glassy moonlit lake, Ben Mastwyk & The Energy rise from dusty streets of Melbourne’s inner north to bring their unique brand of cosmic-cult-country to Palais-Hepburn on Friday evening, Feb 16.

Sydney power-country priestess Katie Brianna and country starlet Katie May join forces with Ben Mastwyk to deliver two sets of harmony-laden hillbilly sermons and cult country tunes.

Melbourne cosmic-country-rocker Mastwyk writes his songs on the move. Planes, trains, rivers and highways set the mood.

“There’s something about the rhythm of the world rolling by that stimulate the process” he says.

As a teenage noise-rocker, Mastwyk’s love of twang was instilled when he watched family members produce a country record, exposing him to artists such Cash, Kristopherson and Parsons, confirming his love of classic country music.

After ceasing music to explore Fine Art, Mastwyk was thrust back into the country music scene when a borrowed guitar spawned a flood of songwriting.

Twice nominated for Best Country Album (Music Victoria Awards), Mastwyk has received high nation rotation on ABC Radio and toured his songs around Australia, NZ and the USA.

His third album, 2021’s LIVIN ON GOLD STREET, debuted at #1 on the Australian Independent charts, #2 on ARIA Australian Country charts.

The Australian Van Morrison Show is set to captivate audiences at The Palais in Hepburn Springs on Saturday, February 10th, 2024, following their sold-out success in Tasmania, Perth, and Melbourne.

Fronted by soul singer Steve Boyd and his 8-piece band, the evening promises a nostalgic journey to the golden age of pop music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, exploring the extraordinary songbook of the iconic Van Morrison.

Steve Boyd, a respected singer-songwriter, pays a rare musical tribute to Van Morrison, with performances limited to select venues across Australia each year.

Expressing his deep admiration, Boyd states: “A tribute should honor the artist, and I love Van. I never want to tire of singing his songs. The show emphasizes celebrating Van’s timeless classics rather than imitation.

Boyd asserts, “We are not trying to copy Van; we are just playing his great songs.”

Known for his talents as a front-man, Boyd has released five solo albums with his band The Preachers and has a rich history of performances at major roots music festivals in Australia, including Byron Bay Blues and Port Fairy Folk Festival.

UK festival favourites Dan and Emily bring to the stage a unique blend of English folk music fused with country/Americana.

The duo are headed to Hepburn to play The Palais, Hepburn this Friday evening January 19.

They bring with them a reputation for their energising combination of distinctive warm and powerful vocals and guitar interlaced with a dexterous meld of celtic- and country- style fiddling and beautiful harmonies mesmerises a multi-genre audience.

Dan Webster and Emily Lawler hail from York, UK, and this month will once again be bringing to Eastern Australia their unique blend of English folk music fused with Americana.

After their successful Australian debut in 2023 saw their formidable live performances captivate folkies and country fans alike, Dan and Emily are this time hoping to explore and immerse themselves further in the Australian folk and alt-country music scenes

Whether an introspective ballad or upbeat festival dance tunes, Dan’s distinctive warm and powerful vocals interlaced with Emily’s dexterous meld of celtic- and country- style fiddle playing mesmerises a multigenerational, multi-genre audience.

A favourite of the UK festival circuit playing major shows at Green Man, Shambala, Kendall Calling, and Maverick festivals, Dan has been booked for both festival headline slots and to open for acts such as The Levellers and Turin Brakes.

Dan’s duo partner Emily Lawler has been performing with him for about 6 years, bringing to his music beautiful harmonies and some of the very finest fiddle playing.

Having previously led the Suffolk Youth Orchestra, she has more recently studied a Master’s degree in Community Music and immersed herself in the worlds of folk and country musics, playing in the UK line-up of Lachlan Bryan and the Wildes, with Colin Lillie at Tamworth Country Music Festival 2023, and The Weeping Willows on their UK tour.

A fine singer, writer, and guitarist in her own right, she has won praise across the UK – including Alison Moyet’s seal of approval!

Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie, guitarist from the legendary Skyhooks, is headed to The Palais, Hepburn to perform the classic songs of one of Australia’s most beloved bands.

The Bob ‘Bongo’ Starkie’s 50th Anniversary Skyhooks Show featuring Laura Davidson takes place at the Palais on Saturday, January 13.

In between songs Bob threatens to share humorous anecdotes and insights into the inner workings of the Skyhooks.

‘We have a female singer only because no male can match ‘Shirley’s’ vocal range and they are so much better to look at, so no apologies there,” Bob said.