Note: Our Website is temporarily located at: http://www.harmonyrow.com.au rather than .com. Come & have a look at it.
Somewhere around the year 1999 Andrew Pattison, live music doyen and owner of the famous Troubadour Music Cafe of the 80s, got together with banker Dennis Cartwright for lunch, and over a bottle or three of excellent Pinot they decided that Melbourne should have a wine and music venue dedicated to good acoustic, blues, roots and country live music and well as the production of first class wine. A dream had begun. A suitable site was sought and found about 12 kilometers East of Kyneton. It was, and is, a beautiful property with great views and breathtaking sunsets. It was named Loxley Vineyard after the Loxley of Sherwood Forest, which in the UK was East of Kineton. About 20 music devotees & wine buffs kicked in the money needed to commence acquisition of a suitable venue.
Andrew moved on not long after that, and Dennis has been the driving force for the vineyard and music venue both before and since that time. Six years later, after a struggle, a major re-birth and restructure, Loxley Vineyard was renamed Harmony Row, still of course devoted to the staging of world class live music and excellent wines. Dennis & his lovely partner Alison manage Harmony Row and are making it possibly the best live acoustic & roots music venues in Australia whilst developing a range of excellent wines including the flagship 2003 Pinot.
Have a look at http://www.harmonyrow.com where you will find directions in a website under construction. The vineyard is surrounded by accommodation B&Bs etc, and the venue is an all-weather fully enclosed venue with a fine stage & great sound system.
The music programme is a continuous work in progress and takes into account alternative country, blues, roots, acoustic, folk, jazz, classical and similar genres. There is, as they say, something for everyone. Past performers have included Janis Ian, the Searchers, Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch, The Flood, Dan Crary & Beppe Gambetta, Kinky Freedman, Eric Bogle, Chris While & Julie Matthews, Judy Small, Kavisha Mazzella, Kristina Olsen to name a few. The difference between Harmony Row and many other venues is that we love the music & the musicians. We look after them and they look after us. The atmosphere is relaxed, performers leave the stage buzzing with “the vibe”, and everyone senses they are amongst friends. It’s non threatening, personal, relaxed, pure enjoyment.
With the outrageous cost of petrol at the moment, one has to justify the cost everytime they leave the city. We try to keep the ticket prices down, but most importantly the enjoyment of the music and the “vibe” it generates makes the trip worthwhile. Harmony Row is also a valuable asset for the Macedon Region because it is a place local residents can come to easily & quickly for an afternoon of pure enjoyment.
Come up and see us sometime.
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