Legendary singer-songwriter Mike McClellan returns to the Arts Centre in Bridgewater, for a special afternoon concert on Sunday 15th March at 3:00pm. It was late 1965 when Mike McClellan first took to the stage at the Troubadour. It was Sydney’s premier folk venue. Few among the audience that night would have been aware that they were witnessing the beginning of a career that would see the young man with the engaging tenor voice and remarkable guitar technique go on to become one of the most acclaimed singer, songwriter, guitarists of his generation. And it is even less likely that they would have conceived of him still enchanting audiences in 2026. The depth and artistry of his writing, singing and playing has never waned across his long career. Not long before he recently retired from radio ABC broadcaster Richard Glover remarked, “Mike McClellan just gets better and better.” Though seemingly ageless,Read more…Mike McClellan – The Last Song and Dance?
Christmas Concert – sacred and secular with Minim Choir, Robin & Dorothy Mann, and Leigh Newton
14th December 2025, 3pm An afternoon of quality sacred and secular music – well known and probably new. MiniM is a class choir that shares moving and celebratory music. It is the choir of the Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts, and brings together singers from all over Adelaide. The choir has performed widely across Australia. Singing sacred and secular music, MiniM expresses the joys, sadness, love and hope that life brings. MiniM is conducted by Jennifer Hughes and accompanied by Asher Reynolds. Dorothy & Robin Mann have been singing as a duo for over 50 years, as well as in the Christian band “Kindekrist” from 1971-1998. They have performed internationally and sung in many churches of nearly every denomination. Robin is a celebrated and respected songwriter with his songs featuring in the seven ‘All Together’ songbooks with songs appearing in the Australian Hymnbook, Together in Song, along with manyRead more…Christmas Concert – sacred and secular with Minim Choir, Robin & Dorothy Mann, and Leigh Newton
Cancelled
Stuart James Day and the Red Motor 7:30 – 9:30pm Saturday 18th October 2025 – Bridgewater Arts Centre, 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater SA (Coles car park is a good place to park) Stuart James Day & the Red Motor make a joyful guitar noise with a sharp Aussie edge. Stuart’s songs are witty, heartfelt and sometimes dark, touching on life, love, and the weather. His song Happy People (with band FAB) was a modest hit back in the 80s, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. He and bandmates Mike Jones, Chris Woods and Billy Regione have played in a host of top original acts over the years, like Those Kodiaks, The Beggars, Blue Katz, Del Webb Explosion, The Barkers, Young Modern, Radics, and The Tin Men. The Red Motor’s setlist mixes old favourites and fresh new tracks, all wrapped in a sound that’s unmistakably Australian. Occasional specialRead more…Cancelled
The Art of Slam
Kathryn Pentecost (Part of Adelaide Hills Council’s Winter Words) Sunday 13th July, 1 – 3pm Bridgewater Arts Centre 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater – (at Bridgewater Uniting Church) Poetry in Motion: The Art of Slam is a workshop designed to teach participants about writing poems that can be ‘performed’. It aims to use fun, creative exercises to free up the imagination, and build confidence in the participants. It’s based on Kathryn’s own experience as a ‘performing’ poet. Tickets here. $10
Graham Brown and Steve Ashley
Sunday 27th July, 2:30pm – Bridgewater Arts Centre, 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater SA 5155 Graham & Steve are good friends and have shared the stage on a number of occasions. They will be both soloing and collaborating. This gig was postponed from 2024. Graham Brown is a guitarist and artist who brings forty years of experience to masterful interpretations of the musical storytelling genres – blues, folk, rock. Starting as a singer-songwriter in his early adulthood, Graham has studied and taught classical and jazz guitar, mandolin and banjo and he imbues his music with skillful nuance, moving depth and deep respect for the craft and poetry of acoustic music narratives. The result is performances that are a powerful celebration of the expressive form of voice and guitar… assured, mature, joyful and alive. Steve Ashley is a self taught Fleurieu based singer-songwriter hailing originally from Liverpool UK. His music traversesRead more…Graham Brown and Steve Ashley
Kelly Menhennet
Sat 10th May, 7:30pm – Bridgewater Arts Centre – 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater SA Kelly Menhennett’s distinctive voice quiets the most crowded of bars, honky tonks and street corners in music-loving destinations all around the world. Armed with a shy charm and wry wit, she is a consummate storyteller. Kelly and her band’s combined magnetism, their spellbinding mix of alt-country, blues, and ballads will leave every audience craving more. This Americana inspired singer songwriter has won the national Telstra Road To Discovery award for her songwriting, independently released 2 full length albums and performed at iconic national and international festivals both solo and with her band. In 2015, Kelly was the recipient of the inaugural “Ryan Freeman Live Music Award” at the SA Music awards and won the 2015 ARBA Best Roots album with her latest release, Small Dreams. In late 2016 Kelly was invited to travel to theRead more…Kelly Menhennet
Harp2Harp
Sunday afternoon – 2:30pm 22nd June 2025 – Bridgewater Arts Centre. 407 Mount Barker Road, Bridgewater SA 5155 Harp2Harp is an enchanting duo weaving the heavenly sounds of two harps and two female voices. Acclaimed pedal harpist/soprano Emma Horwood joins forces with award winning singer/songwriter and folk harpist Visnja, blending classical finesse with contemporary and world music flavours. Harp2Harp was born out of friendship in 2022 and the duo has since performed at the Adelaide Fringe Festival, Stone Pony Willunga, Trinity Sessions, The Wheatsheaf Hotel and as the support act for Scottish harpist-singer Esther Swift on the Adelaide leg of her Australian tour. Harp2Harp also collaborate with other musicians in the new band Musewood, which was introduced at this year’s Fringe in their show Strings ‘n’ Songs on Sunday. Videos of Harp2Harp All souls night – Harp2Harp (Emma Horwood & Visnja) Tear drop – Harp2Harp May it be, Enya – Emma Horwood AveRead more…Harp2Harp
Douglas Simper tribute and benefit
Church of the Trinity, 318 Goodwood Road, Clarence Park3pm, December 1st, 2024 Note: This concert will not be held at Bridgewater Arts Centre but at Church of the Trinity – 318 Goodwood Rd, Clarence Park. Australian composer, music educator and concert pianist, PhD(Composition), MEd(Creative Arts), BMus(Hons), BA, DipT. Featuring: This concert is a way to honour Doug’s contribution to music in music in Australian and the UK. He is well known for his contemporary church songs but his music has taken him into classical composition, performance, teaching piano and writing a series of piano tutors. He is wanting to return to Adelaide for his 80th birthday in early December. Doug has a debilitating condition these days which slows him down but we’ll still get to hear some of his music from those performing on the day. The ten concert acts are donating their time to honour Doug’s significant contribution to musicRead more…Douglas Simper tribute and benefit
Two acts: Rachel Collis, plus Courtney Robb and Snooks La Vie
2nd November – 7:30pm Rachel Collis Sydney songstress Rachel Collis returns to Bridgewater Arts Centre after March 2023. She has been described by reviewers as no less than “prodigy”, “sheer genius” (Australian Stage) and “a welcome jolt back to the time of Joni Mitchell and Carole King” (The Orange Press). Rachel is good old-fashioned songwriting, combined with whirlwind virtuosic piano and Celtic–like vocals. Rachel has released 4 studio albums with ARIA and Emmy-award winning producer Sean Carey, which have grown Rachel a dedicated fanbase in Australia, the UK, the US and Canada. Her songs explore the beauty and spirituality of everyday life. Beautifully-crafted and emotionally honest, each song is an invitation to find connectedness and belonging in the simplest of moments. Rachel has performed to sell-out audiences at the prestigious Riverside Theatres, at the Sydney and Adelaide Fringe Festivals, and is a regular performer at folk and music venues inRead more…Two acts: Rachel Collis, plus Courtney Robb and Snooks La Vie
Sue Baker and the Sourdoughs, supported by Elliot Litchfield and Kirrily May – Sept 1st, 2:30pm
A 2:30pm matinee on Sunday 1st September. The Sourdoughs are a SA band, lightly kneaded into a delicious chewy loaf led by baker, Sue.Sue Baker is a long-standing SA songwriter with 2 solo albums under her belt. She loves her little Maton acoustic guitar & leads on vocals. The other Sourdough slices are Ron Vanderzwan on drums, Nigel Sweeting on bass, Ashley Turner on fiddle & Adam Threapleton on harmonica. Fresh or toasted, The Sourdoughs are a tasty treat! Elliott Litchfield and Kirrily May will be the support act for the evening. Elliot Litchfield is a guitarist and songwriter. He has a love for a simple melody with truth behind it, and plays with a relaxed, lyrical style on the guitar. Hopefully what he has to offer will bring you some joy. He will be joined by Kirrily May, who is also a singer and a songwriter. For her, musicRead more…Sue Baker and the Sourdoughs, supported by Elliot Litchfield and Kirrily May – Sept 1st, 2:30pm