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An unforgettable celebration of jazz and blues in the heart of Geelong
MARCH 20-21, 2027.
First Artist Announcement (many more artists to come)
Aisha Khan (UK) + Louis King & the Liars Klub
Bob Sedergreen & Friends | Eddy & the Exciters
Hat Fitz & Cara (QLD) | Jungle Jim Smith
Paulie Bignell & the Thornbury Two
Reverse Swing | Rod Paine & the Full Time Lovers
Subscribe for emails. Follow us:
Help us ensure the festival's future with a tax-deductible donation through the Australian Cultural Fund
The Geelong Jazz & Blues Festival is a not-for-profit organisation and we depend on sponsorship and donations to produce a successful and sustainable festival. There are several sponsorship options, and we're also open to tailored partnerships and in-kind support. If you are interested in supporting this Geelong initiative, please get in touch by filling out the form. For more details please download the sponsorship package, below.
We would love to talk to you!
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Hat Fitz & Cara fuse Australian and Irish roots into Convict Rhythm & Roots — a duo where Fitzy’s weathered vocals and blues-soaked guitar meet Cara’s driving drums and soulful gospel voice. The result is a raw, vintage blues sound that’s toured the world, powerful, intimate, and deeply rooted in cultural storytelling.
Rod Paine & The Fulltime Lovers cook up a stew based upon the dirty electric Blues, Roots and R&B of the early sixties, but with splashes of Country balladry, Gospel, Americana and Rock n Roll, you get the full flavour. A popular mainstay of the local scene plus a sought-after, crowd-pleasing headliner at festivals and events from their home base of Melbourne, Victoria, this act is not to be missed.
“I tend to blur the musical lines and make music that I like to make but at heart, the blues is my home” Paulie mixes powerful original songs with a few choice Blues covers. 2024 saw Paulie Bignell being inducted into the Blues Music Victoria: Hall of Fame.
Eddy & the Exciters will take you on a joyride of blues harp infused rocking good times.
The band bring many years of gigging experience & their own individual influences to the fore, creating a unique blues sound featuring Eddy’s hard driving harmonica over bass, drums & guitar. They’re guaranteed to get any audience up off their feet & shouting for more. Eddy is never far from a stage, either performing with the Exciters, or as a guest performer with local & touring acts from all over Australia.
Just don’t wait until it’s far too late, you’d better get ready, ’cause here comes Eddy!
Aisha Khan sings American roots music, Jazz, Blues and Rhythm & Blues of the 1940’s/50’s. With a nod to the glamour and sophistication of a bygone era, she combines outstanding original material with powerful cover versions and performs them all with class, soul, talent and wit.
Vintage Jazz, Swing and Blues comprising variations of trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, trombone, drums, double bass, tuba, banjo, guitar and vocals. The Royal Garden Jazz Band has supported such international acts as the Dutch Swing college Band, Kenny Ball, Acker Bilk and has performed at many Australian Jazz festivals.
John Scurry has played and led numerous jazz bands as guitarist and banjo player over many decades, both locally as well as touring internationally from the late 1960s with the Red Onion Jazz Band, various iterations of Allan Browne’s traditionally based bands and Chris Tanner’s Virus with regular stints in inner Melbourne in the 2000s. With his own band Reverse Swing he performs with Eugene Ball, developing a songbook of original compositions. Scurry has released three albums to date of original compositions with Eugene Ball. They are now in the process of developing new tunes for a an upcoming album in 2027.
Bob and Mal Sedergreen are legendary jazz and blues identities in Melbourne’s live music scene. Both have performed locally and internationally at concerts and major jazz festivals. Clive Harrison (bass) is an experienced, driving and empathetic bassist whose association with Bob, spans many gigs, residencies and recordings. Mark Voogd (drums) has an ability to handle most musical situations but especially his affinity of propulsive jazz time a la Jimmy Cobb. Bob’s special guest, Rohan Wallis is one of Melbourne’s most eclectic musicians. A handy trumpeter/ flugelhornist, a swinging and relaxed vocal delivery. Rohan always connects with his audience. Whatever these musicians choose to play on the night will reflect their years of dedication to the playing and teaching of music in Melbourne.
Acknowledged by critics and fans alike as one of Australia’s top jazz icons, and now in its 43rd year, The Syncopators have amassed many runs on the board through their international jazz tours, awards, and recordings. They were Cultural Ambassadors for Australia on many overseas tours sponsored by DFAT, Cultural Relations Branch, Canberra, ACT.
A Naarm (Melbourne) based African outpost engaged in the research, development and manufacture of interstellar jazz.
The hottest jazz this side of New Orleans. Shirazz’s rollicking rhythm section and chaotic front line horn section deliver red hot classics, reworked pop tunes and wild original inventions all wrapped up with a dose of witty repartee and irreverent fun!
Armed with a 3-string cigar box guitar, trusty 6-string, and shed-built foot drums, Jungle Jim Smith is a one-man-blues-band with a rock’n’roll heart. Delivered with a raw croon, he blends dirty blues and swamp boogie that pumps with rockabilly grit, forging a full-band sound uniquely his own. Let his infectious hooks and riffage finesse beckon you to the dance-floor, it’s time to boogie!
The Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. It is operated by Creative Australia and was established by the Australian Government in 2003 to encourage donations to the arts.
Through the ACF, 100% of donations goes directly towards the Festival and your donation is tax deductible.
The ACF has helped raise millions of dollars for Australian artists, enabling a wide range of projects to come to life and offering support to Australia’s cultural sector.