What song rocked your world? What have you played on repeat, worked through heartbreak to, or bellowed in celebration? We’ve asked some of our favourite artists, writers and comedians to answer these burning questions live at Melbourne Recital Centre, as we farewell 2022 and roar into the new year in full voice with a gala evening of story and song. A stellar line-up of creatives – including author Claire G Coleman; writer and appearance activist Carly Findlay; author of Hip Hop & Hymns and Digital Journalist, Popular Culture for ABC News Mawunyo Gbogbo; comedian and RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under judge Rhys Nicholson; political journalist Amy Remeikis; writer, singer and comedian Em Rusciano; and Attica owner and head chef Ben Shewry – will reflect on the songs that have soundtracked their lives, compiling a live mixtape of defining musical moments. Hosted by Spicks and Specks’ Myf Warhurst, this end-of-year spectacular will feature all-star musical performances by guest singers including June Jones, Loretta Miller, Cash Savage and Thndo alongside the Mixtape Memories house band (Fran Swinn, James McLean, Sam Keevers and Tamara Murphy). The evening will also include a special musical tribute to the late, great Uncle Archie Roach by his long-time friends and collaborators Paul Grabowsky and Jess Hitchcock.
This event is part of ALWAYS LIVE, a new state-wide celebration of contemporary live music supported by the Victorian Government through Visit Victoria.
Mixtape Memories is supported by the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, a Victorian Government and City of Melbourne partnership.
Artwork by Pilgim Hodgson.
Auslan Interpreted
Wheelchair accessible
Please notify us of all access requirements when booking online so we can assist you with your visit. If you require further information, please contact reception on 03 9094 7800 or ticketing@wheelercentre.com. To help you make the most of your experience, Melbourne Recital Centre have created a range of access resources, available on their website.
Claire G. Coleman is a Noongar woman whose family have belonged to the south coast of Western Australia since long before history started being recorded. Claire writes fiction, essays, poetry and art writing while either ...
Carly Findlay OAM is an award-winning writer, speaker and appearance activist. Her first book, a memoir called Say Hello, was released in January 2019. Carly edited the anthology Growing Up Disabled in Australia with Black Inc Books ...
Mawunyo Gbogbo is the author of Hip Hop & Hymns: a memoir of loving hard, falling apart and fighting back, set to an unrivalled playlist. Published by Penguin Random House Australia, Hip Hop & Hymns is described ...
It is difficult to describe Paul's career easily. He has directed of some of Australia's most prominent festivals, composed nearly thirty feature film scores, and several works of music theatre, founded and lead for nineteen ...
Award-winning performer, Jess Hitchcock, draws inspiration for songwriting from her family origins in the Top Western Region of the Torres Straits and from Papua New Guinea. Jess performs as a solo artist and has also joined ...
Written, recorded, and produced in a small studio apartment during her first year of living alone, Pop Music for Normal Womenis an inventive, energetic, intense and amusing journey through eight new pop songs by ...
House band pianist Sam Keevers has lived in Melbourne since 1991 and is a graduate of the QLD Conservatorium of Music, Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian Film Television and Radio School. He was a Wangaratta ...
House band drummer James McLean is from Melbourne, Australia and works at the intersections of movement, rhythm, and improvisation. James’ practice sees him working as a solo artist, a bandleader, and an ensemble member in ...
Loretta Miller is a musical shapeshifter with a voice that can slip between genres with ease. Often referred to by her peers as one of Australia's finest vocalists, Loretta was recently chosen to perform the vocal parts for the ...
Tamara Murphy (bassist/composer) is based in Melbourne, Australia. She has performed with Kate Miller-Heidke, Ali McGregor, Harry Angus, Clio Renner, Andrea Keller, Nat Bartsch, Paul Grabowsky and Stephen Magnusson and ...
Rhys Nicholson is a multi-award winning Australian stand-up, writer, actor and collager. With an enormous passion for live performing, their work continues to receive awards and accolades around the world. As well as numerous ...
Em Rusciano is one of the most talented and in demand entertainers in Australia. Em is a comedian, singer, writer, storyteller and broadcaster. She hosts the Emsolation podcast which was Australia's first Spotify exclusive ...
Ben Shewry is an internationally renowned chef, restaurateur, husband, father, son, brother, friend and creative obsessive. He tries to be direct, honest, respectful, loving, silly, resilient and real. His CV includes owner ...
House band guitarist Fran Swinn has carved out her own sound in the Australian musical landscape. She has studied and performed extensively locally and internationally. Swinn has a diverse range, touring Australia with ...
The Australian music scene is no stranger to Thndo (fka Thando). The widely loved Zimbabwean-born ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ has commanded massive crowds at festivals such as Bluesfest, WOMAdelaide, Adelaide ...
Myf Warhurst grew up in regional Victoria and studied music and fine arts at Melbourne University. After writing arts and music stories for The Age and street magazine Inpress, she became Managing Editor of Inpress in 1999 ...