top of page

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
Screen Shot 2021-07-14 at 11.39.21 pm.png

“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
Suitcase presents Bella Rose

Suitcase presents Bella Rose

13:16
Suitcase presents Daley Smith

Suitcase presents Daley Smith

12:44

Upcoming Events

  • Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 4, 2026
    Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 4, 2026
    09 Sept 2026, 6:30 pm – 28 Oct 2026, 9:00 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.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents Vanessa Estrada
    The Boîte presents Vanessa Estrada
    Fri, 09 Oct
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    09 Oct 2026, 7:30 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Chilean-born, Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Vanessa Estrada presents a special evening of original music, storytelling and Latin American rhythms. Join her and her band for a musical journey across Latin America — a night filled with rhythm, movement and energy.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents VOCES + VOZES "Songs of Latin America"
    The Boîte presents VOCES + VOZES "Songs of Latin America"
    25 Oct 2026, 2:30 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    Join “Sonidos del Alma” and “Barboleta Preta” for an uplifting celebration of the extraordinary musical diversity of Latin America.
    Share
  • The Wheeler Centre Presents: The Next Big Thing:  Songwriters' Edition
    The Wheeler Centre Presents: The Next Big Thing:  Songwriters' Edition
    26 Oct 2026, 6:30 pm
    The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    Presented in partnership with The Boîte - four emerging singer-songwriters take the stage at this special musical edition of The Next Big Thing. Settle in for an evening of live music as four talented up-and-coming songwriters perform the songs that they are most proud of.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents Shaking The Tree & Los Fugitivos
    The Boîte presents Shaking The Tree & Los Fugitivos
    15 Nov 2026, 3:00 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    Share
  • The Boîte presents: Suitcase at Bakehouse
    The Boîte presents: Suitcase at Bakehouse
    20 Sept 2026, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm
    Bakehouse, 27-29 Hoddle St, Richmond VIC 3121
    The Boîte presents: Suitcase at Bakehouse Join us this Sunday for the Portfolio Project Artist Showcase, featuring an exciting lineup of emerging artists sharing their original music in a live afternoon showcase at Scrap Museum, Bakehouse Studios, Richmond.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents Vardos
    The Boîte presents Vardos
    Fri, 11 Sept
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    11 Sept 2026, 7:30 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Vardos play folk and Romany music learnt from the source in Eastern Europe. They have played throughout Australia and internationally since late last century, most recently Europe 2025. They bring a genre of European Gypsy music to life in Australia.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents SENES Flamenco
    The Boîte presents SENES Flamenco
    Fri, 14 Aug
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    14 Aug 2026, 7:30 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    SENES Flamenco brings authentic Spanish dance, heartfelt melodies, and rhythmic guitar to Box Hill audiences. Led by Artistic Director and Dancer Aya Kitaoji, the ensemble creates dynamic, immersive experiences that feature explosive footwork, traditional Spanish castanets, and the beat of the cajón
    Share
  • Boîte Schools Chorus 2026: Akoma - Songs and Stories from Ghana - Melbourne 7pm
    Boîte Schools Chorus 2026: Akoma - Songs and Stories from Ghana - Melbourne 7pm
    11 Aug 2026, 7:00 pm
    Melbourne Town Hall, 90/130 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    Akoma will bring together playful songs with vibrant movement and tales that are thousands of years old with a message of tolerance and peace. The year's Boîte Schools Chorus will be fun and interactive as Stella, Mischael and Kofi take you on a Ghanaian journey.
    Share
  • Boîte Schools Chorus 2026: Akoma - Songs and Stories from Ghana - Melbourne 1pm
    Boîte Schools Chorus 2026: Akoma - Songs and Stories from Ghana - Melbourne 1pm
    11 Aug 2026, 1:00 pm
    Melbourne Town Hall, 90/130 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    Akoma will bring together playful songs with vibrant movement and tales that are thousands of years old with a message of tolerance and peace. The year's Boîte Schools Chorus will be fun and interactive as Stella, Mischael and Kofi take you on a Ghanaian journey.
    Share
  • 3 Songs for 3CR 2026
    3 Songs for 3CR 2026
    Sun, 02 Aug
    Church of All Nations
    02 Aug 2026, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    In our annual fundraiser for 3CR, The Boite features community choirs who generously donate their songs in a fabulous concert, before enthusiastic audiences, to support Melbourne’s legendary community radio station – 3CR this year turning 50!
    Share
  • Boîte Schools Chorus 2026: Akoma - Songs and Stories from Ghana - Ballarat
    Boîte Schools Chorus 2026: Akoma - Songs and Stories from Ghana - Ballarat
    01 Aug 2026, 1:00 pm
    Mount Clear College, 59 Olympic Ave, Mount Clear VIC 3350, Australia
    Akoma will bring together playful songs with vibrant movement and tales that are thousands of years old with a message of tolerance and peace. The year's Boîte Schools Chorus will be fun and interactive as Stella, Mischael and Kofi take you on a Ghanaian journey.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents: Saikat Bhattacharya
    The Boîte presents: Saikat Bhattacharya
    Fri, 31 July
    31 July 2026, 7:30 pm
    Mark Street Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Saikat Bhattacharya is a distinguished sitarist dedicated to sharing the rich traditions of North Indian classical music. A disciple of internationally acclaimed sitar maestro Ustad Shahid Parvez Khan, Saikat combines deep respect for tradition with expressive, captivating performances.
    Share
  • The Boîte Presents: Madeleine Gray, Corey Romeo and Conundrum [POSTPONED]
    The Boîte Presents: Madeleine Gray, Corey Romeo and Conundrum [POSTPONED]
    24 July 2026, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Mark Street Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    'Folk songs and stuff' is how Madeleine Gray refers to the music she and Corey perform. Contemporary originals from Madeleine and some hard core traditional songs make up their repertoire, while Conundrum, Corey Romeo, Ellen Smith, Gerald Daly and John Meredith, offer new tunes and old.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents Trago Amargo
    The Boîte presents Trago Amargo
    Fri, 17 July
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    17 July 2026, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Trago Amargo draw from influences across Latin America. They bring together cumbias and boleros with soulful vocals, rich harmonies and infectious rhythms.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents Kavisha & Giri Mazzella with Lingua Madre Italian Folk Choir
    The Boîte presents Kavisha & Giri Mazzella with Lingua Madre Italian Folk Choir
    26 June 2026, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Mark Street Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    Kavisha Mazzella AM, with brother, Giri Mazzella and Melbourne’s Lingua Madre, Italian Folk Choir bring you an evening of Italian folk and popular songs, stories about food and cooking, and a taster of Kavisha’s newest release There Is Field.
    Share
  • Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 3, 2026
    Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 3, 2026
    17 June 2026, 6:30 pm – 05 Aug 2026, 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.
    Share
  • The Boîte presents PASSAGES
    The Boîte presents PASSAGES
    Sun, 14 June
    Victorian Artists Society
    14 June 2026, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
    Victorian Artists Society, 430 Albert St, East Melbourne VIC 3002, Australia
    PASSAGES is a journey into the constant shedding of history and memory and an ode to new beginnings built on that which was always there, yet emerges as open and new through ancestral creative exchanges in a new land. A project by Goran Ðurić with Nela Trifković and ensemble SARAY Iluminado.
    Share
Upcoming Events
bottom of page