"I first moved to Melbourne from Brisbane in 1986, and St Kilda was the place to be for live music. I’m recalling so many fun times there in my 20s, both performing and going to gigs. It was so alive and edgy and all of my muso friends lived there because it was cheap to rent. I lived in East St. Kilda in the early 1990s for a year or so.

My brother Rusty and I had a country duo that played at the Linden Tree on Fitzroy Street after we moved to Melbourne from Brisbane in 1986. The Linden Tree was a late-night hang for everyone who had been at the Prince of Wales and was run by an elderly Germanic couple, who incidentally hated country music and we got the sack pretty quickly. Around the late 1980s, Rusty and I would perform as buskers at the Sunday market on the Esplanade. We’d make about $100 in a few hours which was a lot back then…no permit required. Then we’d go have a delicious pasta lunch at Marios."

Sherry Rich & brother busking at the St. Kilda market, c. 1986 - Source: Sherry Rich

"Girl Monstar played at the Prince of Wales many time in the big room and in the piano bar upstairs. We [Girl Monstar] recorded a music video for our song "Teenage Dinosaur" at the Prince of Wales. Also at the POW Girl Monstar and Intoxica played a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ gig that went off!

Girl Monstar also played at the Palace [sadly demolished] opening up for The Ramones, The Divinyls, The Buzzcocks, and Skyhooks reunion tour. Girl Monstar also played gigs at the Cathouse, Melbourne’s Saturday Night hard rock club at The Palace. I [as Sherry Rich] also played at the Greyhound Hotel in the 2000s."

• Interview with Sherry Rich

Members of Girl Monstar and fan outside the POW gig board, 1992 - Source: Sherry Rich

"Highlights for me were seeing The Wet Ones at the St. Kilda festival in the late 1980s. Josie Jason and the Argonauts always put on an amazing show at the Espy. I saw Suzie Quatro, Joan Jett and The Divinyls with Chrissie Amphlett at The Palace on different occasions.

My duo with Ashley Naylor [The Grapes] opened up for Beth Orton at the Prince of Wales. I saw Emmylou Harris at the Palais and the all girl covers band Mother made up of all Melbourne musicians, were always great in the Espy front bar."

• Sherry Rich Discogs

Sherry Rich and Girl Monstar at The Palace, 1990 - Source: Sherry Rich

"The Espy gigs in the Gershwin room were my favourite audience. I think there was a door charge, so people who came were there to watch and listen and have a good time in the audience. I remember feeling in charge and in the moment on that stage and my band [The Grievous Angels] always sounded so good! One memorable night there was a group of backpackers from Finland in the crowd and I impressed them by counting a song in [in Finnish]. After that they were doing a conga line through the audience and carrying on, but all in good fun. 

Sherry Rich and the Grievous Angels also had many memorable gigs at the Espy in the front bar and in The Gershwin Room."

Sherry Rich & the Grievous Angels - The Espy Gershwin Room, c. 1994 - Source: Sherry Rich

"The stand out gig for me is opening up for the Ramones at the Palace.

Having a chat with Chrissie Amphlett at soundcheck on the stage of the Palace is a very fond memory. Most recently being invited to be special guest performer on Rockwiz at the Gershwin Room at the Espy is also a highlight."

• The Grapes

The Grapes at BRIGHTSPACE, 2023 - Source: Sherry Rich

" I mostly have fond memories of audiences in St. Kilda being respectful and energetic.

Lately playing gigs at George Lane and MEMO Music Hall where there are ‘mature’ audiences who are real die- hard music fans is also a pleasure."

Sherry Rich and others at George Lane, 2024 -  Source: Sherry Rich