Performers/Entertainment

Look at our amazing line-up of entertainment!

Bec Sandridge

Bec Sandridge is a songwriter, mentor, producer and multi disciplinary artist based on the South Coast of Australia. Sandridge’s primary weapon of choice is guitar paired with her distinct vocals: she draws upon her folk roots to create 80s-esque, nostalgic-driven pop songs. Inspired by Cyndi Lauper, David Byrne and Prince, Sandridge transports listeners into a sentimental space via fuzzed out guitars, ethereal vocals and arpeggiator synthesizers, and in more tender moments, carries a story with just a guitar.

Sandridge’s highly anticipated debut album “TRY + SAVE ME” was released independently in October 2019 and her debut EP “In The Fog” was released via Farmer & The Owl / BMG worldwide in 2016. Multiple singles (‘Animal’, ‘Eyes Wide’, ‘Stranger’, ‘I’ll Never Want A BF’, ‘High Tide’, ‘You’re A Fucking Joke’ and ‘In The Fog, In The Flame’) received full rotation on Australian radio station triple j and across community radio nationally, and had high rotation in Germany on Flux FM. Her single ‘STRANGER’ was co-written with Oscar Dawson of Holy Holy and was a finalist in the International Songwriting Contest in the Unsigned category (as judged by Chris Martin of Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Tom Waits) in 2020.

Sandridge and her band have played numerous leading festivals including London Calling (Amsterdam), Falls Festival, Groovin’ The Moo, Festival of The Sun, Fairgrounds and she has supported the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen, Yungblud, The Rubens, Mitski, Highasakite, Marlon Williams, the Naked and Famous, Missy Higgins, Montaigne and Cub Sport.

More recently, Sandridge was commissioned to write the soundtrack for the Dead Puppet Society’s production of Ishmael; a modern take on Moby Dick which premiered at QPAC in 2021 as part of Brisbane Festival and is set for two weeks at the Sydney Opera House in 2022.

Sandridge has also co-written with many including Dave Jenkins Jr (Daniel Johns, Vera Blue), Lucy Taylor (Pawws, Dua Lipa, Ellie Goulding), Essie Holt, CHC (Nouvelle Vague), Andy Bull, Phebe Starr, Demi Louise, Xavier Dunn, Thomas McNeice (Gang Of Four), Sarah Blasko, Japanese Wallpaper and Oscar Dawson. Her instrumentals and original songs can be heard on The Spirit Of Tasmania commercial, Dulux Paint AU, Dance Academy worldwide and Showtime’s The L Word Generation Q.

Sydney Morning Herald

Bec Sandridge ★★★★

“These days many musicians transition to electronica in order to stay relevant, but for Sandridge it feels like the most natural of progressions. This is a confident collection of impossibly catchy earworms from a songwriter who is unapologetically herself” – GISELLE AU-NHIEN NGUYEN

The Music ★★★★

“It’s just perfect pop, a bold statement from an equally bold artist”

Paperweight

Melbourne quartet Paperweight have spun a pandemic origin story into non-stop triumphs. They’ve continually risen above any hurdles thrown their way, and have increasingly survived and thrived with their brand of irresistible grit and polished anthems that simultaneously embrace the past and present of the pop-punk realms. Part love letter to the genre greats of New Found Glory and Neck Deep but with their own unique stamp, Paperweight have also previously caught the eyes and airwaves of triple j, Triple M, idobi radio + many other tastemaker outlets. They rounded out 2021 with a debut festival appearance at the inaugural Knight & Day Festival alongside the likes of Parkway Drive, Polaris and Alex Lahey, then kicked 2022 off with the launch of their debut EP ‘Green Lotus Blooms’, a national tour in support of USA’s State Champs + The Maine, and an east coast run of AMPM Club shows! 2023 will end with a bang – supporting UK’s Punk Rock Factory in Melbourne in September then playing Out In The Open Festival in Shepparton in November! With recent releases like the ever so catchy ‘Scapegoat’, the punchy ‘Tracks’, and gritty ‘Lemon Spiders’ continuing to turn heads, the continuing Paperweight journey is set to be an unforgettable ride – strap in!!!

Tuck Shop Ladies

The triceps ain’t what they used to be, but the funny bone has only gotten sharper. The Tuck Shop Ladies are an amalgamation of Australian folk music darlings Sam Lohs (Fruit) and Rosie Burgess (Rosie Burgess Trio). Armed with a pair of ukuleles and the sharpest of wits, the duo pullback the curtain to share an intimate selection of songs that truly showcase the ridiculousness of everyday life, in effortless harmony. Since forming in 2019, the pair have taken the folk scene by storm, playing a huge number of festivals across Australia. Renowned for the joy they bring, and their palpable connection, the Tuck Shop Ladies bring a breath of fresh air to the stage with their infectious humour and audience engagement. In 2023, the Tuck Shop Ladies sold out their debut season at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, proving their 2022 nomination for the Australian Folk Music People’s Choice Award was well and truly deserved. Their live show is an insight into the relationship of touring musicians ,and the result of what happens when everyday life is a Broadway musical. The Tuck Shop Ladies invite you into their hilarious world and leave you wanting to run away on tour with the band.

The Murks

Elements of pop, rock and roots with hints of reggae and punk combine to create the sound of The Murks. Named after their hometown “nuMURKah,” the band rehearse at Squish’s house, and started out by hosting regular Numurkah Singers’ Open Mic Sessions.

Roxie Boat

Melbourne/Naarm Based icon Roxie Boat is an amalgumation of the campest musical theatre referneces mixed with a sense of thrifted glamour. Having a quirky taste in fashion Roxie loves to live against the grain. Some of her biggest inspirations include Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, Patti LuPone, Ethel Mermain, Jinkx Monsoon, Bendelacreme, Art Simone… and the list goes on (the list goes on).

Having countless years of experience performing musical theatre shows in Shepparton and Melbourne, Roxie was born for the stage. Ever since Sean’s entry way into drag performing a gender-flipped role of Mrs Meeres in.

Goulburn Valley Grammar School’s production of Throughly Modern Millie (in which he was nominated for a Georgy Award. Other notible roles include Ryan Evans in High School Musical (in which he was also nominated for a Georgy Award). The Wizard in Initial Stages Wizard of Oz, and Angel Dummont Schunard in RENT with Grover Theatre Company.

Bailey Slade

Member of many bands and artists that have graced Out in the Open Festival in years gone by (Past Present, The Murks, Bailey Slade & The Sailing Blades) – Bailey takes centre stage as a solo singer-songwriter at OitO 2023! Picking up his first instrument at the age of 13, Bailey has been involved in music for almost half of his life, and continually evolves as a musician and a songwriter, bringing a good balance of heartfelt lyrics and warm melodies in the context of folk indie pop.

Tom Nethersole

A Shepparton-born performer, Tom Nethersole is a young, queer pop artist who aims to evoke the exciting, brutal and vulnerable moments of our lives. Such musical direction culminated in his 2023 debut single, ‘Build a Bear’, which explores the artist’s experience being the youngest sibling in his family when his mum passed away when he was 8, and the effects that losing someone so close had on his development at such a young age.

Writing and producing his own music, Tom Nethersole continues to refine his skills and seek new opportunities to perform which has seen him featured on Channel 7’s 2023 reboot of Australian Idol as well as performing at a variety of musical festivals such as OUTintheOPEN, Cresfest and The Push All Ages Tour.

Tom is keen to return to his hometown to perform a variety of upbeat and vulnerable songs and hopes to see the community come together to support local queer artists like himself.

Frock Hudson

Frock Hudson is the queerer alter ego of cabaret comedian & community darling Dean Arcuri.

​Elevating his cabaret and hosting skills with a touch more make up and colourful wigs; you can catch Frock performing at LGBTIQA+ festivals around the county + Gay Ski Week in Victoria, Celebrations New Years Eve in Sydney, Rainbow Storytime events for families, community fundraisers and more. Frock is proudly an ambassador for the Out in the Open Festival and Chillout Festival.

​​“Pronouns are personal to the human who uses them to affirm themselves, but when it comes to Frock, how you speak to them is more important than the pronoun you use, so as long as it’s with respect, call me whatever you want.”

​To see Frocks’ full transformation and journey, check out this video made for Federation Square to celebrate inclusion and pride.

​Whether performing a cabaret; or hosting fundraising events, hens or corporate/community functions, drag bingo/karaoke/trivia, rainbow storytime or more, there’s one thing you can be sure – Frock always brings the fun.