Tamara Murphy

On Saturday 7 November, I launch my 10th album! And it might be the most important record I’ve ever made… Please join me at the launch of 🍃Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender🍃 at @melbrecital : an immersive, slowly evolving piece of music, exploring climate resilience, featuring the voices of leading Australian climate scientists, including @windjunky , @rogerdargaville , Joëlle Gergis and @the_storm_prognosticator . Beautiful cinematography by @stef_phteven Stefan Raabe, and field recordings by @michaeljkellett , @hadynbuxton and myself, blend with the music: reflecting how the scientists find solace and a clarity of purpose through their connection with nature: The work share important tools to cultivate climate resilience, process grief and inspire action, including @radicaljoyforhardtimes (which inspired the title) and Australian sociologist Glenn Albrecht’s concept of Solastalgia (homesickness for a place you’re still in, that’s forever changed 🥺). I recorded the album with Monash Art Ensemble, conducted by @official_paulgrabowsky , and this launch premieres an adapted, more intimate version of the work: bringing together members of the MAE with my jazz quartet, including: @rob.burke3 - alto sax Paul Williamson - trumpet @natashcon - violin @jackecharlo - cello @natbartsch - piano, ambient FX, synths, samples @antelodic_ Robbie Melville - guitar, loops @spirograph_studies Tamara Murphy - double bass @maddisoncartermusic - drums Our premiere at Monash last October was a sell out, so book your tickets early if you can- this is an intimate show in the Salon! Link in bio or head to .au/whats-on/current-productions/nat-bartsch-2026 If you’d like to donate towards the live performances of this work, I’m running an Australian Cultural Fund campaign at the moment: .au/s/project/a2EMn00000YyqYgMAJ/acceptance-does-not-mean-surrender Your support would mean the world! (Literally). 🌏 Thanks to @monash_school_of_music for commissioning this work in 2025. 📷 by Stefan Raabe #australianmusic #climatemusic #whatsonmelbourne #cop31 #chamberjazz #womeninmusic #climatechange #radicaljoy

‘Order Is Just Friendship With Chaos!’ performed in response to the ‘System Release’ exhibition, documented for @tarrawarrama with @missrosiewestbrook @johnkaphillips @sinamotamed @kayelouisepatterson @leodale @spirograph_studies @rezonator_music @seannotshane

Castlemaine!! If you know who the Acapelicans are, you will pleased to know that they (and me!) are coming your way this Friday - May 8th!!! If you don’t know who they are, then you can thank me later!!! Their live album is absolutely one of my favourite records ever, and having the pleasure to see them and even perform with them is a real treat for me. You can see them for yourselves. We are playing at the Northern Arts Hotel this Friday. If there are any tickets left, grab one now!

Big thanks to @missrosiewestbrook for having us play at the beautiful @tarrawarrama yesterday. It was a really special day and the space is magic.

On Wednesday 22 April, I’m excited to be returning to the south side, this time to play at The Counts at @monashpac with my quartet - Robbie Melville - guitar, Tamara Murphy- double bass, Maddison Carter- drums. We’ll play 2 sets, covering music from our albums Forever More & Hope Renewed, and also some movements of the commission (and forthcoming album!) I created with Monash Art Ensemble, Acceptance Does Not Mean Surrender! Music’s from 7.30pm, the evening parking is a cinch, there’s delicious food right on site, it’s the perfect date night for those of the chamber-jazz-post rock-climate action persuasion! Head to /shows for all the info, or link in reel. #melbournejazz #womeninmusic #australianjazz #chamberjazz #postrock @maddisoncartermusic @spirograph_studies @antelodic_

Little photo dump from our walk up the tallest hill in Oz! This adventure began with a chair lift ride (pic 1) up to the eagles’ nest. It was super cloudy - we walked through a very cold and wet cloud to reach the summit (you can see it in pic 2). Crazy weather in the middle of summer - but I guess that’s altitude for ya! Fun times with @martinharleymusic at @thredboblues fest. 🤘🏔️🥶

Tamara and I had a great time up in the mountains playing @thredboblues . What a wonderful festival. Here’s a version of Cardboard King we recorded in the Castle Ski Lodge. 22:1 Golden Vine - Bendigo - Solo 23:1 Hickenbotham winery  - Mornington Peninsula - Duo 24:1 Sooki Lounge - Belgrave - Solo 26:1 Duke Of George Hotel - Fremantle - Duo 27: 1 Perth Blues Club - Perth - Duo #slideguitar #weissenborn #songwriter

Had a wonderful time at the Thredbo Blues Festival this weekend! Managed to find a waterfall to swim in on the way, play some excellent music, and even do a gig up a mountain. First time traveling to a gig via gondola! We also found some time to play some music outside (videos coming soon!) @martinharleymusic @thredboblues

I received this lovely album a few weeks back and I’ve been waiting for a moment when I could give it the space it deserves for a proper listen. This went onto our turntable today (bumping one of my all-time fave records off the player). (Also- it looks so good on our player!!! Go the white pressing!!!) Big congrats to Nick Batterham on this lovely album, which I am fortunate enough to play on. Check it out!

Monash University: Sounding Change featuring Tamara Murphy, co-presented with Monash University! Sounding Change Ensemble: Tamara Murphy: bassist and composer Bernie Ramos: Alto Sax Isabel Ellis: Alto Sax Ruby Glynn: Voice Sophie Nickson: Voice Lydia Nguyen: Drums Antonia Darmos: Bass Enok Reid Uebergang: Guitar Lu Meng: Piano Tamara Murphy: bassist and composer Tamara Murphy is a bassist, composer and educator is based in Melbourne, Australia. She has released 10 albums as leader (or co-leader) and appears on over 30 recordings by other artists. She’s toured all around the world, performing in Japan, China, Europe, the UK and New York as well as Australia. Currently, Tamara Murphy performs with Kate Miller-Heidke, Ali McGregor, Harry Angus, Clio Renner, Andrea Keller, Nat Bartsch, Paul Grabowsky and Stephen Magnusson and many more artists in addition to her own band, Spirograph Studies. #ausjazz #monashuniversity #jazzlive #mwijf

The GIANTEST of THANK YOUS to everyone to came to our launch last night. I am incredibly overwhelmed. The room was full of a beautiful listening audience which were part of the gig - I feel like we played better with everyone bringing the warm vibes. A huge yay to live music!! Thank you again - feeling very much on cloud 9 today xx Luke Howard, Fran Swinn, James McLean - love you all. Thank you to Jazzlab!! (📸 photo by @sophiekohmusic )