There is something quietly magical about a Melbourne winter evening when the music is right. The cold air outside, warm light flooding through a bar window, the sound of a jazz guitar drifting down Homer Street. Valley Sounds 2026 is that feeling, stretched across eleven days of live music in one of Melbourne’s most characterful neighbourhoods. And this year, the program is the strongest it has ever been.
What Is Valley Sounds?
Valley Sounds is Moonee Valley City Council’s free live music micro-festival, a celebration of local and respected artists performing across intimate neighbourhood venues from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 5 July 2026.
What sets it apart from any other Melbourne festival is scale of intimacy. There are no massive stages or muddy paddocks. Valley Sounds takes over the bars, restaurants, community halls, and live music rooms of Moonee Valley, the kind of venues where you can see the sweat on a guitar string and hear a performer breathe. It is grassroots, it is genuine, and for most events, it is completely free.
Now in its fifth edition, 2026 spans two full weekends for the first time, with a lineup that runs from ARIA Award-winning artists and internationally credentialled musicians through to soul bands, jazz pianists, folk singers and a late-night nu metal tribute act. There is no single type of person Valley Sounds is for. It is for everyone.
The 2026 Lineup: Shows Worth Planning Around
This is not an event listing. This is your curated guide to the Valley Sounds 2026 moments that are genuinely worth building your week around.
Clare Bowditch | Thursday 25 June, 6–9pm | Clocktower Centre
If the 2026 program has a headline moment, this is it. Clare Bowditch is one of Australia’s most treasured musicians. She is an ARIA Award winner for Best Female Artist, Rolling Stone Woman of the Year, a published author, and a Melbourne icon whose reputation among Australian music lovers is difficult to overstate. The opening night at Clocktower Centre features Clare in an intimate conversation and performance format alongside soul and blues six-piece CJ Commerford and The Supertones, and DJ Greg Bracey, hosted by Ben Sorensen.
Free entry, no tickets required. That said, do not underestimate how quickly the room will fill. Arrive by 6:15pm.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Indie Pop | Friday 26 June, 6–8pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Friday 26 June:
Grant Elliott 6pm – 7pm
Celeste Kate 7pm – 8pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Rusty Brown | Friday 26 June, 6–9pm | Edward Abbott Wine Bar
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to Edward Abbotts Wine Bar to see Rusty Brown!
For over 30 years now Rusty has had two feet firmly planted in the music industry, rooted in connection, passion, and his love for music.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Peter Morrison | Friday 26 June, 6–10pm | Golden Pour
Golden Pour will host live music performances in a relaxed neighbourhood bar setting, showcasing local artists alongside our rotating craft beer taps, premium wine selection and cocktails. The events are designed to create a welcoming community atmosphere and support local live music in Keilor East.
Peter Morrison is a solo live music performer delivering a mix of popular classics and modern favourites across a wide range of genres. His performances create a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, making him well suited for bars, community events and live entertainment venues. Peter regularly performs at local venues and private functions throughout Melbourne.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Shelby Lim | Saturday 27 June, 2–7pm | Deluxe Bar
The perfect way to launch your first Saturday. Shelby Lim is a Melbourne-based singer-guitarist with a loyal following built on high-energy sets across the city’s best live music venues. Expect a crowd-favourite set across pop and rock that turns a quiet winter afternoon into something considerably more fun. Walk-in friendly, no booking required.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Swordfish Band | Saturday 27 June, 4–6pm | Boxcar Barbers
The Flemington parklet will become a street-level live music venue in late June and early July.
The program begins at Boxcar Barbers with grassroots performances by emerging local artists, then continues next door at Pin Oak Beer & Wine with relaxed late-evening sets.
Sunday sessions at Pin Oak Beer & Wine will feature emerging DJs, smooth jazz, and laid-back afternoon music.
Expect local bands, emerging artists, and intimate live performances on the footpath.
Come and support emerging Melbourne musicians as part of the Valley Sounds music festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Ryley Duncan Trio | Saturday 27 June, 6–7pm | Pin Oak Beer & Wine
The Flemington parklet will become a street-level live music venue in late June and early July.
The program begins at Boxcar Barbers with grassroots performances by emerging local artists, then continues next door at Pin Oak Beer & Wine with relaxed late-evening sets.
Sunday sessions at Pin Oak Beer & Wine will feature emerging DJs, smooth jazz, and laid-back afternoon music.
Expect local bands, emerging artists, and intimate live performances on the footpath.
Come and support emerging Melbourne musicians as part of the Valley Sounds music festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Soul/Jazz | Saturday 27 June, 6–9pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Saturday 27 June:
Ania Reynolds, 6pm – 7pm
Liam Turner, 7pm – 8pmOscar Laddell, 8pm – 9pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Farren Jones | Sunday 28 June, 2–5pm | Edward Abbotts Wine Bar
Head to Edward Abbott Wine Bar and see Farren Jones!
Melbourne based producer/singer/songwriter Farren Jones has successfully marked out his career, playing hundreds of corporate and public appearances.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Folk | Sunday 28 June, 2–5pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Sunday 28 June
Follow The Robin, 2pm – 3pm
Nyera, 3pm – 4pm
Laura Lucas, 4pm – 5pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Demie Bagnato | Sunday 28 June, 3–6pm | Penny Young
Head to Penny Young to see Demie Bagnato!
A gig designed specifically to complement the venue’s ambience: soulful, relaxed, and engaging while still allowing patrons to comfortably dine, socialise, and enjoy the overall experience. Demie is an acoustic duo playing a blend of pop, soul, and R&B inspired by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Olivia Dean, and Norah Jones.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
DJ Set from Box Pleat | Sunday 28 June, 4–7pm | Pin Oak Beer and Wine
The Flemington parklet will become a street-level live music venue in late June and early July.
The program begins at Boxcar Barbers with grassroots performances by emerging local artists, then continues next door at Pin Oak Beer & Wine with relaxed late-evening sets.
Sunday sessions at Pin Oak Beer & Wine will feature emerging DJs, smooth jazz, and laid-back afternoon music.
Expect local bands, emerging artists, and intimate live performances on the footpath.
Come and support emerging Melbourne musicians as part of the Valley Sounds music festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Emily Rosner | Sunday 28 June, 5–6:30pm | Studio 3
Head to Studio 3 to see Emily Rosner
Melbourne based harpist Emily Rosner is shattering preconceived notions of what her instrument is capable of, creating a truly unique musical experience.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Folk/Rock | Thursday 2 July, 6–8pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Thursday 2 July
Damn Williams, 6pm – 7pm
Nick Anderson, 7pm – 8pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Dom Bagnato and Sam Tabone | Thursday 2 July, 7–9pm | Saros Bar and Dining
Our pick. The one to plan your trip around.
Dom Bagnato is a Melbourne fashion icon and acclaimed vocalist known for bringing genuine theatrical elegance to every stage he steps onto. His celebrated production Tony and Gaga: An Opulent Big Band Experience alongside powerhouse vocalist Sarah C and the Mojo Orchestra has earned him a reputation as one of Melbourne’s most captivating live performers. He has performed at Bird’s Basement, the city’s premier jazz club, and his voice carries the kind of warmth and precision that makes a room stop and pay attention.
Accompanying him is Sam Tabone, a gifted guitarist and his long-standing musical collaborator. Together they deliver an intimate evening of jazz, swing and timeless classics. The kind of performance that makes a room feel like the world has slowed down to exactly the right tempo.
The setting is Saros Bar and Dining at The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds, an official Valley Sounds venue and one of Moonee Ponds’ most stylish dining rooms.
A practical note worth taking seriously: dinner service at Saros begins from 5pm. Book your table at least seven to ten days in advance. This show will fill and there will be no walk-ins for a comfortable dinner experience. Arrive for the meal, let the evening settle, and you will be exactly where you want to be when Dom and Sam take the stage at 7pm.
The full story of this evening is on the Saros Bar and Dining website.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Blues/Folk/Country | Friday 3 July, 6–8pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Friday 3 July
Aaron D’Arcy, 6pm – 7pm
Mr Black & Blues, 7pm – 8pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Simon Ross | Saturday 4 July, 2–7pm | Deluxe Bar
Do not let the word “afternoon” suggest this is background music. Simon Ross is described by Moonee Valley City Council as “piano man extraordinaire” for good reason. He is a well-known and respected artist on the international piano scene with performance credits at renowned jazz festivals across Australia and Europe. His original project, The Simontologists, has taken him well beyond Australia’s borders. A musician of this calibre playing a neighbourhood bar on a Saturday afternoon is a Valley Sounds signature move, and it is one of the best things about the festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Ships Piano Band | Saturday 4 July, 4–6pm | Boxcar Barbers
The Flemington parklet will become a street-level live music venue in late June and early July.
The program begins at Boxcar Barbers with grassroots performances by emerging local artists, then continues next door at Pin Oak Beer & Wine with relaxed late-evening sets.
Sunday sessions at Pin Oak Beer & Wine will feature emerging DJs, smooth jazz, and laid-back afternoon music.
Expect local bands, emerging artists, and intimate live performances on the footpath.
Come and support emerging Melbourne musicians as part of the Valley Sounds music festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Namesake | Saturday 4 July, 6–7pm | Pin Oak Beer & Wine
The Flemington parklet will become a street-level live music venue in late June and early July.
The program begins at Boxcar Barbers with grassroots performances by emerging local artists, then continues next door at Pin Oak Beer & Wine with relaxed late-evening sets.
Sunday sessions at Pin Oak Beer & Wine will feature emerging DJs, smooth jazz, and laid-back afternoon music.
Expect local bands, emerging artists, and intimate live performances on the footpath.
Come and support emerging Melbourne musicians as part of the Valley Sounds music festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Pop/Rock | Saturday 4 July, 6–9pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Saturday 4
Bianca Hosking, 6pm – 7pm
A K Dias 7pm – 8pm
Mareya 8pm – 9pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Andrew Sill | Saturday 4 July, 6–10pm | Golden Pour
Golden Pour will host live music performances in a relaxed neighbourhood bar setting, showcasing local artists alongside our rotating craft beer taps, premium wine selection and cocktails. The events are designed to create a welcoming community atmosphere and support local live music in Keilor East.
Andrew Sill is a solo live music performer specialising in well-known hits from the 1960s through to today. His performances feature a wide variety of crowd favourites, creating an engaging and relaxed atmosphere suited to bars, live music venues and community events.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Break Stuff | Saturday 4 July, 9pm–1am | Deluxe Bar
The wildcard. A late-night Slipknot tribute act immediately following a jazz piano afternoon session at the same venue. That is Valley Sounds in one sentence, and it is said with the deepest respect for a festival that understands variety. If you need to let loose on a Saturday night in the middle of a Melbourne winter, Break Stuff is your show.
Into live music in Melbourne beyond this festival? Our Melbourne Concerts Guide keeps you across what is on, when and where, across every genre.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Shane Howard | Saturday 4 July, 9–11pm | Doutta Galla Hotel
Do not let the word “afternoon” suggest this is background music. Simon Ross is described by Moonee Valley City Council as “piano man extraordinaire” for good reason. He is a well-known and respected artist on the international piano scene with performance credits at renowned jazz festivals across Australia and Europe. His original project, The Simontologists, has taken him well beyond Australia’s borders. A musician of this calibre playing a neighbourhood bar on a Saturday afternoon is a Valley Sounds signature move, and it is one of the best things about the festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
Indie folk/Rock | Sunday 5 July, 2–5pm | Union Hotel
Valley Sounds at The Union Hotel, the biggest line up of entertainment of the festival is happening at the Union Hotel.
Our live and free winter music festival, Valley Sounds will once again bring the community together through the power of live music, showcasing everything from indie folk and jazz to rhythm and blues.
Head to The Union Hotel and see:
Sunday 5 July
Kimberly, 2pm – 3pm
Debra Lavell, 3pm – 4pm
Ed Reed, 4pm – 5pm
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
DJ set from BIGFATCRUSH | Saturday 4 July, 4–7pm | Pin Oak Beer & Wine
The Flemington parklet will become a street-level live music venue in late June and early July.
The program begins at Boxcar Barbers with grassroots performances by emerging local artists, then continues next door at Pin Oak Beer & Wine with relaxed late-evening sets.
Sunday sessions at Pin Oak Beer & Wine will feature emerging DJs, smooth jazz, and laid-back afternoon music.
Expect local bands, emerging artists, and intimate live performances on the footpath.
Come and support emerging Melbourne musicians as part of the Valley Sounds music festival.
Image source: mvcc.vic.gov.au
How to Plan Your Perfect Valley Sounds Night
Valley Sounds is gloriously free and low-barrier, but a little planning makes the difference between a good night and one you talk about for years.
Book Saros dinner well ahead. For the Dom Bagnato and Sam Tabone show on Thursday 2 July, reservations from 5pm are your best move. Give yourself seven to ten days minimum. Tables for an evening like this are not something to leave to chance.
Arrive early for Clare Bowditch. Opening night at Clocktower Centre on 25 June is free and unticketed, which means the room fills on a first-come basis. Doors open at 6pm. Be there by 6:15pm.
Map your Saturday 4 July. This is the richest single day of the entire festival. Simon Ross in the afternoon at Deluxe Bar, dinner somewhere in the neighbourhood, then a choice between Shane Howard at Doutta Galla Hotel or Break Stuff back at Deluxe Bar at 9pm. If you are feeling ambitious, you can do both.
Wear a proper coat. Late June and early July in Melbourne means evenings dropping to seven or eight degrees. The venues are warm; the walks between them are not. A good coat is not optional. It is the difference between a great night and a miserable one.
Embrace the venue crawl. Valley Sounds venues are clustered within comfortable walking distance of each other across Moonee Ponds. Build a night that moves through them: a drink here, a full set there, a late supper somewhere warm. That is the spirit of the festival, and the neighbourhood is made for exactly this kind of wandering.
Moonee Ponds Beyond the Music
Part of what makes Valley Sounds so good is the neighbourhood it calls home. Moonee Ponds is one of Melbourne’s most underrated precincts, a place that long-time locals know deeply and visitors discover with genuine pleasure.
Start your mornings on Puckle Street. The neighbourhood’s main commercial strip has the ease of a village and the quality of inner Melbourne: independent cafes, bookshops, bakers and retailers that have been here long enough to know what they are doing. A flat white here before a Valley Sounds day sets the tone correctly.
For lunch and pre-show drinks, the area around Homer Street rewards a slow walk. The dining options lean Mediterranean and modern Australian, with wine bars and neighbourhood restaurants that feel lived-in rather than performative. Moonee Ponds is not trying to impress you. It just does.
If you are travelling with family or want a morning walk before the festival evenings begin, the Maribyrnong River trail is one of Melbourne’s most underappreciated paths: quiet, tree-lined and genuinely beautiful in winter light.
At night, with music in the air, there is a warmth to Moonee Ponds that catches you off guard. This is a neighbourhood that knows how to look after people.
Make the most of every Melbourne winter moment. Our Winter in Melbourne guide is full of the best things the city has to offer right now.
Your Valley Sounds Home Base
Where you stay for a neighbourhood festival changes the entire experience. For Valley Sounds 2026, The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds is not simply the most convenient option. It is the only hotel in Moonee Ponds where your hotel restaurant is an official Valley Sounds venue.
Saros Bar and Dining is on the ground floor of The Sebel. Dom Bagnato and Sam Tabone will perform metres from the hotel lobby. For guests staying here on 2 July, getting to the show means taking the lift downstairs.
For visitors from interstate or overseas, this reframes how you plan the trip entirely. Rather than staying in the CBD and travelling out to Moonee Ponds each evening, you base yourself in the neighbourhood. You wake up, walk to a local cafe, spend your day on Puckle Street and along the river, come back to your apartment-style suite to freshen up, and walk downstairs to Saros for dinner and a show. No rideshares, no rushing, no arriving just as the music starts.
For Melbourne locals, consider this your invitation to make a proper weekend of it. A Valley Sounds staycation at The Sebel Moonee Ponds is a genuinely different experience from commuting home at midnight. You get to be inside the festival, not just attending it.
The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds suites are apartment-style rooms with full kitchen facilities, separate living and sleeping areas, and the kind of generous space that makes coming back after a big night feel like arriving somewhere rather than collapsing somewhere. That distinction matters across a two-weekend festival.
Ready to lock in your Valley Sounds base?
View rooms and check availability.
Valley Sounds 2026: At a Glance
| Festival Dates | Thursday 25 June to Sunday 5 July 2026 |
| Entry | Free for most events |
| Location | Moonee Valley venues, Melbourne |
| Headline Highlights | Clare Bowditch, Dom Bagnato and Sam Tabone, Shane Howard, Simon Ross |
| Full Program | mvcc.vic.gov.au/valley-sounds |
| Our Recommended Event | Dom Bagnato and Sam Tabone at Saros Bar and Dining, Thursday 2 July, 7–9pm |
| Saros Dinner Bookings | From 5pm. Book 7–10 days in advance |
| Stay at The Sebel | Booking link to be inserted |
FAQs
Valley Sounds is a free annual live music festival run by Moonee Valley City Council. It takes place across intimate neighbourhood venues in Moonee Valley, celebrating local and respected artists across a wide range of genres. The 2026 edition runs from Thursday 25 June to Sunday 5 July across two full weekends.
Most events are completely free with no ticket required and no registration needed. A handful of venue events involve a dinner or drinks spend, as you would expect at any bar or restaurant. The one evening we strongly recommend planning and booking ahead is 2 July at Saros Bar and Dining for Dom Bagnato and Sam Tabone. Dinner reservations from 5pm fill quickly for this show.
For most Valley Sounds events, you simply show up. The exception is Saros Bar and Dining on 2 July. Book your dinner table at least seven to ten days ahead. For the Clare Bowditch opening night at Clocktower Centre on 25 June, no booking is required but arriving by 6:15pm will secure you a good seat.
The 2026 program spans jazz, swing, soul, blues, folk, acoustic pop, rock and gospel, with a late-night nu metal show rounding out the Saturday. It is one of the more genuinely eclectic community festival programs in Melbourne, which is part of what makes it so good.
The Sebel Melbourne Moonee Ponds is the only hotel in Moonee Ponds where your hotel restaurant is an official Valley Sounds venue. Saros Bar and Dining sits on the ground floor of the hotel, which means guests staying here on 2 July walk downstairs to the show rather than planning transport. For visitors wanting to be inside the neighbourhood rather than commuting to it each evening, this is the obvious choice.
Approximately 7 kilometres, around 20 minutes by tram or 15 minutes by car. Close enough to access everything Melbourne has to offer, far enough to feel like you are somewhere with its own character and rhythm. For interstate and international visitors, it offers the experience of a genuine Melbourne neighbourhood rather than a hotel corridor.
Valley Sounds comes once a year. Some evenings deserve to be planned properly, and some are worth building an entire trip around.
Share this guide with whoever you are bringing. Bookmark it for next year. And if you have not booked your table at Saros yet, now is a very good time to do that.
Planning a fuller Melbourne experience this winter? Browse our Melbourne Festivals Guide for everything happening across the city this season.
This initiative is proudly supported by Moonee Valley City Council through its biannual grants program