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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
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, 2025
    Sonidos del Alma - Spanish Language Choir - Series 4, 2025
    20 Aug 2025, 6:30 pm – 08 Oct 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 Boite presents The Festival of Georgian Songs
    The Boite presents The Festival of Georgian Songs
    Sat, 20 Sept
    20 Sept 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    5 ensembles share their passion for the ancient polyphonic vocal traditions of the Republic of Georgia. Featuring Melbourne Georgian Choir, Dir Krzysztof Derwinski, Melbourne Polytechnic Ensemble, Dir Nino Tsitsitshvily, The Footscray Hotel Choir, Dir Lloyd O'Hanlon, Gorani and Tsinskaro.
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  • The Boite presents FLIGHT Mini Music Festival
    The Boite presents FLIGHT Mini Music Festival
    Sun, 28 Sept
    28 Sept 2025, 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
    The Evelyn Hotel, 351 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia
    The Boite's annual mini music festival - 'Flight ' is landing at The Evelyn Hotel on Sunday, September 28th from 2pm. A perfect music escape for the long weekend, the afternoon celebrates Naarm's diverse voices in music, offering a broad spectrum of sounds ranging from blues, roots, Latinpop + more
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  • MZAZA: The Birth and Death of Stars
    MZAZA: The Birth and Death of Stars
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, 01 Oct
    Trades Hall - ETU Ballroom
    01 Oct 2025, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
    Trades Hall - ETU Ballroom, Trades Hall Pl, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia
    Co-presented by The Boite, multi-award-winning band MZAZA performs at Melbourne Fringe Festival for a season of their critically-acclaimed theatrical production The Birth and Death of Stars. The productions was rated 4-stars by ArtsHub and has toured to leading festivals and venues in Australia.
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  • The Boite presents Vox Humana in Concert
    The Boite presents Vox Humana in Concert
    Sun, 12 Oct
    12 Oct 2025, 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
    Lithuanian Club, 44 Errol St, North Melbourne VIC 3051, Australia
    The Lost Clog, 10 wonderful Lithuanian singers revisiting the songs their parents brought from Europe, Tsinskaro, the spectacular Georgian four piece vocal ensemble, and Deb Lowah Clark and Stella Savy singing songs from the Torres Strait, feature in a concert with Boite Choir, Vox Humana.
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  • Malmsbury Georgian Choir Weekend 2025
    Malmsbury Georgian Choir Weekend 2025
    Fri, 17 Oct
    17 Oct 2025, 10:30 am – 19 Oct 2025, 4:00 pm
    Malmsbury Town Hall, 91 Mollison St, Malmsbury VIC 3446, Australia
    A weekend of singing with friends who love Georgian music, led by Krzysztof Derwinski.
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  • The Boite presents Apolline at Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    The Boite presents Apolline at Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    Fri, 12 Sept
    12 Sept 2025, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Known for their creative and nonconformist style, Apolline utilises a wide range of musical influences such as jazz, Scandinavian folk and a healthy dose of Eurovision to inspire an innovative sound like no other.
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  • Boîte Schools Chorus 2025: Mai Fali Eh! Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste | Ballarat
    Boîte Schools Chorus 2025: Mai Fali Eh! Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste | Ballarat
    06 Sept 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
    Gay E. Gough Theatre, Mt Clear Secondary, 59 Olympic Ave, Mount Clear VIC 3350
    Celebrate 50 years of Timorese culture in Australia with hundreds of young voices from across Victoria at the Mt Clear Secondary College. Mai Fali Eh! is a powerful, uplifting music project bringing students together to sing songs and share stories of Timor-Leste.
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  • Boîte Schools Chorus 2025: Mai Fali Eh! Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste | Melbourne
    Boîte Schools Chorus 2025: Mai Fali Eh! Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste | Melbourne
    12 Aug 2025, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
    Melbourne Town Hall, 90/130 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    Celebrate 50 years of Timorese culture in Australia with hundreds of young voices from across Victoria at the Melbourne Town Hall. Mai Fali Eh! is a powerful, uplifting music project bringing students together to sing songs and share stories of Timor-Leste. Day Concert : 1pm Night Concert: 7pm
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  • Boîte Schools Chorus 2025: Mai Fali Eh! Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste | Melbourne
    Boîte Schools Chorus 2025: Mai Fali Eh! Songs and Stories of Timor-Leste | Melbourne
    12 Aug 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
    Melbourne Town Hall, 90/130 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    Celebrate 50 years of Timorese culture in Australia with hundreds of young voices from across Victoria at the Melbourne Town Hall. Mai Fali Eh! is a powerful, uplifting music project bringing students together to sing songs and share stories of Timor-Leste. Day Concert : 1pm Night Concert: 7pm
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  • The Boite presents 3 Songs for 3CR
    The Boite presents 3 Songs for 3CR
    Sat, 09 Aug
    Church of All Nations
    09 Aug 2025, 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
    Church of All Nations, 180 Palmerston St, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
    Six local choirs are gathering to raise funds for community broadcaster 3CR at the Church of All Nations.
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  • The Boîte presents Mare Profondo: Kavisha Mazzella and Rosario De Marco
    The Boîte presents Mare Profondo: Kavisha Mazzella and Rosario De Marco
    08 Aug 2025, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Kavisha will be joined by acclaimed Italian jazz composer and master guitarist Rosario De Marco. Together as Mare Profondo (Deep Sea) together they will perform music inspired by the Mediterranean & Traditional and Contemporary Italian Songs.
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  • The Boîte presents Senes Flamenco at Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    The Boîte presents Senes Flamenco at Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    11 July 2025, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Senes Flamenco brings an evening of drama and grace. Guitarist Alejandro Florez and dancer Aya Kitaoji are seasoned performers with international experience. Photo by Grace Leung
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  • The Boîte presents Saraswati-Benzaiten Quartet
    The Boîte presents Saraswati-Benzaiten Quartet
    20 June 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Mark St Hall, 1 Mark St, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia
    The Saraswati-Benzaiten Quartet is an instrumental collaboration of classical music from India and Japan. The ensemble consists of the South Indian veena and the Japanese Koto and Shakuhachi. Featuring Brandon Lee on koto, Ramnath and Gopinath Iyer on veena and Adrian Sherriff on shakuhachi.
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  • The Boite presents Calle Luna Trio
    The Boite presents Calle Luna Trio
    Fri, 13 June
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre
    13 June 2025, 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
    Box Hill Community Arts Centre, 470 Station St, Box Hill VIC 3128, Australia
    Calle Luna Trio perform a vibrant fusion of salsa, timba, and cumbia, enriched with original compositions and electrifying arrangements that will surely satisfy your soul and leave your feet wanting more. Calle Luna trio is Elizabeth Obando, Vashti Sivell and Luis Poblete.
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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.
    Share
  • 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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  • 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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Upcoming Events
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