Created in Partnership with Jack Daniel’s
Race week has wrapped in Melbourne for another year. Across the city, devoted fans flooded in to soak up the buzz and adrenaline at Albert Park Lake. But beyond the track and the packed pubs, Jack Daniel’s kept the energy going after dark with Jack’s Garage, a four-night run of free live music.
Over the race weekend, St Kilda institution The Espy became home to Australian musical heavyweights who performed to packed crowds each night. Held in the Gershwin Room, the events were free to attend, with RSVPs going fast in the weeks leading up to the gigs.
The Presets, Ashlea Caygill
Things kicked off on Thursday (March 5th) when The Presets brought their electrifying live show to the beloved venue. The room erupted the moment the ARIA-winning duo hit the stage, ripping through nostalgic favourites like “My People” and “Talk Like That”. Even after a full day at the track, the crowd still had plenty left in the tank, dancing deep into the night as Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes proved why they remain one of Australia’s greatest electronic acts more than two decades in.
Slowly Slowly, Ashlea Caygill
Friday night (March 6th) belonged to Melbourne indie favourites Slowly Slowly, with the hometown crowd singing their favourite lyrics back to the band. For some fans, it was their first chance to catch them live since the release of their 2025 album Forgiving Spree, which debuted inside the ARIA Top 10. Whether punters had spent the day trackside or simply came for a free gig, Jack’s Garage quickly became the place to be.
Anna Lunoe, Ashlea Caygill
The gigs weren’t slowing down as Saturday (March 7th) arrived, as DJ and producer Anna Lunoe was a headline act over at The Espy. With her infectious blend of house, electro, and pop music, Anna Lunoe got the crowd hyped for a Saturday night dance. The DJ and producer performed tracks from her 2025 debut album, Pearl, which she later re-released as a remix album. There was no slowing down for Lunoe as the artist backed up her Saturday night headline act and DJ’d the start line of the final race on Sunday at Albert Park Circuit.
View this post on InstagramLove Music?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian/New Zealand music and globally.
Sunday night (March 8th) brought the curtain down on the weekend, with Keli Holiday closing out the series. Before the final set, Jack’s Garage hosted the final heat of their weekend-long karaoke competition. Three acts performed a song each, with the winner chosen by the crowd thanks to a decibel reader. There was just one point in it, but the winner was Tina, who performed (belted) “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone and took home $5K in cash (and fifteen minutes of fame).
Keli Holiday, Ashlea Caygill
After a warm-up set from Willowbank Grove, Holiday took to the stage. The “Dancing2” singer — currently on a national tour — delivered a punchy, high-energy set that pulled heavily from his latest album Capital Fiction, released just last month.
Across four nights, Jack’s Garage brought some of Australia’s most exciting live acts to Melbourne, proving that during race week, the action doesn’t stop at the circuit.
Image credit: Ashlea Caygill
