HeartBeats: June 2025 [Cosy Edition]

HeartBeats 'Cosy Edition'! ⛄🧣

The Melbourne scarves and beanies are out because Winter is upon us. This month's edition of HeartBeats is all about being warm and cosy. Come down to the Elwood Sailing Club in your comfiest Snuggies, Uggs, socks, and hoodies. Think slumber party style (but you can't stay the night 😄). Bring your blankets and cushions and sit back whilst you enjoy an afternoon of music, poetry, and connection.

As well as the open mic performances, we will be featuring the spectacular musical talents of Xander Sanbrook & Reza Kashi this month - and we will be dropped into our hearts at the beginning of the afternoon by masterful space weaver Madhu Honey (more on these feature artists below).

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What is HeartBeats?

At its core, HeartBeats is an open mic - but it's really so much more. It's a space to feel welcomed and supported, to share what's on your heart with a present and appreciative audience.

Music, poetry, comedy, or whatever moves you - this is a night for open expression. With so much talent in the HeartBeats community, we recommend arriving early to pop your name on the list. 

* We are trying something new this month, and will be drawing 10 names from a hat at 3:15pm so that you will know early on if you will be playing, and then you can relax for the rest of the afternoon. 

We won’t be able to fit everyone in, and we're sorry in advance if you miss out on stage time - 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.

(P.S. Everyone who jumps up on stage gets a free cup of chai.)

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Location:

The Elwood Sailing Club

5 Elwood Foreshore, Elwood VIC 3184

When:

Sunday June 29th, 2025

3-7pm

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You can keep updated with events and artists at @heartbeatslive on Instagram. 

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Featuring this month:

- Xander Sanbrook

Xander is a Naarm-born vocalist inspired by both modern and classic soul music. His songwriting and raw vocals tell stories grounded in rich vulnerability. Influenced by artists such as Moses Sumney, Jordan Rakei, and Matt Corby, Xander's focus on emotional resonance and introspective lyrics offers a space for listeners to connect with their own self-discovery and explore meaning in relationship to life.

- Reza Kashi

Reza initiated his music career from 1998 in Iran, Reza Kashi plays setar, tar and oud. Praised for his virtuosity, he has received state and national level awards and was awarded the second rank tar soloist in the biggest solo competition in Iran. Migrating to Australia in 2017, Reza is a sought after musician who works with a variety of Middle Eastern, Western and Australian ensembles.

- Madhu Honey

Madhu is a vessel of beauty, movement, and presence with over twenty years of experience in embodied healing arts. She weaves ritual, sound, and soul into living art, awakening the sacred through sonic and somatic expression. Her work spans ritual performance, energy and body healing, dance therapy, and sacred facilitation. As the founder of Ecstatic Dance Melbourne, she curates transformative dance journeys fostering authentic expression and deep connection. Shared internationally on stages and retreats, Madhu creates safe, sacred spaces where people feel seen, sovereign, and inspired. She invites collective creativity, courage, and remembrance through presence and intention.

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☕ Chai Tent & Food

This month we are being joined by the incredible Live Your Lemon crew, who will be serving you delicious melted cheese toasties throughout the afternoon. These are so damn good, and will most certainly ignite your tastebuds. We will also have warm chai available to keep you cosy.

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💆 Zen Thai Massage

Zenthai practitioners will be offering bodywork (for a donation) during the event to help you unwind, ground, and stay connected.

What is Zenthai Shiatsu?

Zenthai Shiatsu blends Zen Shiatsu, Traditional Thai Massage, and Osteopathic techniques into a holistic, hands-on therapy. It works with the body’s structure and energy, releasing tension and inviting freedom of movement.

What to Expect:

Sessions are fully clothed on a cushioned mat, using gentle stretching, pulsing, rocking, and moments of stillness. Each session is tailored to your needs - whether you’re seeking deep relaxation or focused therapeutic support.

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🎨 Art Zone

This month, we have the pleasure of Grace Jasmine Jarvis sharing her new project HeartART with you. This is an opportunity for you to visually express yourself through art in the audience whilst open mic-ers and feature artists take to the stage.

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🧺 What to Bring to HeartBeats:

• Water
• Instruments
• Your form of expression (music, poetry, performance)
• Cushions, sheepies, blankets (help us make it extra cosy)
• Your wholesome, wonderful self

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Thanks to Hayley Jessup from Yana Productions for putting together this beautiful event poster. Get in touch with her if you need to tell inspiring stories through content.

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* 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.

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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.