For over two years, we’ve loved welcoming Melburnians into the HeartBeats Open Mic - and watching this little community continue to grow, evolve and take on a life of its own.

Along the way, HeartBeats has become something of a mini festival: live music and open mic, families, art, massage, food, connection and plenty happening around the room. We love the energy and community that comes with that.

But we’ve also felt a growing desire for something a little more intimate - a space with fewer distractions, where we can slow things down and place the focus more deeply on expression, listening, and presence.

So, we’re introducing a new HeartBeats experience:

HeartBeats: Evening Parlour 🌙 💜

A cosy, stripped-back Thursday night open mic, created for a smaller room and a more intimate atmosphere.

The Parlour will run for three hours, be 16+, and welcome around a third of the usual HeartBeats crowd. There’ll be no massage or art station - just a warm room, tea and chai, good people, and the unique expressions brought to the stage.

Same HeartBeats spirit. Just a little more intimate, a little more focused, and made for the evening.

We can’t wait to welcome you into the Parlour.

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What is HeartBeats?

At its core, HeartBeats (est. April 2024) is an open mic - but it's really so much more. It's a community gathering to express what's on your heart with a present and connected audience.

Music, poetry, comedy, or whatever moves you - this is a night for open expression. We just ask that you be respectful with your shares.

If you'd like to perform: Arrive at 6:30pm to put your name in the hat.

Due to all you talented humans, we may not be able to fit everyone in. We're sorry in advance if you miss out on your moment - but that's just more reason to keep coming back. There is also never any pressure for you to perform or share - you're always welcome to just kick back on a cushion and enjoy the event.

* Please note that this is a drug and alcohol free event. This is also a 16+ event.

Follow us for more info: @HeartBeatsLive

Location:

Artful Yoga Gallery

1 Vale St, St Kilda VIC 3182

When:

Thursday 1st October, 2026

6:30pm-9:30pm

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Featuring:

Feature Artist 1: Midnight Sun

Midnight Sun is the creative collaboration of Tereza Biezaite and Harrison James - two independent musicians who, after more than a year of jamming together in different circles, gradually discovered a shared musical and poetic language, as well as a mutual love for lyrical and visual storytelling.

Their combined artistic visions give rise to an ethereal, spacious soundscape of layered vocal harmonies and the acoustic guitar as its own voice.

Still young in their collaborative musical journey, Midnight Sun will share original songs alongside beloved covers, reimagined through their own sonic lens.

Expect an unfolding poetic and melodic universe - intimate, exploratory, and ever-evolving.

Feature Artist 2: Lala Witika

Lala Witika is a vocal guide and facilitator who helps people discover the freedom, connection and possibility within their own voice. With warmth, playfulness and intuition, she creates spaces where voices can be explored without judgement or expectation, inviting people beyond simply “singing” and into the experience of sound, resonance and collective expression.

☕ Chai Tent & Food

Message from Neha from Artful Yoga Gallery:

"For HeartBeats, I’ll be making one of my favourite Indian comfort foods: Khichadi.

Khichadi is one of those deeply heart-warming dishes that feels like being looked after. Made slowly with rice, mung dal, warming spices and vegetables, it’s the kind of food many of us grew up eating when we needed something simple, nourishing and comforting.

It also has deep roots in Ayurveda, India’s traditional system of wellbeing. Khichadi is valued for being gentle on digestion while still nourishing the body, with mung dal and rice providing a beautiful balance of plant protein and carbohydrates and spices traditionally used to support agni - our digestive fire.

For me, it feels perfect for HeartBeats: simple food, made with love, to warm the belly while the music warms the heart. 🤍"

Kichadi will be available for purchase throughout the night.

Chai:

We will also have chai tea available for purchase.

🔉 Sound

This month, we have Omer from the team at Evoke Sounds on sound tech for the event. He is also an amazing guitar teacher, and you can book in with him here - @Zaidi_man

* Please note that only minimal setups are allowed for open mic-ers. No synths, loopers, etc.

🧺 What to Bring to HeartBeats:

Water
Instruments
Your form of expression (music, poetry, performance)
Cushions, sheepies, blankets
Your wholesome, wonderful self

About Artful Yoga Gallery:

Artful Yoga Gallery is a not-for-profit art and wellbeing space in the heart of St Kilda, founded on the belief that our environments can play a powerful role in how we feel, connect and heal.

Our mission is to be an important part of how health is treated as part of our clinical system and have social connection and art and creative spaces be a part of that. We’ve started this beautiful venture with our first big collab with Alfred Health Hospital! Merging the clinical world with the community aspect.

Follow and support them on Instagram at @Artfulyoga.gallery

Huge thanks to Hannah Grey Creative for this beautiful poster design. Connect with her on insta for art direction and design projects: @_hannahgrey

* If you can’t afford a ticket, please send us an email with your name, and we will put you on the ‘Pay it forward’ list. heartbeatslive111@gmail.com.

** This is a community project that is constantly evolving and we are open to any feedback or ideas to make it the best it can possibly be. Please email us with any thoughts, ideas, constructive feedback, etc. heartbeatslive111@gmail.com.

*** Please note that this is an alcohol and substance-free event.

**** This is also a leave-no-trace event, so please dispose of any rubbish yourself.

***** Photo and video content will be taken at this event. If you would not like to be captured on the day, please speak to one of the crew or the content shooters.

HeartBeats acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong Boon Wurrung peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our events take place. We recognise their continuous connection to culture, community and Country. As our commitment to this acknowledgment, HeartBeats donates a portion of profits to the First Nations led organisation Community First Development.

Contact the host of HeartBeats: Evening Parlour [Oct 2026]