THE TEA PARTY – HAMER HALL – MELBOURNE – 06.02.2026
Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: David Harris.
The Tea Party performed last night at Hamer Hall featuring Orchestra Victoria on the Melbourne leg of their Elements Australian Tour 2026.
I have seen The Tea Party countless times over the past 30 years and they always produce an incredible rock show, but seeing them in this grand venue, rocking out with a 50-piece symphony orchestra conducted by Sarah-Grace Williams was next level.
Orchestra Victoria opened with an interlude as frontman Jeff Martin emerges on stage and starts playing an Egyptian instrument called an Oud (a pear-shaped short-neck lute-type, fretless instrument with 11-strings) for the intro of TEMPTATION. Jeff Burrows (drummer/percussionist) and Stuart Chatwood (bassist/keyboards/piano/multi-instrumentalist) then join Martin on stage and along with the symphony orchestra, they played a beautiful rendition of the tune. A perfect opener, creating a mystical, exotic atmosphere.
Martin talked about how Orchestra Victoria brings light to the darkness of their songs. This led into the up tempo PSYCHOPOMP, with the orchestra taking the song to a whole new level. Meanwhile. the background screen featured some wonderful oriental artwork. It was stunning! Martin talked about how The Beatles were one of his favourite bands growing up and how much he loved their song Eleanor Rigby, which influenced him when he wrote the song GONE on the TRIPtych album (2000). Martin’s deep baritone vocals shone during this song and the orchestra enhanced it even further, filling the hall with a beautiful blend of sounds from brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion. At the end of the song, Martin said “I want to put this orchestra in my pocket and take them home with me.”
The Tea Party’s synergy on stage is noticeable and their music is well-known for its Moroccan, Indian and Middle Eastern influences, embellished tonight by the orchestra, which included a wonderful percussion section featuring timpanis and tubular bells. Martin spoke about their album The Interzone Mantras (2001) that led into WHITE WATER SIREN. Martin then talked about the loss of their Manager, Steve Hoffman and dedicated OCEANS from Seven Circles (2004) to him. Chatwood played piano on CORRESPONDENCES and Martin played an incredible guitar solo during the song. Martin announced to the crowd that new Tea Party music is coming and mentioned it has been far too long since their last album THE OCEAN AT THE END (2014), which then led into the title track and saw Martin shred another mesmerising guitar solo.
Martin announced to the crowd “we have a special treat” and invited soprano singer ‘Elle’ on stage for the final song of the First Set with WALKING WOUNDED. Martin was on a double-neck guitar of which he said, “this guitar is the superannuation fund for my chiropractor” and laughed. Elle’s vocals were astonishing and combined with the orchestra and The Tea Party, provided a stunning, haunting version of the song.
The second set opened with Martin talking about the band supporting White Ribbon Australia, which is a global social movement working to stop men’s violence against women. That led into RELEASE where Martin asked the crowd to stand up and sing “I want you to be free, I want you to be free from me.” A very moving and powerful part of the show. This was followed with MANTRA from The Interzone Mantras, which Chatwood announced is his favourite Tea Party song. Burrows drumming during this Middle-Eastern influenced song was a standout and there was a woman down the front , up out of her seat performing some wonderful exotic dancing. Martin talked about how he now lives in Australia and how most of us have probably been to one of his solo shows. He announced that generally The Tea Party don’t play any of his solo songs, but Jeff Martin’s manager lost his father yesterday and they wanted to dedicate the song REQUIEM to him and to anyone that has lost a loved one. Martin invited soprano singer ‘Elle’ back on stage for Requiem. Elle said to Martin: “My name is actually Elspeth (Bawden)” which had the crowd burst into a fit of laughter including Martin. This was definitely one of the standout songs of the evening and I’m sure I saw some people in the audience shed a tear.
Jeff Martin changes guitars literally every song throughout the show and when his guitar technician Kenny brings out each guitar, Martin gives him some friendly stage banter . Getting into the spirit, the crowd laughs and chants “Kenny” to which Martin says “Stop it, don’t encourage him”. THE MESSENGER followed from TRIPtych which saw Martin play acoustic guitar and another wonderful solo. Martin talked about the first time they ever came to Australia in 1993 when they were in their early 20s, hearing their songs being played on Triple J and their music videos on RAGE and talked about their love affair with the country. He said HEAVEN COMING DOWN appeared on RAGE and this song was their first ever song to reach #1 in Canada. Martin announced that when rehearsing and hearing the orchestra play their violins and cellos has made him bow envy. The intro of Heaven Coming Down saw Martin play guitar with a giant bow. SAVE ME was the perfect choice to end the second set and had the crowd back up on their feet singing along with Burrows and Martin performing a bongo drum solo during the song. Midway through the song it was broken up with an unbelievable rendition of HALLELUJAH which was absolutely stunning hearing Jeff Martin sing with such raw emotion (highlight of the evening).
They then returned for a 2-song encore. Jeff Martin came out on stage and opened with a wonderful guitar solo on WINTER SOLSTICE with Burrows and Chatwood joining him mid song (this time without the orchestra ) to perform a hauntingly beautiful piece that captured the essence of this significant time of the year. It was a marriage made in heaven hearing The Tea Party play with a symphony orchestra and SISTER AWAKE was the perfect finale to end a memorable, very special evening.
SET LIST:
SET 1:
TEMPTATION
PSYCHOPOMP
GONE
WHITE WATER SIREN
OCEANS
CORRESPONDENCES
THE OCEAN AT THE END
WALKING WOUNDED (With Soprano)
SET 2:
RELEASE
MANTRA
REQUIEM (with Soprano)
THE MESSENGER
HEAVEN COMING DOWN
SAVE ME (feat HALLELUJAH)
Encore:
WINTER SOLSTICE (Band Only)
SISTER AWAKE
