THE RISING SUN

Note: From Friday 23 – Sunday 25 January 2026, our 175th Birthday Celebration will be taking over the venue for the weekend. Sunday Roots & Blues will return the following week.

January 2026

Sunday 4 January – Tara Coates
Adelaide based singer songwriter and guitarist Tara Coates has toured across Australia and the US, including a performance at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. She has supported artists including Mia Dyson, Shane Nicholson, Liz Stringer and Sarah McLeod, and was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2017 South Australian Music Awards.

Sunday 11 January – Jimmybay
🌐 Instagram | Spotify
Jimmybay blends blues, folk and alt country with honest storytelling drawn from life on the road and the outback. Performing solo with guitar, harmonica and kick drum, his sets are grounded, rhythmic and narrative driven.

Sunday 18 January – Stuart James Day
A multi instrumentalist, songwriter and performer, Stuart James Day has worked across pubs, clubs, theatres and television for decades. Performing solo with guitar, harmonica and stomp box, he moves through pop, rock and roots classics with an easy, relaxed style.

Sunday 25 January – No Sunday Roots & Blues
Our 175th Birthday Celebration runs from Friday 23 – Sunday 25 January 2026 and will be taking over the venue for the weekend.

February 2026

Sunday 1 February – AP D’Antonio
AP D’Antonio returns with his blend of traditional blues, roots and early rock influences, delivered with a stripped back and soulful live set.

Sunday 8 February – Tim Sheehan & Kerry Forward
A blues infused guitar and harmonica duo drawing on blues foundations with touches of country, rock and soul.

Sunday 15 February – Mick Kidd
🌐 Website | Facebook | Bandcamp
Based in the Adelaide Hills, Mick Kidd has been part of the local blues scene for more than three decades, known for his acoustic blues style and award winning original material.

Sunday 22 February – Frankie & Savva
Previous winners of the SA Blues Challenge, Frankie & Savva return with their old school blues approach featuring slide guitar, smoky vocals and original material rooted in tradition.

March 2026

Sunday 1 March – Billy February
Billy February is a touring singer songwriter whose engaging live performances and original songs explore love, relationships and human nature.

Sunday 8 March – Acousticool
Acousticool features Carl Pink and Ron Kosmider, bringing decades of live and studio experience to a relaxed acoustic set built around strong musicianship.

Sunday 15 March – Harpin’ Will K
Singer-songwriter Will Kallinderis, aka Harpin’ Will K, performs a lively mix of original roots and blues at clubs and festivals across South Australia. His album Last Of The Singing Peace Chiefs features upbeat acoustic guitar with full-throttled harmonica, while recent sets draw on early influences to deliver raw, stripped back blues.

Sunday 22 March – Gwyn Ashton (UK)
An Australian born blues rock guitarist now based in the UK, Gwyn Ashton brings a high energy solo performance combining electric and acoustic guitars, slide, blues harp and percussion.

Sunday 29 March – Craig Atkins
Based in Adelaide (Kaurna Country), Craig Atkins is a songwriter and performer whose music moves through roots, blues, folk and alt country. Performing solo, his sets draw on acoustic and resonator guitars, lap slide, harmonica, foot percussion and yidaki, shaped by years of touring and festival appearances across Australia and internationally.

April 2026

Sunday 5 April – AP D’Antonio
AP D’Antonio returns with his blend of traditional blues, roots and early rock influences, delivered with a stripped back and soulful live set.

Sunday 12 April – Zkye & Damo
Zkye and Damien Steele Scott present a dynamic duo set led by strong vocals, bass driven arrangements and songs shaped by years of touring and recording.

Sunday 19 April – Don Morrison
Don Morrison returns with decades of Australian roots and blues experience across songwriting, recording and live performance.

Sunday 26 April – Glenn Skuthorpe
A respected First Nations songwriter and performer, Glenn Skuthorpe returns with a set spanning roots, blues and alt country.

May 2026

Sunday 10 May – Brett Littlefair
To call Brett Littlefair a bluesman would be selling him short: his sound is best described as “Footstompin’, Toetappin’ Boogie,” drawing on Mississippi Delta and North Mississippi blues influences and shaped around raw three- and four-string cigar box guitars. With millions of online views, international followers, acclaimed albums including Footstompin’ and Toetappin’, and a 2022 ARBA Blues Album of the Year award, Brett delivers hypnotic, high-energy performances that get audiences moving.

Sunday 17 May  – Tara and Richard Coates
Adelaide-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Tara Coates has toured across Australia and the US, including a performance at Nashville’s Bluebird Cafe. She has supported artists including Mia Dyson, Shane Nicholson, Liz Stringer and Sarah McLeod, and was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at the 2017 South Australian Music Awards.

Sunday 24 May – Jesse Dean Freeman
Jesse Dean Freeman is a blues musician based in Adelaide, South Australia, who has been performing solo, duo and band gigs since 1992.

Sunday 31 May –  Joe Amputch
Joe Amputch is a Fiji-born roots and blues artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. A Pacific Islander, Joe’s early life was immersed in traditional island music, blues, gospel and reggae, shaping his unique groove and rhythm. Blending these influences with a love for many musical styles, Joe delivers an engaging and captivating live performance with his rich voice and guitar.

June 2026

Sunday 7 June – M J Turner
🌐 Instagram
Australian blues and roots with 25 years behind the guitar. A mix of blues, roots, classic rock and originals, built with guitar and loops for a full front bar sound.

Sunday 14 June – John & Jane Doe
🌐 Facebook
Clare Valley locals Andy Czora and Jenny Bradfield play non-traditional covers with shades of blues, folk, southern rock and dark country. Easy and thoughtful for a Sunday afternoon.

Sunday 21 June – Crybaby Cletus
🌐 Facebook
Blues, folk, old-time country and roots, led by fingerpicked acoustic guitar and smoky vocals. Reworked traditional songs, slower ballads, and a few driving grooves in the mix.

Sunday 28 June – Amayah & Kerry Davy
A relaxed Sunday set shaped by blues, roots and acoustic favourites, delivered with warmth and an easy front bar feel.

July 2026

Sunday 5 July – Stuart James Day
A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and performer, Stuart James Day has worked across pubs, clubs, theatres and television for decades. Performing solo with guitar, harmonica and stomp box, he moves through pop, rock and roots classics with an easy, relaxed style.

Sunday 12 July – AP D’Antonio
AP D’Antonio returns with his blend of traditional blues, roots and early rock influences, delivered with a stripped-back and soulful live set.

Sunday 19 July – MAXXX
Max Crighton is a South Australian musician whose live sets blend country and blues, featuring well-loved covers and original songs. Honest, easy listening and made for a Sunday afternoon at the pub.

Sunday 26 July – Billy February
Billy February is a touring singer-songwriter whose engaging live performances and original songs explore love, relationships and human nature.

August 2026

Sunday 2 August – Nick Vulture
🌐 Instagram
After years in Australia’s garage punk scene, Nick Vulture has carved out a distinctive solo career as a singer-songwriter. His honest songwriting and engaging live performances blend roots, folk and Americana influences, delivering songs that are personal, heartfelt and full of character. 

Sunday 9 August – Gwyn Ashton
🌐 Instagram
Welsh–Australian guitarist Gwyn Ashton is an internationally respected blues-rock performer known for his slide guitar, powerful vocals and commanding one-man live shows. With decades of touring alongside blues legends, he brings a dynamic mix of classic blues, rock and original songs to the stage. 

Sunday 16 August – John & Jane
Clare Valley locals Andy Czora and Jenny Bradfield perform an eclectic mix of non-traditional covers inspired by blues, folk, southern rock and dark country. Relaxed, thoughtful and full of character, they’re the perfect soundtrack to a Sunday afternoon. 

Sunday 23 August – Zachary Luka
🌐 Instagram
Adelaide’s Zachary Luka has spent years touring Australia with his one-man band, combining guitar, harmonica, foot percussion and rich vocals. Drawing on roots, blues and folk traditions, his energetic performances blend original songs with well-chosen classics, shaped by thousands of kilometres on the road. 

Sunday 30 August – Arvi Peterson
Adelaide Hills musician Arvi Peterson brings a relaxed blend of blues and ballads, performing on six-string guitar, slide guitar and harmonica. Influenced by the early blues greats, his laid-back style and understated musicianship make for an easy Sunday afternoon session.

SEPTEMBER 2026

Sunday 6 September – Mick Kidd and David Blight (Father’s Day – please note this event is from 1pm to 4pm)

Mick Kidd and David Blight. They have been playing together since 2011, bringing guitar, harmonica and plenty of blues experience to the stage. The Adelaide duo have performed around Australia and in Memphis, with David also known for his long association with Cold Chisel. Together, they play a stripped-back mix of acoustic blues and original music.

Sunday 13 September – Crybaby Cletus

🌐 Facebook
Blues, folk, old-time country and roots, led by fingerpicked acoustic guitar and smoky vocals. Reworked traditional songs, slower ballads, and a few driving grooves in the mix.

Sunday 20th September – AP D’Antonio

AP D’Antonio returns with his blend of traditional blues, roots and early rock influences, delivered with a stripped back and soulful live set.

Sunday 27th September – Joe Amputch

Joe Amputch is a Fiji-born roots and blues artist based in Adelaide, South Australia. A Pacific Islander, Joe’s early life was immersed in traditional island music, blues, gospel and reggae, shaping his unique groove and rhythm. Blending these influences with a love for many musical styles, Joe delivers an engaging and captivating live performance with his rich voice and guitar.