LIFETIME CONNECTIONS MADE THROUGH MUSIC

It was 2014, and the Aussie live music scene was communal and thriving. Leigh Ivin and Melissa Fraser were bandmates, both part of Jackie Marshall's (Peppercorn Queen) new line-up. Melissa first met Mick Daley later that year at the Tamworth Tennis Club, at a Re-Mains and Jackie Marshall gig. As any musician or music lover knows, the more you frequent Tamworth, the more the dots start to connect—and in this case, some of those connections would last a lifetime.

In 2017, Leigh, and Melissa made a record together called Stay on the Road, and that same road has led us all back to Tamworth for this once off collaboration

Melissa Fraser is a Brisbane-based singer-songwriter, recognised for her captivating vocals and thoughtful songwriting. Her music, which beautifully blends contemporary country with 70’s and indie rock influences, has engaged audiences both Australia wide and abroad. Melissa draws inspiration from her career as a sea farer, being blessed with a restless heart, and generally leading a life less ordinary!

A versatile musician, Melissa, has also contributed her talents to a diverse range of acts including Tom Curtain, Graeme Connors, Tim Stewart, and Mick Medew. For this special performance in between oceanic adventures, Melissa will dive deep into her repertoire spanning 20 years, as well as bringing new music to the stage.

Mick Daley, together with Leigh Ivin are the driving force behind the acclaimed country-rock outfit, The Re-Mains. Mick's songs, an amalgam of folk, alt-country and rock are lent a unique instrumental power via Leigh's steel and electric guitar stylings. They have toured the world and every corner of Australia, 1200 gigs and counting.

Daley is a seasoned road warrior as solo artist. Since 2023, he has led a successful tours of Ireland, where he captivated audiences with folk versions of his songs and traditional Irish material, and also toured across Europe and regional Australia with several side-projects. Beyond his musical endeavours, Daley is also an accomplished author, having released the four-volume novel series D’Angel Moon.
Leigh has played and worked with a wide variety of artists, the late Chris Wilson, Sarah Carroll, Jackie Marshall and more recently, designing soundscapes for film and television.

For their one-hour spotlight session in the Bluebird Room at TCMF 2026, Mick and Leigh will bring tales of an adventure-drenched touring life, woven throughout a compelling repertoire and style.