From a cabaret performer to traditional Viennese tunes, here are some of the gigs to check out across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs in October.
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Cabaret at the Court House – An Evening with Joti Van Carlos Gore
Cabaret at the Court House is a special performance series curated by renowned jazz singer Mama Alto.
Joti Van Carlos Gore is an American-born and Melbourne-based theatre artist, recording singer-songwriter, actor-director, dancer-choreographer and poet.
When: Thursday October 1, 7:30-9:30pm
Where: Kew Court House, 188 High Street, Kew
Cost: $30
River Folk Festival
Held annually in Warburton, the River Folk Festival runs across three days and showcases a range of international, national and local folk acts.
The lineup includes Indigenous folk outfit Stiff Gins, American cellist Natalie Haas, American fiddler Hanneke Cassel and Japanese tsugaru shamisen performer.
When: Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4
Where: Arts Centre Warburton, 3409 Warburton Highway, Warburton and other locations
Cost: $57.50-$152.50
Andrew Swift
Hailing from Melbourne outer south-east, Swift is a country music singer-songwriter with five studio albums under his belt.
When: Friday October 2, 7-10:30pm
Where: Sooki Lounge, 1648 Burwood Highway, Belgrave
Cost: $39.80
Young at Heart in Vienna
Violinist Raistlin Chan
Formed in 1984, the Robert Stolz Viennese Music Society hosts regular concerts honouring the music of Austrian composer Robert Stolz and other Viennese music.
The performance will include tenor vocalist Christopher Busietta and mezzo-soprano singer Chloe James alongside violinist Raistlin Chan and Phillipa Safey accompanying on piano.
Afternoon tea will be included.
When: Saturday October 3, 2-4:15pm
Where: Glen Waverley Uniting Church, 10-12 Bogong Avenue, Glen Waverley
Cost: $25
Lucy Wise
Central Victorian folk musician Lucy Wise has recently released her fifth album Salt, with her inspirations including Joni Mitchell and Madison Cunningham.
When: Saturday October 3, 8-10:30pm
Where: Burrinja Cultural Centre, 351 Glenfern Road, Upwey
Cost: $40
BJ Morriszonkle and Great Earthquake
BJ Morriszonkle brings together a range of inspirations to create his musical soundscapes, including old cartoon music and horror movie soundtracks.
One-man-band Great Earthquake – Noah Symons – is launching his brand-new album Vibrant Noise featuring post-punk inspired bass lines and reverberating vocals.
When: Saturday October 3, 8-10:30pm
Where: The Railyard, 3/1545 Burwood Highway, Tecoma
Cost: Free
Katie Noonan
Since coming onto the Australian music scene in 2002, Katie Noonan has made a name as one of the country’s best singer-songwriters.
Featuring songs from her 30th studio album, Alone but All One, released earlier this year, the performance will include Noonan on piano with a string quartet.
Folk singer-songwriter Mark Wilkinson will be the support act.
When: Friday October 9, 7:30-9:30pm
Where: Karralyka Centre, 22A Mines Road, Ringwood East
Cost: $70
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
Formed in 2003, Melbourne Ska Orchestra is a ska band consisting of a morphing live lineup ranging from 18 to 36 musicians.
When: Friday September 4, 8pm
Where: York on Lilydale, 138 York Road, Mount Evelyn
Cost: $75.50
Nathan Cavaleri
Touring with B.B. King at the age of 16, Nathan Cavaleri is an Australian blues-rock singer, songwriter and guitarist.
First rising to fame in the 1990s, he made a comeback in 2019 following struggles with anxiety.
When: Sunday September 13, 2-3:15pm and 6-7:15pm
Where: The Round, 379-399 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading
Cost: $57
Liz Young with Kris Mizzi
Violinist Liz Young has experience across a wide range of genres, including rock, classical traditional folk, country and Argentinian tango.
Kris Mizzi blends precise fingerpicking on guitar with a gentle vocal style.
When: Friday September 18, 8:30-11pm
Where: The Concert Lounge, Croydon Bowling Club, corner of Mt Dandenong Road and Civic Square, Croydon
Cost: $27
Cathy Dobson, Tim Ireland and Ian Green
Cathy Dobson has recorded six albums, with influences including country, blues, folk and rock.
Tim Ireland is a Yarra Valley singer-songwriter, who draws on family history, Australian characters and his lived experience to write his songs.
Ireland will be joined by Ian Green on harmonica and ukulele.
When: Saturday September 19, 2026 8-10:30pm
Where: Upwey Belgrave RSL 1 Mast Gully Road, Upwey
Cost: $25
Daniel Champagne
This NSW singer-songwriter is a touring machine, playing hundreds of shows around the world each year. The live show draws on his seven albums.
When: Sunday September 20, 6-7:15pm
Where: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill
Cost: $45