Blue-collar songwriter JB Paterson draws deep from traditional folk and blues, crafting lyrics-driven songs on guitar and piano from his solar-powered Queensland hinterland studio. With comparisons to Neil Young, Townes Van Zandt, and Bob Dylan, his latest album Whole World’s Gone Mad, And So Have I confirms him as one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary roots voices.

The High Street Drifters are a tight-knit bluegrass quartet who honour hard-driving American tradition while bringing an unmistakably Australian character to every tune. Their debut record earned wide acclaim across the festival circuit, with sold-out shows in Melbourne and Adelaide — their double headliner show with JB Paterson at Milton Theatre will be one of the hottest tickets of the weekend.

Decorated Naarm/Melbourne-based artist and proud Noongar woman Bumpy is a captivating force with a voice that ripples stars. She creates a unique constellation of contemporary soul, funk, jazz and folk, brought to life on stages around the world alongside her insanely talented and commanding live band that take audiences on a “vibrant sonic journey” (The Music). Bumpy has enraptured audiences all around the world, and off the back of her debut EP Morning Sun, has collected a number of prestigious accolades. Her debut album Kanana was released October 3 via Astral People Recordings, claiming 11 feature album selections with 2SER calling it “[a] masterclass in studio recording… It’s as uplifting and honest an album as they come, beautifully produced and the true standout of Australian soul music this year.” Kanana was also listed amongst the best albums of 2025 for Rolling Stone and Double J.

Award-winning Melbourne neo-folk trio Apolline weave intricate arrangements on cello, fiddle and double bass through Celtic tradition, Scandinavian folk, and jazz into something truly magical. Their technical artistry and sublime creativity has been wowing audiences across the country – whether they’re tearing through fiery reels or drawing the room in with intimate ayres — Apolline are a must-see for lovers of folk in its most inventive form.

We are absolutely stoked that this one worked out. Brazilian trombonist and producer Joabe Reis is one of the most important artists in the new wave of Brazilian jazz, blending improvisation with hip-hop, neo-soul, funk, and pop. His critically acclaimed debut featured Toninho Horta and Lincoln Center Orchestra trombonist Elliot Mason, while his latest work 028 sees him collaborating with Bob Mintzer and Theo Croker. He has shared stages with Jacob Collier, Snarky Puppy, and Kamasi Washington, and was personally invited by Macy Gray to join her Brazilian tour. The fact that he’s coming to Milton still has us pinching ourselves.

Sydney-based intercultural ensemble The Three Seas return to Australia to launch Antaḥkaraṇa. Recorded at Peter Gabriel’s legendary Real World Studios, the album marks 15 years of musical exchange between Australian and West Bengali musicians. Their sound weaves Baul mysticism, Himalayan folk, spiritual jazz, dub, and folk-rock, sung across Bengali, Hindi, Nepali, and English. Live, they move between big dancefloor energy and deep meditative spaces — an immersive experience grounded in rhythm, unity, and shared humanity.

Djinama Yilaga is an intergenerational Yuin choir from the Far South Coast of NSW, with singers aged 11 to 65 united by a deep passion for song, culture, and connection to Country. Formed in 2018, the choir sings original music in Dhurga — the language of the 13 tribes of the Yuin Nation — sharing the stories and traditions of the Yuin people with audiences near and far. They have performed at Vivid Sydney, Parliament House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and at international festivals in Poland and Washington DC, with songs featured in award-winning films. To hear Djinama Yilaga is to walk alongside a community breathing life back into something precious.

Hometown heroine Genevieve Chadwick is one of Australia’s most distinctive blues and roots voices — gravelly, powerful, and utterly arresting. Armed with an acoustic guitar and stomp-box, she can rip through blues runs with an energy that would embarrass most bands. One of only three Australians selected for the global Playing For Change music project, she has supported Joan Armatrading, Beth Hart, and Allen Stone, toured Canada and Europe, and released her long-awaited third album Best Left for the Willing in 2025 — raw, gritty, and deeply personal.

Melbourne’s most delightfully unpredictable musical collective sees bandleader Lachlan Mitchell direct a rotating cast of top-shelf musicians through a completely improvised jam — guided only by a whiteboard and a pen. Drawing talent from Hiatus Kaiyote, Barney McAll, and Sex On Toast, Uncomfortable Science have earned cult status in the Melbourne jazz scene. Come prepared to be amazed!