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Suitcase: Emerging Voices

The Boite's Suitcase Open Mic is an event that recognises the contribution that musicians have been making to our lives for thousands of years and the invaluable heritage they carry with them as they move from one place to another.

 

These events do not adhere to any particular genre or style. We offer musicians from all backgrounds and languages an opportunity to be heard in a city that abounds with diversity but has limited outlets for showcasing it musically. And we celebrate the creative contribution that they all bring to the musical landscape of Melbourne.
 

Suitcase Open Mic will take place at Open Studio on the second Wednesday of each month and will also be live streamed on Facebook. They are free to attend (pay as you feel to support the venue).

Join the Suitcase

Suitcase is a program that supports early-career musicians with an opportunity to showcase their work and connect with peers and audiences. The project aims to showcase new voices and equip them with tools to help them access professional opportunities in the future, with a particular focus on celebrating the creative contribution that migrants bring to the musical landscape of Melbourne.

Since 2020, Suitcase has provided support for musicians to record themselves, and share their videos with The Boite’s extensive audiences. Musicians were offered access to professional recording equipment and assisted (sometimes remotely) to record a 15-minute set. The videos were mixed, edited and published on The Boite's YouTube channel, website and social media. Once a month, Suitcase held a showcase event during which the videos were premiered and the musicians interviewed live.​

  • YouTube
  • Spotify
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“There were many beautiful aural and visual moments…difficult to pinpoint the strongest memory. It had an ephemeral feeling - I wanted to hold onto a moment but it passed and moved onto another captivating piece”

- Audience member during Melbourne lockdowns

Suitcase 2021-01.webp

“There were many beautiful aural and visual moments…difficult to pinpoint the strongest memory."

- Audience member during Melbourne lockdowns

YouTube Showcase

Suitcase: Earth Music Showcase

Suitcase: Earth Music Showcase

Suitcase: Earth Music Showcase
Suitcase presents Perolas feat  Vinod Prasanna

Suitcase presents Perolas feat Vinod Prasanna

17:36
Play Video
Suitcase presents Bella Rose

Suitcase presents Bella Rose

13:16
Play Video
Suitcase presents Daley Smith

Suitcase presents Daley Smith

12:44
Play Video

Upcoming Events

  • The Boîte presents Agua e Vinho
    The Boîte presents Agua e Vinho
    Fri, 23 May
    23 May 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Mark St Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Australian Jazz guitarist Doug de Vries and recorder player Rodney Waterman perform a special concert at Mark St Hall performing a mix of Brazilian repertoire and original music.
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  • Melbourne Georgian Choir - Term 2, 2025
    Melbourne Georgian Choir - Term 2, 2025
    Sat, 24 May
    Community Church of St Mark
    24 May 2025, 2:30 pm – 26 July 2025, 4:30 pm
    Community Church of St Mark, 100 Hodgkinson St, Clifton Hill VIC 3068, Australia
    Krys Derwinski has been MGC's music director since January 2020. Krys is greatly respected musician, teacher and workshop leader deeply involved in Georgian music. Everyone is welcome to explore this unique Georgian repertoire with us.
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  • Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 3, 2025
    Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 3, 2025
    11 June 2025, 6:30 pm – 30 July 2025, 8:00 pm
    St Brigid's Parish , 378 Nicholson St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Are you a Spanish speaker/language learner and/or have a propensity for singing? Then join us for our Spanish Language Choir! It's a great way to sing and socialise in a fun, relaxed and friendly environment.
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  • The Boîte presents Matsudo Week 2025: Itotake (糸竹)
    The Boîte presents Matsudo Week 2025: Itotake (糸竹)
    16 May 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Box Hill, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    The Brandon Lee Koto Ensemble joins forces with internationally renowned shakuhachi player, Anne Norman to presnet, Itotake(糸竹) featuring voice, shakuhachi, and koto ensemble, with a variety of works ranging from traditional to contemporary songs by Japanese and Australian composers.
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  • Healesville Festival - Flamenco Dance Workshop with Senes Flamenco
    Healesville Festival - Flamenco Dance Workshop with Senes Flamenco
    10 May 2025, 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
    The Memo, 235 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia
    Learn the basic steps of Flamenco in a family-friendly workshop. Suitable for all ages & abilities. No partner needed. Develop your co-ordination. Cultivate rhythm and dance to live music!
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  • Healesville Festival - Indonesian Percussion workshop - Rebana frame drumming
    Healesville Festival - Indonesian Percussion workshop - Rebana frame drumming
    10 May 2025, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
    The Memo, 235 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia
    Ron Reeves will be teaching participants the the Indonesian frame drum or the Rebana. They are made and played in various sizes in different parts of Indonesia.
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  • Healesville Festival - Klezmer/Nigun - strings & vocal workshop with Ernie Gruner
    Healesville Festival - Klezmer/Nigun - strings & vocal workshop with Ernie Gruner
    10 May 2025, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
    The Memo, 235 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia
    Ernie teaches vocalists of all levels Nigunnim, wordless songs and intermediate violinists Klezmer music at Healesville Festival on Sat 10th of May. Tickets only $12.50!
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  • Healesville Festival - Hungarian Dance Workshop with Ron Reeves and live accompaniment
    Healesville Festival - Hungarian Dance Workshop with Ron Reeves and live accompaniment
    10 May 2025, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
    The Memo, 235 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia
    Ron Reeves teaches Moldvai folk dance. The dances all have very simple steps. They're deliberately easy to do so that everyone in the village can join in. You don't need to have any special dance training or experience to learn these dances, and they're lots of fun to do!
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  • Healesville Festival - Irish Instrumental Workshop with Ernie Gruner
    Healesville Festival - Irish Instrumental Workshop with Ernie Gruner
    10 May 2025, 10:30 am – 11:30 am
    The Memo, 235 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville VIC 3777, Australia
    Bring your instrument and learn an Irish polka! Open to violins, mandolins, flutes, tin whistle (instruments in C only) at intermediate or advanced level, with no need for sheet music.
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  • The Boîte presents Estudiantina of Melbourne with Special Guest Elsa Mouratidou
    The Boîte presents Estudiantina of Melbourne with Special Guest Elsa Mouratidou
    27 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    For their April concert, Estudiantina of Melbourne is delighted to offer a special guest appearance from visiting singer Elsa Mouratidou. Immersed in the music of Greece, especially Smyrneika and Rebetika, the players joining her on stage will be Melbourne's own Estudiantina of Melbourne.
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  • The Boîte presents Kavisha Mazzella AM and Giri Mazzella with Lingua Madre Italian Folk Choir
    The Boîte presents Kavisha Mazzella AM and Giri Mazzella with Lingua Madre Italian Folk Choir
    28 Mar 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Mark St Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    30 years ago, Kavisha and Giri’s Commedia d’ell Arte group I Papaveri (The Poppies) and Le Gioie delle Donne (The Joys of the Women Choir) came from Western Australia to Mark St. North Fitzroy. This concert celebrates the anniversary of that exciting event.
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  • The Boite presents Liz Frencham and Mastaneh Nazarian
    The Boite presents Liz Frencham and Mastaneh Nazarian
    21 Mar 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Mark St Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Liz, a double-bass caressing, song-writing chanteuse well known in the Australian folk music scene meets composer and guitarist Mastaneh Nazarian who has has been presenting work in various jazz and contemporary settings. Collaboration can lead to some of our most exciting musical moments!
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  • The Boîte presents Dignified Anger (La Digna Rabia): Stories for a Perilous Now
    The Boîte presents Dignified Anger (La Digna Rabia): Stories for a Perilous Now
    14 Mar 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    1 Mark St, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Dignified Anger: Stories for a Perilous Now is the premiere collaboration of Jan 'Yarn' Wositzky and Penny Glass, performers and musicians who bring a wealth of personal and professional experience to this dramatic, moving and comical piece of storytelling theatre.
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  • Melbourne Georgian Choir - Term 1, 2025
    Melbourne Georgian Choir - Term 1, 2025
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, 08 Feb
    Community Church of St Mark
    08 Feb 2025, 2:30 pm – 12 Apr 2025, 4:30 pm
    Community Church of St Mark, 100 Hodgkinson St, Clifton Hill VIC 3068, Australia
    Krys Derwinski has been MGC's music director since January 2020. Krys is greatly respected musician, teacher and workshop leader deeply involved in Georgian music. Everyone is welcome to explore this unique Georgian repertoire with us.
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  • The Boite presents Joseph Tawadros - Live in Melbourne
    The Boite presents Joseph Tawadros - Live in Melbourne
    30 Jan 2025, 7:00 pm – 10:30 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    A virtuoso of diversity and sensitivity, Joseph Tawadros is known for his brilliant technique, deep musicianship, storytelling and joyous style of performance. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see Award winning Joseph Tawadros live in Melbourne!
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  • Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 1, 2025 - Learn Spanish through Song
    Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 1, 2025 - Learn Spanish through Song
    29 Jan 2025, 6:30 pm – 19 Mar 2025, 8:00 pm
    St Brigid's Parish Hall, 378 Nicholson St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Get together in a fun, friendly environment to learn Spanish through song under the direction of Colombian singer-songwriter Iaki Vallejo. The choir is open to all levels, no experience required.
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  • The Boite and La Mama MUSICA: End of Year Celebration!
    The Boite and La Mama MUSICA: End of Year Celebration!
    09 Dec 2024, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    La Mama MUSICA, 349 Drummond St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    The Boite and La Mama MUSICA have teamed up for an end of year party! A DOUBLE BILL featuring Rebetika ensemble Anatreptix and special guests TGK, performing their only side show in Naarm before the Woodford Folk Festival.
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  • Boite Voices: Maiem - Songs of the Torres Strait Islands | Wadawurrung Country | Ballarat
    Boite Voices: Maiem - Songs of the Torres Strait Islands | Wadawurrung Country | Ballarat
    01 Dec 2024, 2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
    The Goods Shed Terminus Theatre, 200 Lydiard St N, Soldiers Hill VIC 3350, Australia
    ALWAYS LIVE and The Boîte present Maiem: Songs of the Torres Strait Islands a massed choir led by Artistic Director Deb Lowah Clark and Choir Director, Stella Savy.
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Upcoming Events
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