Yoke Sound Launches Loungeroom Gig Series With HAZEL & The Thief

Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is welcoming an intimate series of loungeroom gigs this month, thanks to the newly launched Yoke Sound Events.

The first of these exclusive concerts will take place at an as-yet-unannounced location on Saturday, 21 September, as part of what organisers have dubbed “a baptism of fire” for the series.

Headlined by Melbourne country outfit HAZEL & The Thief, the group will celebrate the release of their newly launched debut single, The Olden Days, which has established their pedigree as accomplished purveyors of eclectic country rock.

HAZEL & The Thief have been garnering acclaim for their captivating performance style, thanks largely in part to the eponymous HAZEL’s emotive and evocative songwriting and the unique blend of Australian and Celtic influences heard throughout their music. The group is currently scheduled to release their second single, I Want To Own A Farm With You, on 18 October.

The show is also rounded out by the appearance of “local acoustic folkster” Rob Ely, who has previously enthralled audiences with his emotive Elliott Smith-esque approach to indie-folk, and the dance powerhouse DJ Davros, who is on hand to ensure that the punters get their blood pumping right from the start.

These nascent performances from Yoke Sound are part of the company’s dedication to cultivating community through “live music gatherings where individuals 'yoke together' in union”.

Adopting their name from the apparatus used on draft animals to ensure they work as a collective, Yoke Sounds aims to “create spaces where attendees can authentically connect with themselves and others.” In this case, these spaces are the loungerooms of the host, who, in turn, strives to help curate a sense of “joy, belonging, and connection” for both audiences and the artists.

Very limited tickets to Yoke Sound Volume 1 are on sale now. The specific location of the event will be given to attendees shortly before the event. The debut event also coincides with the birthday of Yoke Sound Events organiser Anna, so audiences are also urged to bring their “best birthday vibes.”

Currently, it’s unclear when and where future events as part of the Yoke Sound series will be held. However, the focus on the Mornington Peninsula indicates that most, if not all, gigs will be relegated to southeastern Melbourne.