The fundraising efforts for the Harcourt fire recovery continue apace at Shedshaker Taproom, with a brilliant musical double-header featuring Duncan Graham & The Way In (pictured) and Paper Jane this Sunday February 22.
Duncan Graham has been performing his own songs in various outfits for over two decades, most prominently with The Co-Accused. He now has a talent-laden quintet dubbed The Way In to deliver his direct, intentional and melodious music with poetic words woven throughout.
Paper Jane is renown for songs of Australian stories and life beyond the happy ending, from an era when songs weren’t rolled in tinsel. It’s honest, analogue roots music with powerful harmonies and roots swagger that blends of ‘north of the river blues’ and ‘south of the border gospel’.
Shedshaker has a long-standing relationship with the township of Harcourt, having been part of events such as Applefest for many years, with beer storage at the now destroyed Harcourt Co- Operative Coolstore, supplying beer to local businesses and more.
To help Harcourt along the road to recovery, the Taproom has already held or has upcoming a range of fundraising events, including two extremely popular PubSings, several gigs, including one sold out show featuring Hunters (members of Hunters & Collectors) and Paul Dempsey (Something For Kate), a range of special beers on tap including a collaboration beer with 10 Central Victorian breweries and donation buckets on the bar.
Duncan Graham & The Way In and Paper Jane will perform this Sunday 22 at Shedshaker, The Mill, Castlemaine, 9 Walker Street, Castlemaine.
Doors are from 4 pm with music from 5pm.
Entry is by donation, with all proceeds going to bushfire recovery fundraising.

Woop Woop Mini Golf & Sculpture Gardens at Harcourt has reopened its doors and is inviting everyone to come together for a free community day and fundraiser as part of the symbolic ‘Harcourt Reopen’ event this Saturday February 21.
From 9am to 4pm, the focus is simple. The gates are open. Entry is free. There’ll be a free sausage sizzle, free activities for kids and adults, and free mini golf for all ages.
Woop Woop owner Judy Gleeson said everyone is welcome to roam and explore the venue’s four acres of sculpture gardens —to wander, sit, play, share a laugh, or simply take it all in.
The day is open to Harcourt locals, friends and families, and the wider community.
“The event is also a chance for well-wishers from outside the area to come along, spend time in Harcourt, and connect with the local community in a relaxed, informal way,” Judy said.
Woop Woop itself was also affected by the fires. Judy said there was damage to plants, the mini golf course, infrastructure, a pergola and some of the sculptures, but she’s clear that it pales in comparison to what many others in the community have lost.
“If the fire had come just 30 metres closer, the sculpture gardens, the buildings and our home would have been gone,” Gleeson said.
“I honestly don’t know how the many CFA volunteers, emergency services and other volunteers stopped it so close. I can’t thank them enough.”
The fire raged through the nearby creek bed that borders the expansive sculpture gardens created by former owners Andy and Melva Graham and burnt right up to the edge of the newly completely mini golf course.
“We only just finished building the nine hole course at the start of December and it really complements what Melva and Andy built here. We’d had a great response in the first part of the school holidays and we’d just hosted our first children’s party,” Judy said.
“We’ve opened up to our friends in the Harcourt community in the wake of the fire, just to give the kids a space to go and take their minds off things for a little while. It’s such a lovely place to spend a few hours,” Judy said.
Alongside the free activities, the February 21 event will include a Jumbo Fundraiser Auction with funds to go to the Harcourt Progress Relief Group to support community members and local businesses affected by recent events. A Mega Raffle will also be held, with funds raised going to the Harcourt CFA and their families. Judy said more than 87 local businesses have generously donated prizes to the Auction or raffle. “We have had some incredibly generous donations. We will be auctioning off everything from an in-home performance by Mayor and muso Cr Tony Heydon, Harcourt Football Netball Club identity and fire hero ‘Buzz’ Nunn’s famous thongs, a sculpture by Sir Leslie Thornton, and lots more items (you’ll need to be there on the day to bid on those!). To bid on the auction items and purchase raffle tickets visit https://app.galabid.com/help-harcourt-heal/items
Gleeson said offering everything for free was an intentional choice.
“This is our way of giving back,” she said. “It’s about opening the doors, helping people and well-wishers connect again, and reminding ourselves that community really matters.”
There are no bookings or tickets required.
“People can just turn up,” Gleeson said. “Come as you are. Have a bit of fun. Spend time together.”
You can find Woop Woop at 171 Blackjack Road, Harcourt. Opening hours are Sat 10-8, Sun 10-5. Visit woop-woop.au for more information.

Avant-garde, post-punk, death oompah band and cult cabaret geniuses, The Tiger Lillies, are making their long-awaited return to Australia to showcase their new album, Serenade from the Sewer, celebrating the weird, the macabre and those that society has abandoned.
Kicking off in Hobart on February 21, the tour takes in Perth Festival, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Brunswick Heads and will visit our very own Castlemaine Theatre Royal on March 7, before concluding as part of Adelaide Festival.
Olivier award-winning and Grammy nominated, The Tiger Lillies, have toured the world for over 35 years and released scores of critically acclaimed albums.
They have starred in many unforgettable theatre productions from their West End smash hit Shockheaded Peter to 2025’s A Macbeth Song, which ran for three months in Barcelona and is now touring worldwide.
With Martyn Jaques on vocals, accordion, piano and guitar; Adrian Stout on double bass, musical saw, theremin and vocals; and Budi Butenop on drums, they never cease to surprise, shock and entertain with their inimitable musical style, conjuring up the macabre magic of pre-war Berlin and fusing it with the savage edge of punk.
The Mail chatted with, Martyn Jacques, in between shows in Santiago Chile, South America, before they jetted back to Europe for a couple of shows in Majorca, Spain ahead of the Australian tour.
Martyn said they last visited Australia in 2019 and look forward to returning to our shores.
“I remember drinking Castlemaine XXXX in London in the 70s. Australian larger was very fashionable at the time. Is that still a thing?” Martyn queried.
Our journo advised Martyn the beer was now Queensland based, but he’d have to sample our local brews at Shedshaker and the Love Shack during his visit!
Martyn feels the historic theatre will really set the backdrop for the show.
Inspired by the seedy underbelly of London’s Soho district in the 1980s, Serenade from the Sewer is a melancholic yet ironic reflection of life on the margins of society; a grotesquely beautiful tale framed by the band’s signature fusion of chanson, dark cabaret and operatic punk.
Martyn said the show takes audiences on a trip back in time to the dark, pre-gentrified Soho where he lived in his 20s.
“It was a very poor area at that time. I really enjoyed my time there. The songs tell the stories of those who lived there and is a real snapshot of that period.
“I’ve gone from being a young man in my 20s immersed in that life to an old codger in my mid 60s relaying stories of people I knew then.
“It was a special time, lots of characters, interesting tales. We’ve been getting some wonderful audience response. Hopefully it will be well received by Australian audiences.
“We may also throw in a few of the old songs towards the end of the show. We have a small but dedicated fan base there who may have some requests,” he said.
To get your ticket to this unmissable show visit www.tigerlillies.com/tour