Melbourne is a fertile collective of new music comings and goings, but when a ready-made Augie March turned up from regional Shepparton in 1996, they were something different. Led by the fine storytelling and rollicking 3/4 rhythms of singer/songwriter Glenn Richards, they did folk with literary lyrics and elaborately crafted arrangements. Capable of great gentleness, the Augie March sound swells and crescendos and delivers powerful emotional payloads, characteristics that define the group's triumphant 2002 release Strange Bird. Although lauded by critics, the group has largely lacked mainstream success. After a hiatus they thrilled fans by releasing Havens Dumb in 2014.