Chisholm St: Paper Mouse

Chisholm St is a live performance space on Wadawurrung country, Ballarat. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land and recognise that their sovereignty was never ceded. 

Hosted by Bronwyn Blaiklock, Chisholm St is an intimate foray into fascinating corners of classical music. The platform was launched in March 2021 and offers a diverse series of concerts by regional musicians and spoken word performers. The intimate space gives you a rare glimpse into creative music-making, up close and personal.  

Chisholm St: Paper Mouse

Chisholm St is thrilled to present Paper Mouse, a collaboration between singer/bassist Liz Frencham and guitarist Robbie Melville. A small town in rural Victoria was the accidental meeting place for Liz & Robbie when they crossed paths in a café in 2013 and decided to play together. From their first rehearsal it was evident that a lengthy musical relationship was on the cards. Frencham and Melville discovered a shared love of jazz, pop, and folk, and instinctively blended their influences into a warm, earthy sound like red wine on a winter's night. The obvious chemistry between the pair is intensified by a willingness to never play any song the same way twice. This results in an extraordinary musical empathy, full of surprises, light and shade, and a child-like playfulness. Folk rhythms dance with ambient loops; Frencham’s vocals tug directly on your heart, met by Melville’s beautiful harmonic dissonances, and every nuance is distinct.

Stay for refreshments afterwards, meet the performers - it's included in the ticket - and enjoy the community at Chisholm St.

This performance is included in the annual Season Pass, a discounted package of seven concerts. For the details, head to Chisholm St: 2024 Season Pass.

The performers

Robbie Melville began performing in his teens, and in 2005 was offered the Principal Guitar Chair in the Australian Pops Orchestra, appearing at Hamer Hall and the Sydney Opera House with artists such as James Morrison, Marina Prior, and Guy Sebastian. Melville’s compositions have garnered several awards. Most recently he became a recipient of the 2021 Johnny Dennis Music Award. In 2016 he was awarded both the Industry and Orkeztra prizes in the Composition Competition for world music ensemble Orkeztra Glasso Bashalde with the piece ‘Tango In Pusan’. He was awarded first place for ‘Junkyard’ in the Instrumental Category of the 2018 International Songwriting Competition, a competition that amassed over 19,000 entries. The same song was shortlisted for the 2021 Composition-To-Choreography Competition "MadeBy", an initiative of OneMusic Australia and the Australian arm of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Bio courtesy of Robbie Melville; read more here: https://robbiemelville.com

Liz Frencham studied Jazz performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and works full time as a musician. She is an experienced session double-bassist and vocalist who has been employed by household names like the The Waifs, and was once flown from Canada to England to add her distinctive style to an album for English songwriting team Chris While & Julie Matthews.

Her natural habitat, however, is the stage. She has become an audience favourite on the music festival circuit whether performing alone, with Sydney band Jigzag, award winning songwriter Fred Smith, Melbourne’s first all girl Old Timey outfit Dev’lish Mary, iconic vaudeville showman Mic Conway or 2008 National Flat pick guitar champion Robbie Long.

Bio courtesy of https://www.reverbnation.com/lizfrencham

The venue

Seating
Bespoke reupholstered deck chairs and lounge suite awaits you, however, be sure to dress warmly as seating extends to an external covered deck and this is Ballarat, after all. 

Children
Young children are welcome at Chisholm St, although paid ticket-holders have priority of seating. Children are welcome to enjoy the garden and cubby house during daytime performances. 

Refreshments
You are invited to join the performers for refreshments afterwards. This includes wine, cheese, gluten-friendly snacks, light drinks, tea and coffee at no extra charge. You are welcome to bring a bottle of your favourite beverage. 

Illness/Covid-19 
Please do not attend if you are unwell. If you are unable to attend due to illness, we may be able to arrange a transfer of your ticket. Consider sending a friend in your place if you can't make it for any reason. Please use the hand-sanitiser supplied at the entrance and practice safe distancing where possible.