Melbourne Fringe: Oliver Downes

"[The show] presents a collection of original songs that respond to the various preoccupations of the times — financial crisis, the challenges of spiritual belief in a scientific world, casual sex, domestic violence, climate change denial, 'indefinite detention' — written on piano in an indie-pop idiom a la Ben Folds, that also taps into the spirit of chaps such as Leonard Cohen and Philip Glass, offered in a sit-down-and-listen-type situation with audience interaction turned up to an even seven.

But Downes wont be taking to the stage on his own. "I wanted to put a band together and create a unique sound just for Fringe and found an amazing couple of bandmates by asking around. They are the ebulliently fire-bearded prankster Callum Moncrieff, who is a Churchill fellowship-winning percussionist and probably the best drummer I've ever worked with, and Matt Dixon, who's more usually found wielding his electric guitar in indie-space-pop outfit Wallflower. Developing their parts and solidifying our sound as a fundamentally indie-pop trio with some jazz licks on the side has been an absolute pleasure and easily my favourite part of the whole process. I was keen for an excuse to spend some time in Melbourne, get to know some local musos and put my set of original songs through their paces before recording later in the year. I've never participated in a Fringe festival before, or presented a run of shows in one spot but thought that it might be a fun and productive challenge."

What: Oliver Downes: At The End

When & Where: 18 Sep — 3 Oct, Ruby's Music Room