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Writers In The Lounge - NOVEMBER 20
Writers in the Lounge is an intimate night of songs, stories and the craft behind them. Join songwriters Duncan Toombs, Dean Ray and Marcus Cassells as they take the stage with nothing but their guitars and the songs they’ve written. Hear the stories and inspiration behind the music, watch them teach each other how to play their songs, and experience the songs in a completely different way. It’s part performance, part conversation, and a rare chance to get inside the songs and the minds of the writers who created them.
Date: Friday November 20
Show starts: 7:30pm
Bar Toto is open from 3pm.
About the artists:
Duncan Toombs has rapidly emerged as one of Australia’s most powerful and emotive voices in country music. With a rich, soul-stirring tone and heartfelt delivery, he creates an immediate and unforgettable connection with his audience.
Originally rising to prominence in his twenties as one of Australia’s most in-demand country guitarists, Duncan has now stepped confidently from the back of the stage into the spotlight as a powerhouse vocalist and award-winning singer-songwriter.
His debut solo album, Steel on Steel, released in January 2023, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart and became the second-highest-selling country album globally. In 2024, the album earned Duncan two Golden Guitar Awards — Heritage Song of the Year for “1861” and Music Video of the Year for “Steel on Steel” — along with the People’s Choice Album of the Year.
Later that year, Duncan captured the hearts of millions as a standout artist on Channel 7’s The Voice Australia. His performance of his original song “Steel on Steel” reached nearly three million viewers and went viral across TikTok and Instagram, introducing his music to a passionate new global audience.
Duncan has recently returned from an exciting four months touring Canada with award-winning Canadian country artist Gord Bamford, winning over new audiences along the way.
Now, with “I Go Home” leading the rollout of his forthcoming second solo album, Roller Coaster, Duncan is entering an exciting new chapter. There’s a growing sense of momentum among fans and fellow artists as he continues a journey built around music, authenticity and self-belief.
Dean Ray is an Australian country rock and blues artist known for his
raw vocals, honest songwriting and emotionally grounded live
performances.Raised in Meandarra, south-west Queensland, Dean’s early connection
to music was shaped by his parents’ vinyl and cassette collection, wide
open paddocks, and the isolation of growing up on cattle and sheep
farms. Those early years became the foundation for a songwriting style
built on reflection, grit and storytelling.
The roots of Dean’s sound can be traced back to a strong collection of
influences, including Phil Emmanuel, Dire Straits, ZZ Top and John
Fogerty. Blending country, rock, blues and indie elements, his music
carries the feel of classic songwriting while remaining deeply personal
and contemporary.
Since entering the public spotlight in 2014, Dean has performed
headline shows and festivals across Australia and internationally,
building a loyal audience through powerful live performances and a
distinctive, lived-in sound. His previous release,“Mr Man”, reached
Number 5 on the AMRAP Metro Radio Airplay Charts, while his single
“Simple Things” was featured in the Australian documentary The Show
Must Go On, a film exploring mental health within the entertainment
industry.
Mental health awareness has remained an important part of Dean’s
public work. Having experienced his own battles throughout
adulthood, Dean has used his platform to support conversations
around emotional wellbeing, including serving as a Walk For Awareness
ambassador in 2019 and performing at both Walk For Awareness and
Wellness Walk events.Following time away from the spotlight, Dean returns with “Perfect She Was”, his most personal release to date. Written for his daughter Evie,
the song is a deeply moving tribute that explores love, grief and healing
following the loss of a child. It marks a new chapter in Dean’s
songwriting - one led by truth, vulnerability and a renewed sense of
purpose. Dean’s music is grounded in authenticity. Whether performing solo, in
trio format, or from the studio, he presents a collection of stories that
connect through simplicity, honesty and emotional weigh
Marcus Cassells:
Marcus Cassells is a genre-blurring singer-songwriter whose sound sits somewhere between
country grit and grunge soul. With influences like Willie Nelson, Chris Christofferson, Eddie Vedder,
and Australian legend Bill Chambers, his music is raw, real, and grounded in lived experience.
His songwriting began as a way to capture the momentum and messiness of life, quickly revealing a
voice with weight and texture - as real as the stories he was compelled to tell. A voice equal parts
gravel and gold, it carries through every performance.
His stripped-back style and deep, rasped vocals bring honesty to every performance. Real, rough,
and resolute, Marcus delivers songs that hit where life hurts and heals.
Marcus has shared stages with artists such as Bill Chambers, Eric Bogle, Gallie, and Fiona Boyes, and
supported 1927 on their 2026 Anyone Everyone tour.
Writers in the Lounge is an intimate night of songs, stories and the craft behind them. Join songwriters Duncan Toombs, Dean Ray and Marcus Cassells as they take the stage with nothing but their guitars and the songs they’ve written. Hear the stories and inspiration behind the music, watch them teach each other how to play their songs, and experience the songs in a completely different way. It’s part performance, part conversation, and a rare chance to get inside the songs and the minds of the writers who created them.
Date: Friday November 20
Show starts: 7:30pm
Bar Toto is open from 3pm.
About the artists:
Duncan Toombs has rapidly emerged as one of Australia’s most powerful and emotive voices in country music. With a rich, soul-stirring tone and heartfelt delivery, he creates an immediate and unforgettable connection with his audience.
Originally rising to prominence in his twenties as one of Australia’s most in-demand country guitarists, Duncan has now stepped confidently from the back of the stage into the spotlight as a powerhouse vocalist and award-winning singer-songwriter.
His debut solo album, Steel on Steel, released in January 2023, debuted at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart and became the second-highest-selling country album globally. In 2024, the album earned Duncan two Golden Guitar Awards — Heritage Song of the Year for “1861” and Music Video of the Year for “Steel on Steel” — along with the People’s Choice Album of the Year.
Later that year, Duncan captured the hearts of millions as a standout artist on Channel 7’s The Voice Australia. His performance of his original song “Steel on Steel” reached nearly three million viewers and went viral across TikTok and Instagram, introducing his music to a passionate new global audience.
Duncan has recently returned from an exciting four months touring Canada with award-winning Canadian country artist Gord Bamford, winning over new audiences along the way.
Now, with “I Go Home” leading the rollout of his forthcoming second solo album, Roller Coaster, Duncan is entering an exciting new chapter. There’s a growing sense of momentum among fans and fellow artists as he continues a journey built around music, authenticity and self-belief.
Dean Ray is an Australian country rock and blues artist known for his
raw vocals, honest songwriting and emotionally grounded live
performances.Raised in Meandarra, south-west Queensland, Dean’s early connection
to music was shaped by his parents’ vinyl and cassette collection, wide
open paddocks, and the isolation of growing up on cattle and sheep
farms. Those early years became the foundation for a songwriting style
built on reflection, grit and storytelling.
The roots of Dean’s sound can be traced back to a strong collection of
influences, including Phil Emmanuel, Dire Straits, ZZ Top and John
Fogerty. Blending country, rock, blues and indie elements, his music
carries the feel of classic songwriting while remaining deeply personal
and contemporary.
Since entering the public spotlight in 2014, Dean has performed
headline shows and festivals across Australia and internationally,
building a loyal audience through powerful live performances and a
distinctive, lived-in sound. His previous release,“Mr Man”, reached
Number 5 on the AMRAP Metro Radio Airplay Charts, while his single
“Simple Things” was featured in the Australian documentary The Show
Must Go On, a film exploring mental health within the entertainment
industry.
Mental health awareness has remained an important part of Dean’s
public work. Having experienced his own battles throughout
adulthood, Dean has used his platform to support conversations
around emotional wellbeing, including serving as a Walk For Awareness
ambassador in 2019 and performing at both Walk For Awareness and
Wellness Walk events.Following time away from the spotlight, Dean returns with “Perfect She Was”, his most personal release to date. Written for his daughter Evie,
the song is a deeply moving tribute that explores love, grief and healing
following the loss of a child. It marks a new chapter in Dean’s
songwriting - one led by truth, vulnerability and a renewed sense of
purpose. Dean’s music is grounded in authenticity. Whether performing solo, in
trio format, or from the studio, he presents a collection of stories that
connect through simplicity, honesty and emotional weigh
Marcus Cassells:
Marcus Cassells is a genre-blurring singer-songwriter whose sound sits somewhere between
country grit and grunge soul. With influences like Willie Nelson, Chris Christofferson, Eddie Vedder,
and Australian legend Bill Chambers, his music is raw, real, and grounded in lived experience.
His songwriting began as a way to capture the momentum and messiness of life, quickly revealing a
voice with weight and texture - as real as the stories he was compelled to tell. A voice equal parts
gravel and gold, it carries through every performance.
His stripped-back style and deep, rasped vocals bring honesty to every performance. Real, rough,
and resolute, Marcus delivers songs that hit where life hurts and heals.
Marcus has shared stages with artists such as Bill Chambers, Eric Bogle, Gallie, and Fiona Boyes, and
supported 1927 on their 2026 Anyone Everyone tour.