Half bent Music festival is back in 2026!!
The Half bent Music Festival a 3 day event that aims to share Melbourne made music with the people of Merri bek. All festival events will take place in West Brunswick, mostly on Melville Road with all venues accessible via the 58 Tram. Half bent is a volunteer group committed to fostering creative music & art in local communities.
After a 10 year break, raising children, mid life crises and watching the world spin round, the Half bent duo of Gideon Brazil and Ronny Ferella have gathered a new team of young and inspiring change makers to bring music to the streets of West Brunswick..
From 2005-2015 the Half Bent team ran four much loved festivals around Melbourne, in Trades Hall, Arts House and Fitzroy Bowling Club. The festivals champion new and creative music and diversity of thought and artistic practice;
but most importantly the festival aims to connect curious listeners and people from all walks of life with each other to experience live music made in their own community..
The 2026 festival will be crowd funded and we are also asking for both financial and in kind support from local businesses and entities. The festival will be programmed through an initial expression of interest process encouraging local music makers to apply, followed up with a selection process undertaken by the Half bent committee.
HBWMF 2026 Team
Ronny Ferella- Longtime West Brunswick resident involved in community music mostly through his work at Small Space Music and Merri bek City Band. Also a highly respected drummer/composer and educator.
Gideon Brazil
Merinda Dias-Jayasinha- Merinda Dias-Jayasinha (she/her) brings her producing and programming expertise to the Half Bent Music Festival and a dedication to the Australian improvisation, experimental, and jazz community.
Adam Halliwell
Flora Carbo
production team
Craig Kelly graphics design/promotional material
Emma ……. -audio/visual production
Half bent is a volunteer organisation and is powered by the energy and good will of it’s committee and helpers. Money is to raised to pay for venue hire, promotion, production hire and most importantly the performing musicians. All musicians performing in the festival will be paid for their work.
The 2026 Festival
The festival will run over the last weekend in May starting:
Friday 29th evening
All day/night Saturday 30th
All da/night Sunday 31st
Venues
Austramax House - outdoor venue stage and bar holds approx 150-200 people. The main festival meeting space with an outdoor performance stage andmarquee drinks and snacks available
Autramax House gallery Space-small gallery holds 30-40 people
St John’s Anglican Church- approx 120 people seated drinks and snacks available
4th Scout Hall Brunswick- situated in Jacob’s Reserve- approx 80 people
Shabooh Shoobah Cocktail Bar will be used for listening sessions of locally recorded music approx 100 people seated drinks and snacks available
Daly’s Cafe TBC- small coffee shop with small courtyard -food & drink available
Brunswick Southwest Primary School Hall TBC- large school school hall approx 200 seated food and drink available