This year’s PAVE Festival will feature a series of classic album performances to be held at the GEM Theatre 9-12 April.

Benoit, a talented local solo artist and Bob Dylan aficionado will present Dylan’s 1963 album, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan on Wednesday 9 April. Many of these songs featured in the recent film about Dylan’s early career, A Complete Unknown.

On Thursday 10 April, Ash Naylor, gun guitarist from Even, the Rockwix Orchestra, and Thee Marshmallow Overcoat, will electrify with his rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s 1967 Are You Experienced album, with his band Spaceship.

Joni Mitchell’s 1971 Blue album will receive a jazz reimagination on Friday 11 April from Alanna and Old Hat, a five-piece jazz ensemble.

The Loonee Tunes will finish the series off skanking to The Specials' eponymous debut album, featuring the classic hit, Message to You, Rudy.

You can choose individual events or a season ticket for all four concerts.

Tickets are $30 per show or $100 for the series (note: all prices are pre-GST and booking fees).

All concerts commence at 8pm and will finish around 10pm.

Here's some more info about each artist and event:

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan performed by Benoit — A picture featuring the Freewheelin' Bob Dylan album cover and singer Benoit who will perform the album.

Benoit is a singer-songwriter hailing from the eastern hills of Victoria, Australia. The music of Benoit is melodic and reflective, with soulful lyrics. Benoit provokes his audience to consider another perspective and think deeply about the everyday things of life. In relating to the human condition and the issues of the day, Benoit seeks to present another narrative, one full of beauty, love and life.

Talented singer songwriter Benoit will be paying tribute to one of his musical heroes when he performs Bob Dylan’s groundbreaking 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan at the Gem Theatre on Wednesday 9 April as part of the PAVED Festival’s classic album series.

Are you experienced performed by Ash Naylor — A picture featuring the Jimi Hendrix Are You Experienced album cover and gun guitarist Ash Naylor who will perform it

Taking inspiration from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Dicky Betts, Peter Frampton, and Eddie Hazel, Ash Naylor has shaped his own unique style as a kick-ass guitarist.

Described by leading Australian music journalist Jeff Jenkins as a ‘human jukebox’, Ashley was also named by Jenkins as his Australian Artist of the Year for 2010. Many of the plaudits for his musical exploits stem from his reputation as an exceptional live musician.

Ash Naylor’s musical career commenced in 1987 at the age of seventeen, when he played guitar for indie rock band The Swarm. In 1994 he formed EVEN with Matthew Cotter, whom he had played with in The Swarm, and bass player Wally Kempton of The Meanies. In addition to his work in EVEN, Ashley has been involved as Musical Director for the recent Bob Dylan Night series and the ARIA award-winning Triple J Tribute to Paul Kelly ‘Before Too Long’. He has performed alongside Tex Perkins in the Johnny Cash musical ‘Man In Black’ and Claire Bowditch in ‘Tales from the Life of Eva Cassidy’. Ashley’s talents have seen him touring with the RocKwiz Orkestra, an integral member of the Countdown Spectacular (2006) house band, member of The Bull Sisters’ (Vika and Linda) band, and more recently with Thee Marshmallow Overcoat celebrating sixties classics and of course lead guitarist for the past decade or so for one of our national musical treasures, Paul Kelly. Ash currently has a new band, Spaceship.

Ash Naylor is bringing his Spaceship to Emerald on Thursday 10 April 2025 to perform Jimi Hendrix’s classic 1967 album Are You Experience. Ash will be joined by Lachlan O'Kane on drums and Richard Bradbeer on bass.

A powerhouse performance is guaranteed and it's one you won’t want to miss.

Joni Mitchell Blue performed by Alanna and Old Hat

Alanna & Old Hat are a highly acclaimed Melbourne Swing quintet that brings to life the golden era of classic jazz from the 1920’s – 40’s transporting audiences to roaring twenties’ flappers’ speakeasies through the joie de vivre of vintage dance music, the romance of timeless jazz ballads; and the hot swing of sweet and soulful New Orleans’ blues.

Led by the velvety voice of Alanna Egan, whose influences include Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Julie London, the band features world renowned pianist Steve Grant, swing guitar stylist Jen Hawley, and mistress of the deep Jo To on double bass. Alanna Egan is also an award winning singer- songwriter known for her deeply expressive story telling in her twin sister folk act Alanna and Alicia. Her original songs weave folk, jazz and blues into a uniquely heartfelt sound that will make you laugh and shed a tear.

On Friday 11 April Alanna and Old Hat will be reimagining Joni Mitchell's unmistakable style when they perform Joni’s classic 1971 album, Blue.

Loonee Tunes Perform The Specials' self-titled album

Loonee Tunes conjure a subtle blend of Jamaican and British Ska fused with numerous original songs.

Loonee Tunes formed in 1982 and amassed an eclectic list of

We have had a strange history of support spots over the years support gigs playing with Rick Wakeman, Australian Crawl, Mental As Anything, Eurogliders, Corpse Grinders and, most recently, Bad Manners and The English Beat.

Loonee Tunes has a long history of which the British Soul sound is a large part, their music being influenced by Ska, Northern Soul and British bands such as The Style Council, Dexys Midnight Runners and Blur.

In 1982 Loonee Tunes instantly made their mark on Melbourne’s ska scene with original, infections melodies quickly amassing a large following.

Loonee Tunes started as school friends playing off beats in a factory way out east. Very soon after they played live to over 500 people at some massive gigs. Loonee Tunes infuse a crowd and get the venue dancing…turning spectators into die-hard fans.

Out of a pure love of ska Loonee Tunes remain one of the hardest working bands in Melbourne.

Having carried the torch for ska music over many years, Loonee Tunes will be presenting a special one-off show at the Gem Theatre in Emerald as part of the PAVED Festival’s classic album series performing the Specials debut album The Specials.

You won’t want to miss the skanking madness.

Contact the host of PAVED Festival Classic Albums Series

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