Thursday, Open Mic Night @ Spa Bar Daylesford

Friday, DJ Beats with Clay Raven @ Spa Bar Daylesford

Friday Festivities, November 30 @ Old Hepburn

Sunday, Harry Hookey @ Old Hepburn

Inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Steve Earle and Leonard Cohen, Hookey started performing in rural Victoria with his three brothers as the Hookey Family Band. He then cut his teeth as a solo performer in the noble art of busking on Melbourne streets, as well as winning competitions with punk rock band The Bystanders.

Hookey’s chance encounter with The Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper’s album was the trigger for this singer-songwriter of the alt/folk/rock/roots variety with a background in pop, punk, and an obsession with Bob Dylan.

He has showcased his music at the Americana festival in Nashville, opened on a national Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson tour and performed with artists as diverse as Tim Rogers, Mick Thomas, the late Doc Neeson and Ash Grunwald. Hookey’s superb debut Misdiagnosed features Nash Chambers producing and brothers Jack and Sam performing. The album includes some beautiful songwriting and production.

A distinctive, somehow familiar voice is at the forefront of this debut, clearly in singer-songwriter terrain. A more seasoned, comfortable performer over recent years, his gigs are a joy to behold – do try to get there.

Friday, Never Easy @ Blue Bean Cafe

Sunday, The Cartwheels @ Blue Bean Cafe 

Still acoustic, intimate and unpredictable The Cartwheels family band plays country, rockabilly and rock’n’roll – in fact almost anything you care to request.

Sunday, North East @ Blue Bean Cafe

Sime Nugent and The Capes @ Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine

Sime Nugent brings his band The Capes to The Bridge.

Nugent has toured nationally and internationally throughout Australia, Europe and the US and released more than a dozen albums with a range of bands in a 20-year career. 

Nugent’s work under his own name, with indie duo Sweet Jean and The Wilson Pickers, has received critical and popular acclaim.