welcome!

Born on a farm in Co. Derry and raised on music since the age of five, Marty Kelly brings a lifetime of stories to the stage. A masterful guitarist with a soulful voice, Marty weaves together heartfelt Irish ballads, rollicking Celtic rock, and blues-soaked grooves — all delivered with a good dose of Irish wit.

Having toured Europe and North America with award-winning acts like Inchequin, Marty now calls Melbourne home, and we’re lucky to have him as a regular fixture at The Poet.

Expect tunes that stir the soul, tales that tickle the ribs, and the kind of warm welcome only Marty can deliver. Céad Míle Fáilte!

Born out of love for the Blues and a need to escape the ennui of COVID lockdowns, The Maskell-Love Band is a fresh project brought forth by a seasoned collective of musicians, each with a considerable local music pedigree.

Fronting the band is Pete Maskell, a man with a rare gift for lyrical interpretation. His style is unassuming yet feisty, with vocals akin to smoked honey. Pete’s no slouch on slide, lead and rhythm guitar, either. A great songwriter in his own right, Pete’s debut album Accidentally Happy, (produced by Jeff Lang) won critical acclaim, and was voted runner up Australian Debut Album of The Year by Rhythms Magazine’s reader’s poll.

Fans of The Mojo Corner, Chris Wilson, Sweet Felicia and Wayne Jury will already be acquainted with Troy Love’s fine guitar work. Troy’s honest, straight-from-the-heart style, combined with intensely uplifting and intricately crafted solos mark him as one of Geelong’s premier and truly unique Blues guitarists.

Providing momentum in the engine room, keeping this Blues machine grooving steadily forward is Adrian Gardham on drums. With a lifetime of drumming under his belt, inspired by a wide variety of music including Led Zeppelin & Jimi Hendrix. 

Performing with several Geelong  bands including Sessions  with Troy 'back in the day. To complete the rhythm section, Luke Hynes (The Tufftones, Chubby Rae and the Elevators) injects a solid groove and energetic stage presence, bringing a powerful and soulful foundation to every performance. His ability to seamlessly blend traditional blues elements with modern influences sets him apart in the blues scene.

The Maskell-Love Band is shiny new and ready to sweep you up and take you with them as they embark on their remarkable Blues journey.