Swim & Songs at Peppermint Grove: Oliver Downes, Elana Stone, Emily-Rose & The Wild

Join us for a early evening of springtime songwriter vibes. Arrive from 4:30pm with hope that the weather is nice for a dip in the pool, some cheese on the balcony, and then some incredible songs at 6:30pm, interspersed with delicious food breaks. BYO drinks. Bringing food to share is encouraged, light delicious supper will be provided. Please let us know if you have dietary requirements. Peppermint Grove Studios is a private recording studio situated on Dharawal Country. We will send you the address once you book. There is a suggested donation price so that we can pay the incredible artists who will make you feel beautiful feelings :) Oliver Downes This unique Melbourne based songwriter is celebrating the release of his latest album 'While The Sun Shines'. With sharp wit, chamber pop ballads and a keen eye for the human condition, Oliver Downes writes songs that linger on the strange beauty of ordinary life. Walking a path gestured at by artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Kate Bush and Nick Cave, his music blends classic balladry with a warm, offbeat sense of humour. His upcoming album While the Sun Shines explores love, loss and the quiet drama of domestic life. “With 'While the Sun Shines', Oliver Downes delivers an ode to happy memories over some of the most propulsive piano rock this side of The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner. The single surprises at every turn and lives up to its lofty promise being a song you just can't get out of your head.” Hal Langley (Triple R) Watch the heartwarming and nostalgic video here Elana Stone Elana Stone is a double ARIA Award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends instrumental invention with playful quirk and deep emotional resonance. Her distinctive style weaves together elements of folk, modern electronica, indie pop, and balladry, all underpinned by her lyrical vulnerability and exceptional melodic instinct. Elana has released four critically acclaimed solo albums: In The Garden of Wild Things (2006), Your Anniversary (2009), Kintsugi (2015), and Married to the Sound (2024). Each record showcases her evolving sound—by turns exultant and introspective—while affirming her place as one of Australia’s most original and dynamic voices. She is also a founding member of the ARIA Award-winning folk/alt-country supergroup All Our Exes Live in Texas, known for their lush harmonies and captivating live performances. The band has toured extensively across Australia, the USA, UK, and Europe, sharing stages with global acts such as The Backstreet Boys, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Midnight Oil. In addition to her solo and group work, Elana is a longtime member of Missy Higgins’ live band and has toured internationally with the John Butler Trio as a singer, pianist, accordionist, and percussionist—opening for John Butler across Europe in 2022. Emily-Rose and The Wild Emily-Rose & The Wild is a kaleidoscope dream of contemporary folk from Sydney, Australia. A musical shape shifter, she crafts unexpectedly beautiful moments with voice, keyboards and accordion. Refusing to sit comfortably in any box, her music screams experimental akin to Björk and comforting fireside folk for fans of Joni Mitchell, with a fierce through line of environmentalism and keen observations of the human condition. Her work is celebrated in the worlds spanning jazz & indie, and every track is a new trip through magical soundscapes. Be prepared to get delightfully lost in the sound. Nominated for an ARIA award and finalist in Australia's APRA Art Music awards for best Jazz work in 2023, she is gearing up to release her next album in 2027.