Over 4 Mondays in September, SARAH BELKNER brings her unique existential indie singer-songwriter vibes to Butchers Brew Bar, teaming up with different great local artists every week. Together they will bring a residency filled with old songs, brand new songs, a chance to let her know songs you may want to hear her & her guest do together & maybe even a singalong or two for everyone to enjoy.
Feautured artists are the incredible BABY VELVET, BRENDAN MACLEAN, ELANA STONE & COOEE. Each week will be its own adventure & a great way to warm the heart at the start of the week.
Sarah met Mark Harding via the wonderful Annie Hamilton, when he came to her get some singing lessons (but mostly just needed a bit of cheerleading) to sing a song at his sister’s wedding. She was blown away by Mark’s voice, musicianship & flair for visual arts. A couple of months ago, Mark brought his friend & bandmate Kirli along so they could get some tips for performing their songs live & Sarah has been obsessed with them since. COOEE are the most heartfelt duo with gorgeous songs inspired by Kirli’s poems. A true incredible story of artistic bond & friendship that needs to be shared far & wide!
⭐️ COOEE is the newly formed collaboration between Gunai multidisciplinary artist KIRLI SAUNDERS (OAM) & musician-producer MARK CHESTER HARDING. The project began serendipitously, after Kirli & Mark met performing with Jack River for triple j’s Like a Version in late 2023. That same week, Kirli had released her poetry collection, ‘Returning’ (Magabala) - a book that would linger with Mark & ultimately form the lyrical foundation of their early songwriting sessions. A handful of Kirli’s poems were soon set to Mark’s pre-existing musical sketches, marking the start of a dynamic creative partnership.
Kirli, a proud Gunai woman & recipient of the Order of Australia Medal for her contributions to the arts, brings a literary sensibility to the project. Her writing,spanning 8 books, with works like ‘Kindred’ (Magabala), ‘Returning’ & ‘Eclipse’ (Allen & Unwin, 2025), explores connections to Country, culture, love & loss.
Mark is a producer & songwriter known for his collaborations with artists such as Jack River, Sons of the East & Little May. His solo releases have collectively garnered over six million streams.
Both Kirli & Mark are also visual artists, designing all accompanying artwork & content for the project themselves - an extension of their shared commitment to storytelling through multiple forms.
⭐️ SARAH BELKNERr is a singer, instrumentalist, songwriter, arranger, composer, musical director & studio producer living on Gadigal Country. Her EP ‘Humans’ (2015) & two albums ‘But You Are, But It Has’ (2017) & ‘The Apple’ (2023) have seen her gain accolades such as Double J album of the week, a song featured in the hit series ‘Offspring’ & performances at ‘The Great Escape’ UK as well as supporting artists including Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell & The Veils. Belkner has also become a revered touring musician/ MD performing with many great artists including Missy Higgins, Neil Finn & Tim Minchin. She has also sat in the producer’s seat for the likes of Missy Higgins, Brendan Maclean & Leah Flanagan.
Sarah Belkner’s second album, THE APPLE reflects on the essence of creativity, life’s challenges, and the simplicity of being alive. Her lyrics emerged as heartfelt poems, composed in transient moments on planes and hotel rooms, later set to music when she found respite from her rigorous schedule. Inspired by her travels, she delves into what it means to be creative in a constantly evolving world. At its core, the album encourages self-commitment and reminds us that life is a fleeting gift.
Sarah Belkner’s musical journey has garnered widespread acclaim, starting with her debut solo album, BUT YOU ARE, BUT IT HAS, released in 2017. The album was celebrated as Double J’s Album of the Week. The “Cellophane” music video premiered exclusively on Rolling Stone. At the same time, her song “Susanne” left an indelible mark in a pivotal scene of the hit series Offspring.
In addition to her solo work, Sarah Belkner has established herself as a sought-after touring musician and musical director, collaborating with esteemed artists such as Missy Higgins, Tim Minchin, Neil Finn, Sarah Blasko, OLYMPIA and NGAIIRE
Belkner’s remarkable talents extend to production as well. She produced Missy Higgins’ single “Carry You,” written by Tim Minchin for the acclaimed series “Upright.” Furthermore, she co-wrote and produced Brendan Maclean’s debut album, “And The Boyfriends” (2019), which reached #2 on the iTunes chart. She lent her production expertise to Leah Flanagan’s album, “Colour By Number” (2020), which scored Double J’s Album of the Week.
‘The musicianship throughout is astounding, but never thrust in your face. It’s mature, timeless pop that nails those vital core elements.’ - Double J
‘Belkner emerges as a singular artist’ - Rolling Stone
‘Assured, fragile, tender, sexy’ - Melbourne Age
Her new album THE APPLE was recorded back in 2020 and then left to sit for a variety of reasons, it was a year that brought profound changes for Belkner. During this time, she became pregnant with her daughter Juno, witnessed her father-in-law’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent passing, and then also endured her sister-in-law’s battle and loss with cancer. During these personal trials, she navigated touring with a newborn during the pandemic. However, this tumultuous period unintentionally resulted in a poignant time capsule that captured life’s essence before everything
changed, offering a sense of simplicity and hopefulness. The recurring symbolism of the apple, present throughout history, religion, and popular culture, intrigued Belkner. She felt the profound meaning behind this simple fruit and how it represents complex concepts matched how the album’s surface simplicity belies its deep exploration of the human experience.
