Melbourne 1971: radical counterculture, hippies, opposition to the Vietnam War and consumerism. The birth of Oz blues rock, with a leading role by Australian group Chain.

Peter Beilharz has penned Chain’s Toward the Blues about this iconic band, which recorded the classic LP Towards the Blues. Fifty years later this LP remains a monument in Australian rock history. The book is based on memoirs, research and interviews with guitarist and singer Phil Manning, who will join Peter Beilharz at the launch.

Peter Beilharzis Professor of Critical Theory at Sichuan University, China, and has previously held chairs at La Trobe, Harvard, Leeds and Curtin universities. He has published 30 books, and played as support to Chain in 1971.

The launch will be held on Friday 15 December with doors opening at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm performance. This event is free for members and $12 for guests. Booking can be made through Trybooking.

A founding member of the one of the library’s favourite quartets, Zoe Knighton will take to the stage on Friday 1^st December for a solo performance.

Zoe will play Suites 1, 2 and 3 by J.S. Bach on her Benjamin Banks cello, which was made in 1780.

After starting cello at the age of nine, and graduating from the University of Melbourne with the highest mark of her year, Zoe has established herself as one of the country’s most sought-after cellists. She is a founding member of the Flinders Quartet, which has commissioned many works, been nominated for an ARIA for best classical album and continues to be a champion of Australian chamber music.

The performance will be held on Friday 1 December with doors opening at 5:30pm for a 6:00pm performance. This event is free for members and $12 for guests. Booking can be made through Trybooking.