Gigs/Bands/Live

Down Under - The Songs That Shaped Australia

The multi award-winning live music sensation, Down Under - The Songs That Shaped Australia, is heading to Edinburgh in August but we don’t want our special Adelaide audiences to miss out on the music so we’re putting on a very special Father’s Day performance at The Wheaty on Sunday 1 September. Strictly limited tickets!

This is a celebration of Aussie hit-makers and songs that spurred change throughout history. Australian music is vast and varied. It captures the beauty and brutality of the land with storytelling at the forefront. With powerhouse vocals by acclaimed songstress Michelle Pearson with Jessica Bigg and an incredible five-piece band featuring Sam Millar, Luke Ciaramella, Michael Ciaramella, Brendan Williams and led by co-writer and musical director Aaron Nash. Don’t miss this nostalgic homecoming which will have you on your feet with classics from INXS, Paul Kelly, Cold Chisel, Midnight Oil, ACDC, Tina Arena and more, while reminiscing about Australia's musical history and the artists' guts and determination.

TIX - $45 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

COMA - Vincy Chan + Laurel

NO WAVE - Poetry Readings

Book Launch - 'Slick: Australia’s Toxic Relationship with Big Oil' - by: Royce Kurmelovs

Slick: Australia’s toxic relationship with Big Oil takes a comprehensive look at the origins of the Australian petroleum industry, investigating what these companies knew about climate change and how they learned to wield influence and insert themselves into all facets of public life. Royce Kurmelovs reveals how the US petroleum industry was warned about its environmental impacts back in the 1950s and yet went on to build the Australian oil industry, which in turn tried to drill the Great Barrier Reef, sought to strongarm governments, and joined a global effort to bury the science of climate change and delay action despite knowing the harms it would cause.

Slick also tells the stories of fire and flood survivors, as well as of the activists engaged in a high-stakes fight for the future of Australia and of the efforts being made to save ourselves from catastrophe.

This superb, in-depth work of journalism provides an on-the-ground examination of how the fossil fuel industry captured Australia, and outlines what’s at stake for the survival of the planet and our democracy.

About the author

Royce Kurmelovs is an Australian freelance journalist and author. His work has been published in Rolling Stone AU, The Guardian, The Saturday Paper, BBC, VICE and other publications. His books include The Death of Holden (2016), Rogue Nation (2017), Boom and Bust (2018) and Just Money (2020). His fifth book, Slick, is due for release in August 2024.

Free entry - Register at Humanitix

Big Smoke + The Rectifiers

Rob Scott and Big Smoke, Blues, Roots and Originals. Big Smoke began in 1993  as The Big Smoke Blues Band. Throughout the last 3 decades it has been a regular fixture across a wide spectrum of Adelaide venues.

Returning to the Wheatsheaf is like returning home for the band. Featuring long term members, such as Scott Opie and Andy Spy, the band is currently also featuring ace Adelaide Saxophonist Carol Andersen and Argentinian Jazz Bass player Lucas Maceas.

On September 6th Big Smoke will play a set of Original songs with a strong, danceable,  electric vibe. Rob will also do a set with Adelaide Legends The Rectifiers and they will play a set of their original songs too. A special night and a great chance to hear hit local bands in one of their favourite venues.

TIX - $10 ON THE DOOR

SALVI'S FREE MUSICAL SWAPMEET

Well it's on again!

Our Musical Swapmeet in the illustrious Wheatsheaf Hotel 'Back Shed' A great venue with lovely people, lots of musical gear, like pedals, amps, guitars and basses, keyboards, you name it, and of course their delicious beers on tap right there at the bar!

Just bring anything you want to sell or trade, or just rock up with an eye for a bargain.

Everyone is welcome to enjoy, buy, sell, trade or just talk music! It's all good.
Forget Gumtree and the risks involved, come along to this and be in a safe, staffed environment and peruse the musical stuff!

NO RETAILERS ARE PERMITTED TO TRADE AT THESE EVENTS. COMMUNITY ONLY! 

Why pay to sell your stuff? 
Enjoy!!

2:30-5pm

Duck Lake 'Daydreams' Single Launch + Sofia Menguita + Sturt Avenue.

Duck Lake are a 5-piece band of long-time high school friends turned musical collaborators based in the inner suburbs of Adelaide. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Men I Trust, Alice Phoebe Lou and Loving, their music features ethereal vocals and layered guitar and synth harmonies.

Duck Lake delicately blend elements of dreampop, indiepop, and altpop to bring you a hypnotic and heartfelt sound. Their second single 'Daydreams' displays each of these elements, and will be releasing early September.

TIX - $15 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Fuselage + 4 Cats

Exeter Blues + Mikey Green

Dave O'Leary sings it like it is, laconic and straight to the point with an honesty that gets under your skin.

 
 Beej Barker combines driving rhythms and grooves to make the sound that is Exeter Blues; it’s raw and raucous, blurring the lines between early Mississippi delta slide guitar, modern punk funk and Cajun country sounds, these are story songs to move you built from a life spent on the road.

Drawing on Six albums of originals and few cover interpretations from artists as diverse as Robert Johnson, Little Walter, Big Joe Williams, Howling Wolf, Tom Waits, Bob Dylan and the Cruel Sea.

Lucienne Manouche

BUTTER YOUR BAGUETTES! 

Lucienne Manouche is returning to The Wheaty stage, ready for a rootin’, tootin’ good time! With a dash of gypsy flair and a rhythm that’s trés magnifique, they’ll be swingin' harder than a croissant in a windstorm!

Jen Lush & Band + Rueful Ben

Jen Lush and her band are known for their dynamic and passionate performances, tender folk songs flung into evocative folk-rock soundscapes with storytelling always at the centre. Together they bring Jen’s recent album ‘Hum of the Mettle’ featuring songs crafted from contemporary Australian poetry and songs from 'Let Loose The Beating Birds,’ winner of the ARBA Roots Album of the Year in 2021."Art rock, dark pop, folk noir and beautifully fragile acoustic indie tones benchmark 'Hum of the mettle', a nine-track album that weaves hauntingly potent poetry with emotive rhythms and richly-flavoured melodies." Scenestr Magazine 

Benjamin Roberts is a co-founding member of two of Australia’s most popular folk acts - The Timbers and the Ukulele Death Squad. With a career spanning over a decade, He is a multi-award winning artist for both his solo artistry and collaborative work. His solo performance will strip everything back to the bare bones of his life experiences and get to the essential essence of song, poetry and storytelling. He has been best described as a true balladeer of the Australian heart.

TIX - $20 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

COMA - Hilary Kleinig - alone : together + Georgie Aue

Kathleen Halloran (VIC) + Ollie English

Educated on the stage alongside Australia’s biggest names including KateCeberano, guitarist Kathleen Halloran is now stepping out of the shade into her own spotlight. Witness this virtuosic guitarist and compelling songwriter making the journey into their own limelight, from side-woman to solo artist. 

 Melbourne based guitarist Kathleen Halloran is fast making herself known as one of the country’s most exciting and in demand young performers. She works regularly with the likes of Kate Ceberano, Felix Riebl, Katie Noonan, Gorgi Coghlan and Jimi Hocking to name a few, and her guitar work has been heard on countless recordings, in orchestra pits for many musical theatre productions, and on major festival stages all around the country. 

 As a solo artist, Kathleen continues to impress, performing at events and festivals including the St Kilda Blues Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival, The Melbourne Guitar Show, Crossroads Guitar Festival, The Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Stonnington Jazz Festival, and the Melbourne International Women’s Jazz festival. 

 Join Kathleen and her all-star band for a night of passionate energy, infectious joy and jaw dropping guitar flare, as she showcases her brand new original material and tips her hat to her guitar heroes.

TIX - $25 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Romana Ashton & The Reeds with special guest Tiny Little Grandeur.

Following on from supporting The Stems for their 40th anniversary tour, Romana Ashton and The Reeds are back at the Wheatsheaf with some new song additions to their show. The solo project of singer/songwriter Romana Ashton (The Sunday Reeds), the Reeds consists of some of the stalwarts of the Adelaide/Melbourne music scenes, including Nick Randles on drums (Moraygun, Brett Littlefair band), Jamie Woolaway on organ (Systemaddicts, The Molting Vultures), Matt Reiner on bass (The Dunes, Lonely Stretch), and Drew Jones on guitar (The Sunday Reeds).

 Joining them will be Tiny Little Grandeur, the alt-country, folk-pop band hailing from South Australia. Led by Will Baylis (UK) and his wife Sinead on drums, alongside local talents Matt Hill (The Man Himself), Lucy Campbell (The Aves), and Myles Hopkinson (The Yarbles). Together, they craft twangy tunes infused with catchy melodies and harmonies, all wrapped in a blanket of wistful nostalgia.

Ill-gotten Gains Vintage & Pre-loved market sale

Get ready for the most exciting Vintage and Pre-Loved sale in the history of everything!

 We’ve got crazy amounts of vintage and pre-loved clothing, plus kids' clothing, shoes, handbags, purses, jewelry, and so much more. And as a bonus, we’ve got a surprise collection of workwear from top labels like Country Road, Sportscraft, and David Lawrence.

We’re offering a FULL range of sizes—yes, really! But here’s the deal: no fitting rooms! It’s a snatch-and-grab or try-on-over-your-clothes kind of event. And don’t forget to bring your own bag to carry all your fabulous finds!

 Prices start as low as $2—seriously! Everything comes from a treasure-packed storage unit, just waiting for you to claim.

 We’ll also have some special guests, including incredible women-run businesses—and yes, that even includes plants! Plus, we’ve got fabulous local artists joining us, so stay tuned for more details.

 Don’t miss out—this is a vintage sale you won’t forget!

SueNami + Collective 22

Based in Adelaide SA, SueNami is what happens when you combine a new-school jazz-funk soul, the old-school jazz-rock nostalgia, a cup of original, theatrical flair – and a dash of uncompromising improvisation.

 Drawing their inspiration from a vast array of creatives spanning eras to influence them; this 5-piece believes in creating music that doesn't belittle the listener and that shamelessly pushes the boundaries of the normal.

 Partnering with Sue Nami, Collective 22 is a melody focused fusion group birthed from the roots of jazz, inspired by the likes of Kenny Garrett, Bob Reynolds, and Adelaide heavies such as 5 sided cube.

 Collective 22 are excited to be playing new original music with a guest lineup including Ben Spitty on trumpet, and Edmund Black on keys.

A History of Bob Dylan & Woody Guthrie

Williams’ British folk influence and wonderfully layered, textured vocals give a haunting, ethereal quality to Dylan’s tunes. Williams brings a rich and original lilt to his renditions.The quicker tempo of most tunes also showcases his intricate finger-picking and intense fretwork. In short, this was an expansive exploration of Dylan’s incomparable influence, presented with engaged and engaging virtuosity.” - 
InReview Magazine 2024

The Cal Williams Jr Band comes equipped with impeccable folk and blues credentials, having won multiple awards locally, nationally, and overseas, including the SA Music Best Blues & Roots Artist People’s Choice award back-to-back in 2021 and 2022.

TIX - $25 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Ms Chipeta "How Does It Feel?" Single Launch + Elizabeth Ruyi

Honey-soaked vocals, candid lyrics and a solidly grooving band to back it all, singer-songwriter Ms Chipeta is forging the soul scene in Adelaide/Tarndanya.

Join us in celebrating the release of her much anticipated first single "How Does It Feel?".  With special guest Elizabeth Ruyi and band. 

TIX - $15 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Vetter og villskap + Courtney & Snooks

Deeply engaged with new traditions and old innovations, the music of Vetter og villskap (‘Spirits and wildness’) comprises genre-blending and -bending conversations between Scandinavian Folk, Americana and an occasional touch of Eastern influences.

 This performance features music and stories about demons, trolls and the Devil, as well as somewhat lighter tunes, from the hills and dales of northern Scandinavia and beyond. In this music of mysterious spirit beings, farmers, sailors and travelling musicians, there will be the dark, the delightful, the quirky and the quaint – and combinations thereof.

Sons Of The Blues (VIC) + Frankie & Savva

Sons Of The Blues is the fortunate fusion of two of Australia’s best loved bands from the 1980’s to create a distinctive 21st century blues band that is making waves.

Men at Work’s, Jerry Speiser, and Goanna band’s guitarist John Phillips with singer and showman, Pat Byrne have become the Sons Of The Blues. 

Musicians with an unshakeable belief in the Blues, they have been inspired by legends like Willie Dixon and Robert Johnson.

This extra tasty trio are improvising specialists and are hitting one bullseye after another with their infectious and cleverly arranged original pulsating sounds.

TIX - $25 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Porchlight Parade + Tara Coates & Sub Rosa

Libby O’Donovan, Jayne-Anne Power & Catherine Mackenroth + Maisy McCaig

Cabaret stalwart Libby O’Donovan, soul diva Jay Pawer and smooth balladeer Cath Mackenroth team up for an unforgettable night of vocal harmony and luscious tunes. These three velvety vocalists have been singing together for over 25 years, both professionally  on stage and around the piano because they love it so much . Join Libby, Jay & Cath as they perform some of their favourite tunes at one of their favourite venues in Adelaide. From originals to their own take on covers, no song will be left unharmonized.  

TIX - $35/30 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Kim Salmon's 'Smoked Salmon' Album Launch (VIC) + Claire Birchall (VIC) + Mince For Vince

Born into the isolation of the semi-industrial wastelands of 1950s outer suburban Perth, Kim Salmon clawed his way out of the swamp and onto the world stage in his bands, the Scientists, the Surrealists, and the Beasts of Bourbon.

 Often referred to as “The Godfather of Grunge” he is cited as a seminal influence on countless bands including Mudhoney, Nirvana, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, The White Stripes, Sonic Youth, The Drones and Spacemen 3. Internationally acclaimed, Kim Salmon has played with the likes The Stooges, Television, Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds, The Cramps, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Pop Group and even U2.

 Kim sets out on the “How did they ever manage” tour to showcase new music from his latest band, Smoked Salmon. "How did they ever manage" is out now on Cheersquad Records from the forthcoming Smoked Salmon album. 

 https://www.instagram.com/mrkimsalmon/ 

TIX - $40 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Railway Bob – Story of a celebrity dog + Apocalyptic Breakdown

Railway Bob

A magical show with great songs, lively theatre & beautiful puppetry telling the true story of SA’s Celebrity Dog ‘Railway Bob -He travelled on the trains of Australia ‘just like a person’. With Sold-Out Fringe shows Railway Bob brings to life a bygone age of Adelaide and Outback SA and the world’s best ever dog story (we kid you not)

·         It is the complete picture that he paints of a bygone era …superb storytelling.. Charming beyond measure. “The Clothesline”

·         Fresh, dynamic and very enjoyable. The performers reminded me of classic street artists - Isabella Bracco - Tabhu Theatre

·         A captivating show that seamlessly weaves together songs, puppetry, and stagecraft to recount the remarkable story of a canine adventurer in late 1800s South Australia.  The show's energetic pace and heartwarming story kept the audience engaged from start to finish. The puppetry was so masterful that at times, I found myself completely forgetting that Railway Bob was anything but a real, living dog. Such skilful manipulation added an extra layer of enchantment to an already captivating performance.  - Stephen Lock – Musician/Composer

·         Loved the show!! My husband loves railways and I love dogs so this show was perfect for us!!  Such a special story, beautifully crafted and delivered by talented performers.  Bob the puppet is perfectly formed and so realistic that we wanted to pat him on the head. Do not miss this show, history, entertainment and fun rolled into one! -Phyllis Livingstone

·         Just been to the Fringe to see Railway Bob - what a thoroughly enjoyable show! The performers did a fantastic job, good songs, well presented but Bob stole the show! -Julie Cavanagh Radio 5TripleZ

 Apocalyptic Breakdown

SA icons band that combines concern for social justice and environmental catastrophe with a love of art and politics to ignite a creativity bomb, exploding with absurdity and musical diversity.
Sometimes quirky, sometimes sad, but always poignant with an eye to events of our time, Apocalyptic Breakdown twists acoustic instruments and four-part harmonies into a musical feast, a constantly changing feast, and one that will undoubtedly delight. Come along prepared to be delighted. Featuring guitar double bass & mandolin this is a fun group you wont forget in a hurry.

https://www.facebook.com/ApocalypticBreakdown 

TIX - $20 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE) 

The Sharp (VIC) + Doctor DeSoto

 The Sharp are Charlie Rooke (guitar/vocals), Allan Catlin (double bass/vocals) and Piet Collins (drums/vocals). Formed in Collingwood in 1990, the three piece already had a strong live following but when they released an independent single “Love Your Head” the band quickly gained radio support on Triple R and PBS. 

Triple J were soon behind the band and a record deal with Warner Music was struck. Their debut album "This is the Sharp” went Gold and the band received Aria nominations, magazine covers and appearances on just about every TV/Radio show in Australia. Comedy program The D-Generation loved “The Sharp” so much they did a parody of hit single “Scratch My Back” and it became “Skivvies are Back” in reference to the now famous black skivvied uniform the band had adopted. 

Rigorous touring ensued before the band settled into the studio to record its second album “Sonic Tripod” with American producer Rick Will (Ziggy Marley, Diesel). A brief tour of Europe and the US saw the band back home exhausted but ready to take on more touring. 

Finally, after nearly five years in the limelight, the rigorous touring schedule brought the band to a crossroads and a decision was made to end on a high note. A collection of singles “Single File” was released as the band’s final album and a final tour “Thank you Goodnight” saw them playing to packed houses around the nation. When the band played its last shows in 1995, many (including the band), wondered when (or if) it could all happen again. 

Now many years later (and thanks to some persistent pestering from fans) The Sharp are back and sounding better than ever. 

Singer Bass player Allan Catlin is not involved due to personal reasons, but he is ably represented by Scott Owen (double bass) from The Living End with lead singer duties taken care of by the amazing Louie Lee Feltrin. Playing all their hits plus some rockin’ covers. 31 years after the release of their debut album “This is the Sharp”, The Sharp are back with a vengeance!!! 

TIX - $40 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)

Kings and Associates + Courtney Robb & Snooks

Kings & Associates

Aussie neo-soul & blues band Kings & Associates have generated serious interest from music lovers globally. Winners of 3 x 2018 Australian BMAs, 2 albums with 7 x Grammy winner Jim Scott, performances at all of the major festivals around Australia including Broadbeach, Wangaratta and Womadelaide, and a debut 6-week US tour in 2019 just prior to the pandemic are but 4 of many highlights. After the long Covid reset 2023 saw the Kings’ finally launching the new album ‘NEIGHBOUR’ now with AMG/Sony….in fact, a follow up album is already written with plans being established to commence tracking in early 2024.

Courtney Robb & Snooks La Vie

Melding folk, country, blues, soul, gospel, and everything in-between, the Kings with Coutney and Snooks present an evening of original music delivered by some of the finest performers in Australia. K & A's embarking on their 3rd US tour in June '24 will be presenting brand new tunes as a feature of this show. Together for the first time with the amazing Robb and La Vie, their shared and personal stories are sure to connect on a deep level in what will be a unique and compelling experience.

TIX $30 ON THE DOOR (IF AVAILABLE)