Onya Soapbox presents
ELLA HOOPER
with guests Small Town Romance
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine (Castlemaine, VIC)
Friday, 17 April 2026 7:30 pm
Ella Hooper is hitting the road with a sharp, heartfelt edge to her ever-evolving take on Americana. Ella’s gift for storytelling and humour shines as she fronts a dynamic band, laced with fiddle, guitar, warm group harmonies and more than a little grit. A beloved Australian artist, ex-teenage rockstar (Killing Heidi), multi-award-winning songwriter, radio and TV host, proud small-town girl and lifelong Americana devotee, Ella Hooper was raised on Linda Ronstadt and is today inspired by genre-defying storytellers like Jenny Lewis and Sierra Ferrell. Her new country / Americana tunes spring from those roots - live shows delivered with the fire of a rocker, the pen of a poet and a cheeky regional Australian humour that is all her own.
Playing some favourites from Small Town Temple the album that debuted at No.1 on the Australian Country chart, Ella will also be sharing a sneak peek of new music recorded in Nashville in 2025.
There are bar room stompers, spectral ballads with a contemporary edge, and hooks sharp enough to draw blood.
Call it Americana, call it alt-country, call it what you like. Hooper puts it this way: “Can you really ‘go country’ if you’re from the country in the first place?”
With special guests Small Town Romance - with a knack for a story, an uncanny ear for melody and an innate poeticism, Small Town Romance blend folk, country and roots influences to create a sound that is uniquely their own. Small Town Romance know their way around a classic country song but make no apologies for speaking in an Australian voice.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Theatre Royal.
Bar open from 4pm
Kitchen opens from 5pm - menu (we offer a delicious, fast-paced pizza menu with plenty of indoor/outdoor seating available)
All shows have a small amount of unallocated balcony seating, but are set up as standing room and general admission, unless specifically promoted as a “fully seated show”.
Make sure to visit our Beer Garden (open in the warmer months).
Please note that trains to Melbourne / Kyneton / Bendigo etc usually run post event. Check the Vline schedule for specific show date
Playing some favourites from Small Town Temple the album that debuted at No.1 on the Australian Country chart, Ella will also be sharing a sneak peek of new music recorded in Nashville in 2025.
There are bar room stompers, spectral ballads with a contemporary edge, and hooks sharp enough to draw blood.
Call it Americana, call it alt-country, call it what you like. Hooper puts it this way: “Can you really ‘go country’ if you’re from the country in the first place?”
With special guests Small Town Romance - with a knack for a story, an uncanny ear for melody and an innate poeticism, Small Town Romance blend folk, country and roots influences to create a sound that is uniquely their own. Small Town Romance know their way around a classic country song but make no apologies for speaking in an Australian voice.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Theatre Royal.
Bar open from 4pm
Kitchen opens from 5pm - menu (we offer a delicious, fast-paced pizza menu with plenty of indoor/outdoor seating available)
All shows have a small amount of unallocated balcony seating, but are set up as standing room and general admission, unless specifically promoted as a “fully seated show”.
Make sure to visit our Beer Garden (open in the warmer months).
Please note that trains to Melbourne / Kyneton / Bendigo etc usually run post event. Check the Vline schedule for specific show date