Oliver Downes

With sharp wit, chamber pop ballads and a keen eye for the human condition, Oliver Downes writes songs that linger on the strange beauty of ordinary life. Walking a path gestured at by artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Kate Bush and Nick Cave, his music blends classic balladry with chamber pop and a warm, slightly offbeat sense of humour. The hook-laden title track and first single from his upcoming third album While the Sun Shines will be launched at the Wesley Anne in style on July 3. Downes’ songs will be brought vividly to life by the formidable musicianship of his band, with FJ Steele as support. While the Sun Shines traces a journey through love, loss and the ordinary rhythms of everyday life. At its heart is the quiet challenge of living well within difficult circumstances. Written across Melbourne’s Covid lockdowns and the altered emotional landscape that was left behind, While the Sun Shines reflects a fierce determination to find beauty in the day-to-day while striving to mee