Before The Loch Ness monster there was Mesdames ManneQuin… That is a slight exaggeration, but Mesdames ManneQuin – MMQ to their growing list of followers – did step onto the scene in 2009, which was only a short 76 years after the first reported sighting at the Loch Ness Lake foreshore! Effervescent girls Melanie Weber and Bianca Shambrook – better known as Mel and B – boast big personalities and a genuine disposition, which has a ‘Pied Piper’ effect on new supporters everywhere they go. 

They are notorious for their stage-presence which is dominated by the glitz and glam of the pop-industry, yet their down-to-earth persona from a country upbringing provides a charming humbleness to their performance. The acoustic ensemble has entertained at venues all over the Eastern suburbs including Ruby’s Lounge, Wandin Silvan Ute Muster and Grind’N’Groove just to name a few. Their most recent accomplishment is winning the semi-final of the MLG Masterclass Songwriter competition at Bridie O’Rielly’s, which has seen them go through to the upcoming grand final! 

Favouring quaint local venues over large inner-city gigs is testament to Mesdames ManneQuin’s bona-fide joy of sharing their songs rather than generating dollars. “We like interacting with every person in the crowd, especially as so many of our mates come down to heckle and you just can’t get the same effect at a big venue where you can barely make out faces of the audience - not that we don’t dream of a stadium gig!” B says. “We aren’t an extravagant stage performance. We don’t have tricks, we don’t have a 7 piece band – but we do offer honest delivery, evident musical ability and a lot of cleavage.” Mel admits smiling. 

The vibrant Aussie-pop duo has been a household name amongst their local community, but the recent launch of a successful social networking campaigns has sent their fan-base global. “We personally update Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Tumblr daily to keep our fans in the loop and we’ve started this cool video request blog on YouTube.” Mel states. “It’s designed for our fans that can’t make live shows and all they have to do is visit our Facebook Fan Page, make a request and we serenade them with an acoustic rendition.” B says. 

Mel’s joyful guitar combined with B’s pristine vocals, lend the Melbourne based band a uniquely branded showcase that is truly authentic. Their original songs feature mesmerizing harmonies with subtle country undertones and catchy, get-stuck-in-your-head melodies. Sharing similarities with Australian artists The Veronicas, George, and The Sunny Cowgirls – Mesdames ManneQuin is certainly one to watch out for. 

Australian DJ, producer, and songwriter with roots in the late ’90s underground scene. From early bootlegs as Phat Elvis to club residencies across Melbourne, he has built a career blending classic dancefloor energy with forward-thinking production. Today, his polished, AI-assisted dance tracks are reaching new audiences worldwide.

Jonathon Sheaffe is following