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Safe in Sound 2026

Sunday 1 November 2026

Location
Jolt Arts Space, 342 High St, Northcote, Melbourne

Stuart Flenley MCing alongside the Out Hear collective at a Safe in Sound festival

Safe in Sound 2026, presented in partnership with the Interabilities Festival, is curated by Safe in Sound Artistic Director and acclaimed experimental percussionist and sound artist Robbie Avenaim.

For over eight years, Safe in Sound has brought intimate concerts into people’s homes, making experimental sound part of everyday life. Safe in Sound is now back in the public arena at Jolt Arts Space Northcote, with performances spanning delicate improvisations to wild sonic adventures.

Line-up

  1. Jim Denley, Carolyn Connors, Esther Tuddenham and Steven Hagiliassis

    Four distinctive voices from Melbourne's experimental music community come together in a spontaneous meeting of breath, voice, electronics, poetry and sonic exploration. Jim Denley brings his unique approach to flute and improvisation, creating delicate and unexpected musical pathways. Carolyn Connors explores the extremes of the human voice, moving between song, spoken word and theatrical expression. Esther Tuddenham blends poetry, voice and intermedia practices, while Steven Hagiliassis draws on Greek folk traditions, religious texts and shredding vocal sound worlds.

  2. Tête-à-tête — Matt Larsen, Robbie Avenaim and Ernie Althoff

    Ah... Mr Matt. Mr Robbie. Your table is ready.

    It has been reserved exclusively for tonight's sonic dégustation. Whether the audience has reservations is entirely their affair.

    Your waiter this evening, Mr Ernie, waits patiently in the wings. He's been instructed not to explain anything. Should he accidentally become helpful, please alert management immediately.

    Tonight's menu is à la carte. There are no entrées, no mains and absolutely no dessert. Instead you'll be served a carefully curated sequence of vibrating metals, amplified objects, reluctant percussion, prepared mechanisms and sounds whose provenance remains delightfully uncertain.

    Every course has been tasted for resonance rather than flavour.

    Please refrain from feeding the instruments.

    The bells are genuine. The whistles are mostly genuine. Everything else is subject to spontaneous revision.

    We trust you'll find the evening both satisfying and impossible to digest.

    Bon appétit.

  3. David Shea and Jay Euesden

    David Shea and Jay Euesden come together in a deeply immersive meeting of sound, voice and vibration. David Shea's long exploration of meditation, resonance and acoustic phenomena draws on the rich tones of Tibetan bowls, prepared piano and subtle sonic textures, creating spaces for deep listening and contemplation. Jay Euesden's trance-like vocals weave through this landscape, creating a hypnotic interplay of voice, breath and sustained sound.

    Together, they create a slow-burning sonic journey where ancient resonances meet experimental practice. A performance that invites audiences to listen differently — moving between meditation, improvisation and the transformative power of sound.

  4. Victor Meertens with the Noise Scavengers

    A meeting of sculpture, sound and invention. Legendary Australian sculptor, sound artist and experimental musician Victor Meertens brings decades of exploration with found materials, discarded objects and unconventional forms into dialogue with The Noise Scavengers' adventurous approach to sound.

    Known for transforming industrial materials into expressive sculptural works, Victor's practice has always explored the hidden life of objects — their textures, histories and unexpected possibilities. Together with The Noise Scavengers, a collective of sound artists exploring the space between rock, electronics, improvisation and sound art, this collaboration turns objects, machines and materials into a living sonic environment.

  5. Joel Stern with Marbles

    More details to be announced.

  6. Master of Ceremonies

    Stuart Flenley with Charlie McCarthy

    Taking on the prestigious role of Master of Ceremonies is Stuart Flenley — host, guide, commentator and keeper of festival order (at least in theory).

    Joining Stuart is Charlie McCarthy, a charmingly opinionated ventriloquist doll following in the grand tradition of Charlie McCarthy — the legendary wooden wit who became one of the most famous figures in the history of ventriloquism.

    Together, Stuart and Charlie will navigate the unpredictable world of Safe in Sound Festival, introducing artists, offering observations and attempting to maintain control over an event where anything can happen.

    One has the microphone. One has the moving mouth. Neither can be completely trusted.

    Expect charm, chaos and a little wooden wisdom.

  7. DJ

    To be announced