7 must-see shows to catch at Melbourne Recital Centre this season

This self-taught singer, songwriter, poet and multi-instrumentalist recently added Grammy award-winner to her long list of achievements, when her second album The Returner picked up the award for Best American Roots Performance in 2023 for the single ‘Eve Was Black’. Now, Russell is bringing her soulful, genre-defying sound to Melbourne, performing tracks from both of her acclaimed albums alongside the Rainbow Coalition Band (a powerhouse ensemble of Black, POC, Queer, and historically marginalised musicians) on Tuesday, April 15. Get your tickets now.

The vast multi-disciplinary festival Asia TOPA (aka the Asia-Pacific Triennial of Performing Arts) returns in 2025 with a stacked program. Showcasing theatre, music, dance, and more from across the Asia-Pacific, this edition will feature Water Song, a sonically immersive performance led by acclaimed South Korean vocalist Sunny Kim and composed by Ensemble Ochaye. The cross-cultural collaboration will blend Korean, Chinese, Iranian, and Western instruments and feature some of Australia’s most exciting musicians. Book your tickets now for the 6pm or 8pm timeslots on March 7. 

Formed in 1995 with just an acoustic guitar, this family-led band has come a long way. Moussa “Abindi” Ibra, who was only nine-years-old when the group began, learned to play from fellow members and now leads the band. Renowned for their signature ‘desert blues’ guitar style, Etran de L’Aïr (meaning “stars of the Aïr region”) hails from Agadez, a vibrant urban hub in the heart of the Sahara. For one night only, you can immerse yourself in hypnotic guitar solos and pan-African melodies as the band performs on Tuesday, March 4. Grab your tickets now.

Michigan-born, Iceland-based singer-songwriter John Grant is heading Down Under with his critically-acclaimed album, The Art of The Lie. Known for his introspective lyricism and grand ballads infused with electrifying pop, Grant promises a cinematic performance rich in confessional storytelling. Tickets are on sale now for this one-off performance on Thursday, March 13.

Brooklyn-based flautist Claire Chase brings her unique sound world to Melbourne Recital Centre on April 16 and 17, performing Australian composer Liza Lim's evocative work Sex Magic. Described by The New York Times as "the North Star of her instrument’s ever-expanding universe," Chase became the first flautist to receive both a MacArthur Fellowship and the Avery Fisher Prize for Classical Music from Lincoln Centre. She's since performed with prestigious orchestras around the world including the New York Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Munich Chamber Orchestra. Stick around after the performance for a 20-minute discussion about her career, artistry and more in the ground floor foyer. Get your tickets now.

If you’re not yet familiar with this all-female acapella quartet from Zimbabwe, now’s the time to change that. This internationally acclaimed group represents a new generation of young African women singers who are on a mission to use their music as a vehicle for change, and to preserve and celebrate their culture. Hear Nobuntu’s rich and soul-stirring voices as they perform everything from traditional Zimbabwean songs to Afro Jazz and Gospel music on Wednesday, June 25, at Melbourne Recital Centre. Tickets are on sale now.

On Wednesday April 2, renowned Aboriginal artist Emma Donovan will team up with pianist, composer and conductor Paul Grabowsky, along with a collective of Melbourne's finest jazz musicians, to explore the rich legacy of soul and country music for The Old Rugged Cross. In this special performance, Donovan reflects on the gospel and hymns she grew up with, featuring songs like ‘In the Sweet Bye and Bye’, ‘One Day at a Time’ and ‘I’ll Fly Away’. She’ll also perform songs by her grandfather, Micko Donovan, and pay tribute to Aretha Franklin’s ‘Amazing Grace’. Grab your tickets now.

 Discover all these events and more at Melbourne Recital Centre on Cnr Southbank Boulevard and Sturt Street, Southbank.