The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues is set to stage its return from November 1-4. The four-day program includes highlight performances from jazz heavyweights Vince Jones, Hetty Kate and the platinum ARIA acclaimed ensemble Cookin’ on 3 Burners and well-known blues artists Jimi Hocking and Checkerboard Lounge.
Across 13 local venues, including the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, the Festival is proud to announce the first artists who will make their way to the rural township to see the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues reimagined. Decorated singer, songwriter and trumpeter, Vince Jones will perform a headline show at the Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre on Saturday November 2. The three-time ARIA award-winner will be joined by his band.
The festival will launch on Friday November 1 at the Railyard Wangaratta with an official opening party featuring Mark Fitzgibbon and special guests. The party continues with Glenn Skuthorpe who will open for the award-winning bluesman Jimi Hocking with singer Nardia.
The National Jazz Awards this year will feature the Saxophone. With the backing band consisting of Mark Fitzgibbon, Ben Robertson and Danny Fischer and six finalists battling it out, it promises to be a great show. Julien Wilson will lead the judging panel, also consisting of Angela Davis and John Mackey.
The Shuffle Club will perform at The Bulls Head on Saturday November 2. Described as a hot blend of jazz, swing, and blues, the outfit is made of sax, bass, drums and piano, playing songs that never fail to get audiences up and dancing. Mosaic will play inside at the Wangaratta Club while outside the Free Community Stage will be entertaining all.
The Wang Club will host the Community Stage, with free music on offer during the day of Saturday November 2, before moving to a ticketed evening concert program. Blues group Checkerboard Lounge will perform at the Club, featuring Shannon Bourne, Tim Neal, and Zoe Frater. The group’s last album, Sun Sessions, won four of six available awards at the Melbourne Blues Awards and Best Blues Album at the Music Victoria Awards in 2022. It was in Rhythms magazine’s Top 10 Albums of the Year and spent more than a year on the Australian Blues & Roots Airplay chart, including multiple months at #1.
Other artists who will take to the stage include James Morrison Jazz Scholarship winner, saxophonist Kelly Santin with her band, and the very talented Tongan-born southern soul and Blues guitarist Joel Havea with his Trio.
Ethiopian saxophone maestro Solomon Sisay will pay tribute to the Ethio-jazz sounds of his homeland, with the Solomon Sisay Band performing at the Old Baptist Church as part of the Tiny Jazz Concert Series on November 2-3. A world-class musician, Solomon shot to fame after being the chosen saxophone player for Axumite Band, a legendary outfit in Ethiopia.
Other artists to be featured as part of this series will include singer Ilaria Crociani with her outstanding ensemble which includes Paul Grabowsky, Mirko Guerrini and Nicko Schauble. The award-winning lyricist and composer will perform works from her ABC commissioned album, Connecting the Dots, a powerful and moving tribute to women that have made a difference. Legendary Australian Jazz Pianist Bob Sedergreen will team up with longtime friend and jazz pianist Adam Rudegeair to present their Brunswick to Bourbon Street Show.
The Cathedral will host the Jazz Mass on Sunday November 3 followed by a performance by the Hetty Kate Quintet, featuring Sam Lemman, James Sherlock, Ben Hanlon and Ben Robertson. Raised in both England and Australia, and now living in France, Hetty has released nine albums and graced stages large and small from New Zealand to New York.
The Sunday will see Pinsent host Toshi Clinch‘s Not So Big Band and The Greater Melbourne Breakfast and Tweed Society Orchestra.
Now in its 34th year, the Festival is thrilled to announce a new Milawa Monday program, a full day of music concluding at Brown Brothers winery, with activations across venues Lancemore, Henleys, and Milawa Cheese Company. The program will be headlined by Cookin‘ on 3 Burners with Stella Angelico and Raleigh Williams, who will come together for a punchy set blending the styles of deep funk, soul, organ jazz and boogaloo. They will be supported by emerging Melbourne based group CJ Commerford & the Supertones.
Speaking on the program, Artistic Director Serge Carnovale said, “I’m really excited to be involved in a relaunch of this iconic festival, featuring an all-Australian line up of some of the best jazz and blues artists in the country.”
Festival Director Andrew Nunn said, “It feels great being able to finally share what so many people have been working on behind the scenes for the Festival. We are really rapt with who we have coming to town, and we can’t wait to show off what Wangaratta has to offer.”
In its new direction, the Festival is proud to bring jazz and blues back to Wangaratta, keeping the rich 34 year history alive.
