Located upstairs from Mars Hill Cafe on Church Street in Parramatta, this secret venue provides the ideal performance space and combines it with ethical, Brazilian coffee, cakes and meals.

The sessions were conceived by local americana band Dear Orphans in 2008 and as well as hosting the night they will be opening the show with a set of their engaging alt-country/bluegrass tunes. Featuring the songs of Lyn Taylor and Nick Payne played with traditional bluegrass instrumentation and supplemented by Pedal Steel and the occasional electric guitar, Dear Orphans will one moment have you stomping your feet and the next wallowing in beautiful lullabies.

Joining Dear Orphans will be their feature artist Susanna Carman. Hailing from New York and living outside Byron Bay, Susanna prides herself on an organic and authentic approach to creativity and music. On her most recent album, Circus Girl, the wistful undercurrent in the songs is balanced by a whimsical flow in the lyrics as Susanna explores the issues of her life today with a partner and child. It is her longing for simplicity amidst the frenzy of modern life.

If most Saturday nights are spent in front of a large TV, if you haven’t been out to an event for years, then The Orphanage Sessions are the perfect re-introduction to the joys of music, company and life.