Everyone needs Friends.

Love live music and want it to keep happening in Anglesea?
Become a Friend of The Sound Doctor!

As a Friend you’ll get access to the good stuff – guaranteed tickets, exclusive discounts and the inside line on upcoming gigs. Best of all, as a Friend you’ll feel great knowing your support is what keeps our music heart beating!

For $250 a year Friends get:

  • A heads up on what shows are going on sale. Sometimes we can’t reveal the artist name – but you’ll know exactly when tickets are about to drop so you can plan to jump online.
  • Guaranteed access to two tickets per show. Never miss out again! Whether it’s Marlon Williams or Eddy Current Suppression Ring, we’ll set aside an allocation just for Friends. Even if a show sells out super fast, like those two did, you’ll still have a chance to secure your tickets. And for seated shows, we’ll even hold seats for those who love a seat and don’t want to miss out. *
  • One Sound Doctor stubby holder – a new colour for 2026 to add your collection,
  • Proof of membership (a card, a keyring – exactly what TBC!) so you can prove you’re one of our mates
  • Special offers, deals and discounts. From time to time we’ll send you exclusive perks.
  • 20% of all drinks at The Sound Doctor Bar (limit of 2 drinks per Friend per transaction)
  • Priority entry. You and a friend can skip the queue and race in to score a bar table or front-row spot.

Become a Friend and support The Sound Doctor. Because the best cure for anything is more live music.

There’s only room for a limited number of Friends, so if this sounds like you, don’t wait too long to sign up. And remember, you’ve heard us say that before!

* The Fine Print

  • Friend ticket allocations are limited and won’t be held indefinitely – but we’ll always let you know before any tickets are released for general sale.
  • Tickets are not included in the Friends benefits and must be purchased separately.
  • Friendships entitle you to purchase two tickets only from the Friend allocation. Additional tickets can be bought from any general public allocation
  • Friends benefits apply only to The Sound Doctor’s 2026 program.

What. A. Weekend.

Two nights. Four incredible acts. One very sweaty – and very happy – Anglesea.

Saturday night with Sonny & The Sunsets was pure magic. San Francisco garage grooves drifted through The Sound Doctor like a southeast swell rolling into Point Roadknight – smooth, unexpected, and full of rhythm. Offbeat, charming, and irresistibly likeable, Sonny’s set felt like stepping into a parallel universe where surf rock, storytelling, and heartache all share the same cocktail.

Winter McQuinn opened the evening with that gentle psych-pop shimmer he does so well – all warmth and melody. His set included songs from his new album Where Are We Now?, each one delivered with the easy charisma that’s quickly made him a favourite.

And just when we thought the weekend couldn’t get any better, we remembered Friday night when Eddy Current Suppression Ring turned the place inside out. It was a wild, sweaty, soul-shaking night that’ll be talked about for a long time. Dragnet kicked things off with raw, local energy – the kind that makes you proud to live here on the Surf Coast.

Huge thanks to everyone who came out, danced, sweated, and sang – and as always to Patrick Callow for capturing it all so beautifully. 📸

Of course, none of this would be possible without our brilliant volunteers. From front-of-house legends, to the bar staff to the behind-the-scenes crew. Give it up for them! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Big thanks also to Elmo and Dan and the Rolling Stages team for making it all sound and look so good. (plus a quick sidenote to thank Elmo and The Wholefoods Crew for supplying some fruit and veg to help feed our artists and volunteers)

And remember – there’s plenty more Sound Doctor magic to come! Our November shows include a sold-out Liz Stringer performance and The Maes are coming back to town for their Abreast album launch. If you haven’t already, grab your tickets before they’re all gone! 💫



Supported by Surf Coast Events

Support acts to warm up our Spring shows

With just four Sound Doctor shows left for the year we’re giving you plenty of reasons to come down to Anglesea Hall early. See a support act and start your gig off right! Visit Humanitix for tickets and gig info.

Dragnet – supporting Eddy Current Suppression Ring on Fri 3 October

While often hailed as a super group, Dragnet do not let this affect them in their day-to-day life. 

They are nothing if not a collection of average Joes, however once these Joes are assembled, magic happens. That magic includes (but isn’t limited to) their recently-released third full-length record Dragnet Reigns!

The band features members of Vintage Crop, Delivery, Jarrow, Checkpoint & Teen Line – but to rattle those off in an attempt to impress is a disservice to the singular, unique vision of Dragnet. Their sound is familiar, sure, but you can’t say they sound like ________. Their biting wit, obtuse lyricism and oxymoronic band bios are like those never seen. Powerhouse drumming, pulsating synths and fiddly guitar work are hallmarks of their sound, alongside the snarling vocals of frontman Jack Cherry

Geelong born and bred, this band proves to be a bleep on only the radars of those that matter.

Winter McQuinn – supporting Sonny & the Sunsets on Sat 4 October

Naarm/Melbourne songwriter, Winter McQuinn explores country and folk, imbued by psychedelia.

UK’s Shindig Magazine best-described his music as “pollinated with dashes of 21st Century environmentalism and political awareness” and his music ripples with free-ness similar to revered 1960s/70s artists such as Nick Drake and Syd Barrett, and contemporary artists such as Kate Bollinger, Tex Crick and Alex Izenberg. Known as the frontman of psychedelic pop group, Sunfruits and drummer of jade imagine, he is no stranger to The Sound Doctor stage (and having spent a bit of COVID time living in Fairhaven, it’s almost a homecoming to have him back to play for us!). Winter’s new collaborative record, Where Are We Now? is set for release on 19 September and this support show is part of his extensive tour to celebrate.

Pirritu – supporting The Maes on Sat 15 November

Pirritu’s music is a gentle, honest and melodic personal journey that entices you into the depths of sadness, love, and shimmering hope.

With two album releases under his belt, The songman’s work honours a cultural journey to connect back to land, language and family with a continual thirst for deeper understanding of his people and country.

Kyarna – supporting Liz Stringer on Sun 16 November

KYARNA is a Yuin singer-songwriter who shares raw, heartfelt songs shaped by love, loss and legacy. With warm guitar tones and soulful vocals, her country-folk sound carries stories that speak to personal grief and strength.

Her performances are intimate and reflective, creating space for deep listening and quiet connection. Audiences are invited into a world where vulnerability becomes strength, and music becomes a form of healing.

Tickets on sale now through Humanitix
Eddy Current Suppression Ring SOLD OUT

Posted on Categories Event

Sonny & The Sunsets from the West Coast to the Surf Coast! 🏄‍♀️

We’re excited to welcome Sonny & The Sunsets to Anglesea this spring for a rare, intimate night of jangly garage-pop and gently surreal storytelling.

Beloved San Francisco songwriter Sonny Smith returns to Australia with an all-star local lineup featuring Steph Hughes (Dick Diver, Boomgates), Shaun Gionis (The Green Child, Boomgates), and Mark Monnone (The Lucksmiths, Monnone Alone). Together, they’ll bring Sonny’s sun-faded world of boardwalks, diners, backstreet parties and motel rooms to life on the Sound Doctor stage.

Over more than a dozen albums, Sonny has built a cult following for his melodic warmth, lo-fi charm, and offbeat humour. His shows are playful, poetic and quietly unforgettable—equal parts concert, confession and dream sequence.

This is a one-night-only performance from one of indie music’s most quietly iconic voices.

🗓 Saturday 4 October, 7:30pm $45
📍 Anglesea Memorial Hall
🎟 Get your tickets here: events.humanitix.com/sonny-and-the-sunsets

Come for the melodies. Stay for the strangeness.

Presented by Total Soda, Curtin Touring and The Sound Doctor.

Supported by Surf Coast Events.

🎹 Liz Stringer – The To Survive Tour

Renowned singer-songwriter Liz Stringer brings her powerful new album The Second High to The Sound Doctor this November, as part of her just-announced national To Survive tour.

Launched to critical acclaim in London earlier this year, The Second High marks a bold new chapter for Liz. Known for her searing honesty, magnetic live presence and lyrical force, this new body of work dives deep — rich with piano-driven arrangements, emotional candour and melodic strength.

This is Liz Stringer in full flight: raw, reflective and resonant.

But this tour isn’t just about great music. Presented in partnership with Wombat Housing Support Services, To Survive also shines a light on the growing housing crisis in Australia — raising funds and awareness for the thousands of young people facing homelessness.

One of the album’s standout tracks, ‘To Survive’, tells the true story of a young man growing up on the streets of Melbourne and the community that lifted him up. At every show, audiences will have the opportunity to donate directly to a local housing service — with Liz personally contributing as well.

“There are very few artists in this country that can command an audience like Liz Stringer. And even fewer who can break your heart and put it back together in one song.” — NME Australia

📅 Sunday 16 November 4:30pm
📍 Anglesea Memorial Hall
🎟️ Book Tickets via Humanitix

Join us for a night of unforgettable songs and stories from one of Australia’s most compelling voices, with a cause that couldn’t be more timely.

The To Survive Tour presented by Double J, Remote Control Records, Select Music & Wombat Housing Support Services.

The Sound Doctor is supported by Surf Coast Events.

Eddy Current Suppression Ring spotted in the wild!

⚡YESSSS! It’s true. They’re back with new music, and we’re beyond excited to announce that Eddy Current Suppression Ring are making their way down the Great Ocean Road and onto the Sound Doctor stage this October!

Formed in the back room of a vinyl pressing plant in Highett, ECSR have built a reputation as one of Australia’s most revered underground bands—without ever chasing the limelight. Since 2003, their stripped-back blend of garage rock, post-punk and proto-punk energy has earned them a loyal cult following and critical acclaim alike.

Raw, wired and totally magnetic, their sound is as unmistakable as their DIY spirit—and their live shows are something else entirely.

This is a rare opportunity to catch ECSR live. Trust us: you don’t want to miss this one.

Joining them on the night are Dragnet, post-punk rockers who’ve just released their latest album, Dragnet Reigns—recorded locally (Geelong) and packed with gritty, driving energy.

🗓 Friday 3 October, 7:30pm $35
📍 Anglesea Memorial Hall
🎟 Tickets available now via Humanitix: Click here to book
***SOLD OUT*** (in under an hour!) Resale through Tixel or Humanitix

📸 Photo by Chris Middlebrook

Supported by Surf Coast Events.

🌿 The Maes – Abreast Album Launch

We’re thrilled to welcome The Maes back to The Sound Doctor—this time for a headline show to launch their stunning new album, Abreast.

After winning over our audience last year with their unforgettable support set for Troy Cassar-Daley, sisters Maggie and Elsie Rigby return to Anglesea to share their new songs, their unmatched harmonies, and their signature blend of warmth, honesty and musical mastery.

The Maes are simply spellbinding live. Drawing comparisons to Gillian Welch and The Waifs, they craft contemporary folk songs with a timeless glow—woven together by breathtaking vocals and instrumental finesse across guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo.

Their new album, Abreast, continues this tradition with songs that are deeply personal, emotionally resonant, and beautifully performed. From the moment they step on stage, The Maes create an atmosphere that is both intimate and electric—inviting you into their world with disarming charm and deep musical connection.

“Quite simply breathtaking.” – Rhythms Magazine

Whether you’re a long-time fan or hearing them for the first time, this is a show that promises to move, delight and linger long after the final note.

📅 Sat 15 November 7:30pm
📍 Anglesea Memorial Hall
🎟️ Book your tickets now $40 – 50

Supported by Surf Coast Events.

Hot music, beautiful weather, brilliant shows. 🧡

What a weekend! Our May run of shows has come to a close, and we’re feeling full — of music, community, and gratitude.

Over three special nights, we were treated to an incredible lineup:

🎸 Press Club and Bad Bangs kicked things off on Friday with a high-energy blast of rock — raw, urgent, and absolutely electric. The room was buzzing from start to finish.

🎶 On Saturday, Marina Allen (USA) and local favourite Leah Senior gave us a stunning folk-infused double bill — voices that soothed, stories that lingered, and a touch of unexpected comedy that had us all smiling.

💥 And to finish, the incomparable Joan As Police Woman gave us a show we won’t soon forget — intimate, soulful, and full of joy. From spotting dolphins at Anglesea Beach to calling our crowd the best singers on tour, Joan left a mark on all of us.

Thank you to all the artists, our volunteers, and each and every one of you who came out to listen, connect, and support live music on the Surf Coast.

We’re back in October with more brilliant shows — make sure you sign up to the Mailing List for first access to tickets (and believe us, you’ll want them!) — until then, stay tuned and keep the spirit alive.

Big thanks as always to Patrick Callow for the photography, and Rolling Stages for the sound and lighting (with Elmo, Dan and Harry doing the work on the floor).

#TheSoundDoctor #Anglesea #LiveMusic #PressClub #BadBangs #MarinaAllen #LeahSenior #JoanAsPoliceWoman #SeeYouInOctober

Posted on Categories Event

Local folk legend Leah Senior added to Marina Allen show!

Leah Senior is returning to Anglesea.

We’re beyond excited to announce that local folk superstar Leah Senior (in duo format with Jesse Williams) will be supporting Marina Allen (USA) at The Sound Doctor on 24 May! 🌟

Leah, who we like to claim as local having spent a number of years in town, is known for her evocative lyrics and soothing melodies. Her 2023 album, The Music That I Make, showcases her growth as an artist, and last year, she won the Music Victoria Award for Best Regional Act. What better place to play than in the Best Regional Venue Award winner from 2024 – us!

We’ve been lucky enough to have Leah perform at our hall back in 2018, and we can’t wait to welcome her back for this special show. It’s going to be a beautiful evening, and just a reminder this is a fully seated show, so tickets are limited – grab yours before it sells out!

 Sat 24 May 7pm
 Anglesea Memorial Hall
 Tickets $40 on sale now HERE

Bad Bangs join Press Club for one explosive show 

Your night out with Press Club just got hotter!

We’re excited to announce that Bad Bangs are set to electrify The Sound Doctor on Friday 23 May 2025, when they support Press Club. Known for their unique blend of garage rock, punk, country and psych influences, Bad Bangs have been building a dedicated following since their formation in 2016.

Their sophomore album, Out Of Character, released in May 2024, showcases their evolving sound and has been lauded for its energetic tracks and introspective lyrics. In September last year Bad Bangs embarked on their first European tour, performing at venues like The Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth. And this May, they’re coming down the coast to deliver an unforgettable live performance.

Check out the clip for their song ‘Contest’ here.

 Fri 23 May 7pm
 Anglesea Memorial Hall
 Tickets $35 on sale now HERE

(Limited $30 for under 30s tickets available)