Tambourine Cabaret Club – a moment of light in the darkness

Peter ‘Pumpy’ Lawler has been one of the guest artists at the Tambourine Cabaret Club.

REFLECTION BY LERISSE SMITH

It wasn’t my typical music gig, but it was the best – raw, unfiltered, and profoundly human.

Dropping into the Salvos Magpie Nest Café at Melbourne’s Project 614 premises to see the Tambourine Cabaret Club in action on a bright Wednesday morning was both powerful and poignant. 

Their music doesn’t just entertain – it dissolves boundaries. It doesn’t separate souls but knits them together. And for many who rarely, if ever, get access to music, it delivers one of life’s greatest joys.

Nothing captured this more than the expressions on people’s faces as the cabaret club kicked off.

The atmosphere shifted the moment the week’s featured talented artist, Peter ‘Pumpy’ Lawler, took the mic, complete with his guitar and distinctive hat. 

His smooth delivery of Burt Bacharach hits, including Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, The Look of Love, and What Do You Get When You Fall in Love, was magnetic. Sure, there was the usual clatter of plates and café buzz as diners enjoyed the day’s offerings: spiced capsicum soup, creamy pork pasta bake, and mud sponge cake.

But something else was happening. Something deeper.

The music was cutting through the internal noise, the kind that plagues those living with mental health struggles, homelessness, financial and housing insecurity, or the weight of everyday survival. For a moment, people could just be.

And the transformation was immediate.

Talented artist Peter ‘Pumpy’ Lawler took the mic complete with his guitar and distinctive hat to serenade the audience at the Tambourine Cabaret Club with Burt Bacharach hits.

Faces that had looked tired or withdrawn softened as ‘Pumpy’ began to play. Some closed their eyes, others hummed quietly or smiled as memories stirred. One particularly moving moment: Paulie Stewart dancing with a lady to I’ll Never Fall in Love Again.

As I sat back and took it all in, I felt deeply moved. This wasn’t just about music, but also an avenue where those in society who often feel invisible were seen, heard, and valued.

The musicians of the Tambourine Cabaret Club are not chasing fame. They are highly talented artists driven by a desire to connect and freely share their love of music with others. That authenticity? It makes all the difference. It reminded me that community isn’t built through grand gestures, but through small, consistent acts of care and compassion.

Watching the crowd, a mix of café staff, locals, and folks from all walks of life, I saw the quiet magic of music at work. People came alive. They laughed, sang, and for a fleeting time, the burdens of life – whether it be grief, addiction, anxiety or other challenging life issues – lifted. A moment of light in the darkness.

And yes, it stirred the soul, too. One testament to this was William*.

As I moved around the café chatting with people, William, a young, articulate man, and eager to talk, caught my attention. We sat. We talked. And he shared how the cabaret club and café community had changed his life.

“It’s absolutely brilliant,” he said. “I can see the humanity here. It is alive. Music is everything. Sound is life. I love music 24/7. I drop myself into sound, a bed of music, and just go with it.”

Walking through the café’s doors has not only given him direct access to live music and hot, tasty meals. It has given him hope. A sense of dignity. Access to friendship, fellowship, and to important basics too, such as bathroom and shower.

William also wanted to stress that life had not been easy.

“I lost everything,” he said, biting into his pasta bake. “I had a business and a home for 13 years. I lost it all. But now, I appreciate life more. Every single dollar. I walked into a local church with nothing, and now I have a room, a place to stay. I’m so grateful. As soon as I accepted I was homeless, a miracle happened.”

William’s story was a poignant reminder for me: music isn’t just entertainment. It can be a lifeline, a healer, a unifier, a mirror of our shared humanity.

Paulie, a rock-and-roll legend from the renowned Painters and Dockers who has done over 1500 gigs and earned an Order of Australia Medal for his humanitarian and advocacy work, described the Tambourine Cabaret Club’s impact on people as “magical”. I could see why.

This isn’t about spotlight or stardom, but giving people, especially those without access to live music, the chance to feel its full force, and maybe, to shine a little themselves.

Paulie’s reflections also stuck with me: Give someone a microphone, and suddenly, a person who may struggle with words can become a William Shakespeare. There are voices and emotions in so many people just waiting for the right moment to emerge.

I also thought of the man living in a tent, grieving his mother, singing his heart out to Johnny Cash’s song,Hurt, at the club. That’s the essence of the club’s live music gigs: a space where raw humanity is not only allowed but welcomed.

The club run at Melbourne's Project 614's Magpie Nest Cafe has featured many artists to wow audiences, including musician Mick Thomas.

Behind the scenes, the teamwork among the club’s amazing leaders is seamless. Paulie, Fiona, MC Johnny, and ‘Pumpy’ are an inspiring group of people whose passion for sharing the joy of live music with others – especially those who might not otherwise have access to it – is truly infectious. They work in perfect sync with Matthew, the café supervisor, and his fantastic, friendly team who serve hundreds of meals throughout each day.

And when I got the chance to chat with Matthew, a friendly man with a welcoming and warm presence, whose dedication to running the cafe dates back to 2011, when he first took on the huge responsibility, he shared something I will never forget.

“We are seeing lonely people,” he remarked. “Not just rough sleepers. People who don’t have family or friends. This is their community. So, coming in for a feed and then hearing music and being part of something that makes them feel accepted ... it’s brilliant.”

It was a great summary. It was indeed brilliant.

I walked away with a full heart. Even in hardship, joy finds a way. COVID-19 may have gutted the live music scene, but here it’s rising again.

The Tambourine Cabaret Club is proof that people and instruments, when paired with purpose and passion, can create something enduring and life-changing, rooted in inclusion and joy. It’s humbling to witness how a simple act of sharing music can restore dignity, especially for those grappling with addiction, mental illness, or deep loneliness.

Reflecting on that day, I’m changed. The café reminded me of the power of presence – of simply showing up for others. It reminded me that we all crave meaning, and that live music can speak when words fall short. 

I also left my great day out feeling lighter, but more grounded. It’s rare to find places that nourish both body and soul. This cabaret club, with its open arms and open mic, is one of them – and a powerful reminder: it’s often the most unassuming places that leave the deepest mark on our souls.

*Not his real name to protect his confidentiality.