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Concerts
For the first time in Bittern, JOSH LIGHT will be performing with The Unfurling (or part thereof).
Josh is a creative multi-instrumental master, who will enthrall you with his haunting melodies, provoking lyrics and down-to-earth banter. Just finding out about UILLEANN PIPES is reason enough to prioritise this event on your calendar!
As always, your reservation includes afternoon tea with tea, coffee and cake (also gluten and dairy free options) but you are also welcome to BYO.
About JOSH LIGHT:
As a drummer…
Josh is a graduate of The Victorian College of the Arts (class of 03’) and was a finalist (3rd) in ‘Australia’s Best Up and Coming Drummer Competition’ (yr2000). As a drummer Josh is a groove specialist and has done thousands of gigs around Victoria and Australia. He was a cofounder of the band Fats Wah Wah and has played drums with other acts Xavier Rudd, Daisy West, The DFG, Symbiosis, and (the late) Heath King - to name a few. These bands have been supported by and received airplay on Triple J, Triple R and PBS FM.
As a Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist
As well as continuing to develop his skills as a drummer, Josh has dedicated himself to becoming a talented songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist. With a knack for great melodies and a way with words, Josh's style is as elegant in it's simplicity as it is profound in it's substance. Generally Josh writes and composes in the Country, Celtic, Roots and Folk genres. Instruments played by Josh include the Drums and various Percussion, Voice, Low Whistle, Guitar and the Uilleann Pipes.
About ‘Josh Light and the Unfurling’
Josh has recently finished recording his debut singer songwriter album featuring original songs and instrumental compositions. The album is called ‘Half Light Dreamer’. For this process he assembled a very special collective called ‘The Unfurling’. Each member is widely respected in their own right. ‘The Unfurling’ members are Tanya Bradley - Violin. Corey Romeo – Mandolin and Mandola and Christian Meyer – Electric and Acoustic Guitar. Fused with Josh’s timeless songs, ‘ Josh Light and The Unfurling' create some timeless musical magic to be sure…to be sure. Half Light Dreamer is available for limited streaming and purchase through bandcamp.
We’re thrilled to share some exciting news! MR. ALFORD COUNTRY’s latest single, Room For Two, has just hit #1 on the Australian radio charts. To celebrate this incredible milestone, he’s teaming up with his good friend KANE VINCENT, an award-winning songwriter and singer, to bring their music directly to you through intimate house and backyard concerts in 2025.
Here in Bittern, you and your friends can enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of live music, stories, and connection. Mr. Alford Country’s heartfelt melodies and Kane Vincent’s soulful performances promise to create a magical experience that will stay with you long after the last note.
As always, your reservation includes afternoon tea with tea, coffee and cakes (including gluten & dairy free options), but you are also welcome to BYO.
KANE VINCENT
What’s a chef to do when he’s over the smoky grills, long hours, family drama, relationships, and life in general? Kane Vincent took the advice of a Jason Isbell song to “find what makes you happy …and do it till you’re gone,” picked up his old Maton, and got stuck into it. With an engaging, soulful voice and influences from Jason Isbell to Alice in Chains and Bonnie Rait, Kane finds lyrical inspiration in both the mundane and extraordinary. These songs have a folk/pop sensibility, more than a hint of country and a familiar nod to the hit roots.
MR. ALFORD COUNTRY (MATT ALFORD)
Mr. Alford offers a diverse concert of original folk country tunes, great stories and witty banter. Check out his show in Bittern… it’s better than Netflix!
If you haven’t seen a live Mr Alford show we’ll describe it for you. Close your eyes and imagine you’re on a boat sailing through beautiful Caribbean islands, all your friends are there. An exotic handsome man dressed in a white suit is feeding you unsweetened organic cranberries. At the end of the boat there’s a guy in a baseball hat yelling folk country songs at you. It’s like that.
We are incredibly privileged to have GRETTA ZILLER making a return visit to BCAC, and JIMMY McGRATH visiting for the first time, combining to create a wonderful afternoon of melodies and memories. We already love Gretta, and she has insisted that I warn you to be prepared to fall in love with Jimmy and his music. Jimmy has recently completed the 2025 CMAA Academy of Country Music, where Gretta was a team leader and coach.
As always with these intimate VIP concerts, your afternoon tea will be provided, with tea & coffee and nibbles (including plenty of gluten/dairy free options), and you are also welcome to BYO.
GRETTA ZILLER is a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter whose music transcends genres, blending rock, folk, blues, and americana. Known for her evocative storytelling and rich vocals, Gretta’s songs reflect her journey and deep connection to the human experience. Gretta’s powerful stage presence and heartfelt performances have earned her a devoted following, making her a standout in Australia’s vibrant music scene.
Over the years, she has shared the stage with notable acts, delivering dynamic live performances that effortlessly connect with audiences far and wide. Gretta’s dedication to her art has garnered nominations and accolades, including 2 Golden Guitar Nominations, twice long listed for the Australian Music Prize and a showcase at AmericanaFest in Nashville in 2023.
2024 saw Gretta embark on “The Long & Writing Road,” a daring challenge of 52 co-writing sessions in 52 weeks. 2024 also marked a decade of Gretta’s musical journey, a celebration of ten years dedicated to releasing music and leaving an indelible mark on the industry.
Whether performing solo or with a band, her warm stage presence and powerful storytelling remain at the heart of every show. Gretta Ziller continues to evolve as one of Australia’s most exciting voices, shaping the contemporary americana scene with her distinct sound and authenticity.
JIMMY McGRATH is a Country, Folk, Singer-songwriter.
Experiencing a Jimmy McGrath performance feels like sitting down with an old friend, where every lyric and melody resonates like a memory. His shows are intimate, weaving soulful melodies with insightful storytelling that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. With a rare blend of emotional vulnerability and thoughtful intelligence, Jimmy’s music leaves a lasting impression, making you reflect long after.
Jimmy has had an incredible start to his 2025 with taking out a top ten spot in the Toyota 'Best of the buskers championship' At the Tamworth Country Music Festival, as well as graduating from the 2025 CMAA Academy of Country Music.
What a privilege to be able to welcome our local HAZEL AND THE THIEF, who has recently made her presence well and truly known around Tamworth!
Afternoon Tea will be provided, including many gluten & dairy free options, and Tea & Coffee. You are also welcome to BYO.
HAZEL AND THE THIEF
People’s Choice nominee for “Most Promising Future Star” 2025
CCMA National Songwriter Nominee – 2025
The Senior Academy of Country Music graduate 2025
“She’s just incredible” – Fanny Lumsden
“Hazel & the Thief… a remarkable presence in the Independent Australian music scene, seamlessly blending folk, country and rock into a captivating musical experience. If you’re looking for music that stirs the imagination, Hazel and the Thief is a must-listen.” - Karise Eden
HAZEL & The Thief is an Australian alternative country artist led by the enigmatic singer-songwriter, HAZEL. Her unique vocal style, a blend of Celtic influences and a distinct Australian accent, adds depth and character to her emotionally charged lyrics.
Her music is characterized by strong storytelling, captivating melodies, and a raw, energetic sound. Both her recent single’s ‘The Olden Days’ & I Want To Own A Farm With You’ have both charted in the Top 10 for multiple weeks on both the AMRAP and the official Country Music Airplay charts in 2024.
HAZEL & The Thief's live performances are always a highlight, as HAZEL’S ever-changing lineup of session musicians adds a unique and spontaneous element to each show. This dynamic approach ensures that every concert is a one-of-a-kind experience, leaving audiences captivated and wanting more.
HAZEL is the heart and soul. The lead vocalist and songwriter, she weaves her special kind of magic through melody and lyric. She has shared the stage with some of Australia's most renowned musicians such as Mick Thomas, Luke O’shea, Taylor Moss, Freya Josephine Hollick, Ella Hooper, Charm of Finches, Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham, Weeping Willows, Brooke Taylor, Karise Eden, Fanny Lumsden, and many more.
THE NAME: HAZEL & The Thief, attracting attention for its quirky and mysterious meaning.
The name "The Thief" holds a playful and symbolic meaning. In this context, "The Thief" represents the band members who "steal" the spotlight alongside HAZEL, each contributing their unique talents and personalities to create a captivating musical experience. It also symbolizes the way music itself can "steal" your attention, transport you to another world, and leave an indelible mark on your soul.
Hazel is also an illustrator. Keep an eye out for her illustrated lyric book, merchandise and stories. HAZEL & The Thief is more than just music.
8 BALL AITKEN is returning, and he's bringing TAYA CHANI with him this time!
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS EVENT IS BACK TO OUR REGULAR SUNDAY AFTERNOON
Afternoon tea is part of the deal, with many gluten and dairy free options. Book early. 8 Ball concerts always sell out!
I am delighted to be welcoming ANDY PENKOW for a return visit, and SANDEE FACY for the very first time, to perform together in The House!
As always, afternoon tea will be provided, with tea & coffee and nibbles available (including gluten and dairy free).
We are in for a real treat.
ANDY PENKOW is an Australian singer/songwriter best known for his smooth, and powerful vocals, and his Country Blues and Folk style of music. He has released four studio albums to date, with his latest album “Shades On Me” peaking at No.2 on the Australian ARIA Charts and No.1 on the Australian Independent Records (AIR) Charts.
Andy is a four-time CMAA Golden Guitar Award Nominee and has had 13 singles reach No.1 across multiple Australian Country Radio Charts. He has won 4x People’s Choice Awards (including Best Male Vocals 2024 and Album of the Year 2025), 5x Independent Country Music Awards (including Most Popular Male Artist 2023 and 2025), a 2024 TSA Award, and was the winner of the “Australian Busking Championships 2019 – Gundagai”.
Andy was deemed “The Most Successful Australian Male Country Artist” for three years in a row (2022, 2023 and 2024) by the Australian Radio Top 40 Airplay Charts – determined by calculating the success of total singles over 12 months, across approx. 300 Australian community stations.
Internationally, he has had two songs peak at No.1 on the Nashville Country Independent Radio Charts, his third album peaked at No.1 for three weeks at the Canadian CFUR Radio charts, and his song “Ghostly Gums” peaked at No.2 on the UK Country Radio Charts.
Andy has over 1.5 million streams on Spotify and 150,000+ views on YouTube. He has toured across every state and territory in Australia and is a proud Brand Ambassador for the Australian Koala Foundation.
SANDEE FACY a Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, radiates authenticity, heartfelt emotion, and genuine care in every note she sings. Originally from a small town in Michigan, USA, she has called Australia home for nearly two decades, establishing herself as a gifted recording artist and performer.
Facy’s lifelong passion for music has taken her down diverse paths, from solo acts and collaborations to leading bands. In recent years, she has found her stride as a storyteller, crafting original songs that resonate deeply with audiences and leave them yearning for more. Beyond performing, Facy has also transformed her love for music into a successful business, embodying the spirit of an artist who has truly embraced all facets of her craft.
Her musical journey began with a scholarship to Michigan’s prestigious Interlochen School of Music, where she trained as a mezzo-soprano. Among her career highlights is a performance at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium, gracing the same stage as countless legends. The defining moment that shifted her focus toward songwriting was a deeply personal one—the loss of a close friend before her 20th birthday, which inspired her to pen Hummingbird and ignited her commitment to supporting individuals with Cystic Fibrosis through her art.
Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Facy flourished. Her 2020 releases, including three singles and a 2021 EP, garnered critical acclaim. Still That Girl soared to #1 on the iTunes charts, earning significant radio play and streams, while the music video for Last Time amassed over 150,000 views. To date, her music has surpassed 130,000 online streams (as of August 26, 2024).
The years 2022 and 2023 were milestones in Facy’s career. She released multiple singles, received nominations at the ICMA 2022, and won the prestigious International Singer-Songwriter Association (ISSA) Single of the Year award in Atlanta. Her performances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2023 brought further acclaim, culminating in four ISSA nominations in 2024. That year, Facy triumphed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, winning the People’s Choice Award for Best Song of the Year with her single Best One Yet. Additionally, she clinched the 2024 ASA (Australia Songwriters Association) Award in the Country category, solidifying her reputation as a gifted songwriter.
With an album on the horizon, Sandee Facy is just getting started on the next chapter of her extraordinary journey.
JOEL HAVEA & ANGE BOXALL both acoustic, in one very special show. Afternoon tea provided.
JOEL HAVEA has many stories to tell from over a decade as an independent, touring musician. A singer-songwriter and guitarist with “undoubtedly soul in his veins” (Terrorverlag), his engaging, energetic performances reflect his global roots and have drawn comparisons to Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, and Ben Harper (Australian Musician).
A world trip in 2008 led to 15 years in Germany, primarily in Hamburg. Since 2012, the Tongan-born, Melbourne-raised artist has played over 800 shows across 25 countries on four continents, becoming a fixture on Europe’s club and festival circuit. Whether performing solo, with his brother Dave (The Havea Brothers), or his German-based band (Joel Havea Trio), he has played everywhere from intimate cafes to grand castles, major clubs, luxury cruise ships, and renowned festivals like Hamburg’s Reeperbahn Festival and Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.
A true independent artist, Joel has released three albums and three EPs on his label, Tastic Records. His “music for globetrotters” (Die Zeit) has received extensive radio play across Europe, including NDR Hamburg, BB2, Bremen 4, FM4 & FluxFM Berlin. His latest album, Ki ‘a Lavaka (2020), was deeply influenced by his Tongan heritage, paying tribute to a long line of Havea songwriters and adding new depth to his eclectic style.
Recent highlights include showcasing for Folk Alliance International, releasing Mother Moana as part of Ian Urbina’s Outlaw Ocean Music Project, and participating in Global Music Match. He also performed twice at the Australian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and recently released Live at Birdland Hamburg (2023).
Now based back in Melbourne, 2025 is shaping up to be a big year, with a return to the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, a debut appearance at the National Folk Festival in Canberra, and a new solo album in the works.
ANGE BOXALL is a leading Tasmanian Songstress. Her latest album, Skipping Stone, released late 2023, debuted on the ARIA Country Charts at #1 and #7 for Australian Albums across all genres. It also came in at #1 on the AIR Charts for Australian Independent Record. Ange’s musical style is Country Folk Pop with shades of 1970’s female influence. It’s catchy and her songs are full of wonderful imagery and narrative. This is real, relatable storytelling. As a tender-hearted optimist and a deep well, her music is honest and glorious. You’ll walk away from live shows having sung along, shed a tear, danced, and definitely smiling.
Ange has performed, written, recorded, and released albums throughout the USA, UK, Europe, and Australia. For over a decade she was based between London and Nashville. She has co-written, recorded, and performed with hugely successful songwriters and musicians, including J.D. Souther of Eagles and Linda Ronstadt fame, multi-Grammy Award winner Jim Lauderdale, and the late Bones Hillman of Australia’s own Midnight Oil. She has performed with and supported artists such as Ron Sexsmith, JD. Souther, Tim Freedman, Damien Leith, and Icehouse. Ange has performed at the World Cricket ‘Ashes’, NBL Basketball, Mona Museum, SxSW Austin, Americanafest and The Bluebird Cafe Nashville, and Electric Picnic Ireland, to name just a few. Now back in Tasmania and residing on the East Coast of Tasmania, her music continues to flourish as she responds to her birthplace and the Tasmanian landscape physically, metaphorically, and politically.
“...there’s some wonderful imagery and narrative in these songs, it’s refreshing to read lyrics that are more poetry than dear diary.” Paul McKercher, Producer.
“There IS a Tasmanian sound. It's Ange Boxall. Wow!” J.D. Souther (USA).
“Ange is 1 part English Rose, 1 part Tasmanian Devil and 1 part gin-soaked Southern Belle” Lachlan Bryan, Musician.