Celebrating 30 years at the Chapel
Published on 01 May 2025
This month Chapel Off Chapel celebrates 30 years of entertaining audiences in Stonnington with the return of its Chapel Sessions.
Since opening in 1995, the iconic, intimate, live venue has hosted more than 20,000 artists and crew, and has seen close to one million patrons through its doors.
In this milestone year Chapel’s signature music series Chapel Sessions, brings a fresh season of exclusive music and stripped back performances from Australia’s most captivating voices.
Featuring a bold, new lineup of artists – as you’ve never seen them before – and genre-defying shows, the beloved series celebrates three decades of Chapel.
The music of Ennio Morricone and The Spaghetti West
This show will be performed by The Counterfeit, featuring Freya Josephine Hollick. The Counterfeit brings the golden age of Spaghetti Western cinema to life with a powerhouse performance of iconic Italian soundtracks from the greatest films of the 1960s – live on stage!
Showcasing two sets of legendary Spaghetti Western soundtracks from films such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars, Once Upon a Time in the West and The Mercenary (plus an extensive track list of new material for those who have seen the show before!), The Counterfeit will transport audiences straight to the dusty landscapes and dramatic showdowns of the Wild West – where heroes rise, villains fall and Ennio Morricone’s timeless soundscapes reign supreme.
Don’t get left in the dust, folks… wrangle your posse, throw on the wide brim and pull the trigger on a ticket to experience these remarkable scores come alive through world-class musicianship.
For The Counterfeit, it’s a brand new frontier.
“We’ve been diving deep into the music of Morricone and the Spaghetti West, and it’s been a thrilling ride,” says Musical Director Harley Stewart. “It’s our first time at Chapel Off Chapel – and we couldn’t be more excited. It’s the perfect venue to bring the Wild West to life with our 10-piece posse, new material, and the incredible Freya Josephine Hollick out front. We’re pulling out all the stops for our Chapel Sessions debut.”
Saturday 3 May
Thndo
Zimbabwean-born ‘First Lady of Soul and R&B’ Thndo, returns to where it all started and presents a showcase of immersive truth-telling drawn from her acclaimed body of work.
Audiences won’t forget the bold statement that is Thndo – being mesmerised by rich, buttery vocals, captivated by a one-of-a-kind charisma and awed by genre-transcendent artistry. Since 2016, Thndo’s music has seamlessly woven stories of strength, openness and conflict with those of love, empowerment and sensuality.
Under the musical direction of Cristian Barbieri with stunning accompaniment by Caleb Shand, James Bowers and Anthony Murray, this performance cements Thndo’s emerging legacy as one of Australia’s most powerful vocalists.
For Thndo, it’s a return to where it all began.
“I’ve had the immense privilege of developing my craft on the Chapel Off Chapel stage since as early as 2014,” she reflects. “From musical theatre to rock to pop, the four walls of this space have been instrumental in helping me find my voice. There’s a certain magic that exists here… something feels safe about exploring and sharing my gift at Chapel. As I reassess my path forward in the music industry, it feels fitting to bid farewell to my artistry as you know it – right here at my home base.”
Saturday 17 May
Riebl Tedesco Mcgill
This show is a world premiere of a brand new musical collaboration featuring Felix Riebl, Richard Tedesco and Ollie McGill (The Cat Empire), in a rare and intimate performance from three of Australia’s most exciting musical minds — be the first to experience reimagined Cat Empire deep cuts, solo originals and all new collaborative works.
For Felix Riebl, the Chapel is a place that has always mattered.
“Chapel Off Chapel has held a special place in my heart ever since I first played there back in 2006 with The Cat Empire. There’s a certain magic in venues like this – intimate, character-filled spaces where music truly connects. They’re vital in the cultural landscape, and it’s more important than ever that we support them. This upcoming show is going to be something really special – together with Ollie McGill and Richard Tedesco. It’ll be a night full of surprises – we are so looking forward to this.”
Sunday 18 May
Mo’Ju
This will be a rare and raw piano and vocal performance from Mo’Ju, one of Australia’s most fearless storytellers, a third gender, third culture kid (Filipino/Wiradjuri), and multi-disciplinary artist, most widely known for their work as a songwriter and musician.
Recent years have seen them enter new realms of renown, receiving multiple ARIA nominations and much critical acclaim for their albums Oro, Plata, Mata (2023) and Native Tongue (2018). Their visceral brand of storytelling has struck at the heart of audiences far and wide, set in a soundscape that is equal parts experimental and soulful.
In a unique performance featuring only piano and vocal, this is an opportunity to hear these songs unlike ever before.
With special guest Lewis Coleman, an ARIA-nominated artist, producer and multi-instrumentalist. A beloved gem of the Australian music scene, Lewis’ immersive sound fuses art-rock with groove-heavy indie rock in a playfully dark and atmospheric style.
“I’ve had the good fortune to play a lot of shows in my career. From pubs and clubs to theatres and concert halls, festivals, stadiums and arenas. But for me, I think there is really something magical about playing venues like Chapel Off Chapel. There’s so much storytelling in my music and the intimacy between artist and audience in rooms like these creates the perfect atmosphere for the stories at the heart of the songs to shine through. These types of shows are where I thrive onstage.” Mo’Ju
Friday 23 May
There’s also some brilliant live theatre, including a double bill of the master English playwright himself, William Shakespeare.
A milestone year brings unforgettable entertainment from Australia’s most captivating voices. Come celebrate three decades of amazing (Live, Intimate, Iconic) with us!
Chapel Off Chapel
12 Little Chapel Street, Prahran
Bookings to these and all other shows at chapeloffchapel.com.au or call 8290 7000
to https://chapeloffchapel.com.au/chapel-sessions/