Western Australia’s premier regional jazz festival Jazz by the Bay is set to turn up the heat again this winter for a massive four days of live music across the South West. Held across more than 20 venues in Busselton, Dunsborough and Margaret River, Jazz by the Bay is set to get people swinging, scatting and jiving at more than 40 performances by over 200 artists from Friday, May 31 to Monday, June 3.
This year’s line up features a multitude of free and ticketed live soul, funk, big band, bebop and swing performances during the day and into the night on the street, in wineries, bars, theatres and private properties. Better yet, it all goes down on the WA Day long weekend making it a perfect opportunity to get away from the noise of the city and listen to some sweet, sweet music instead.
You can check out the Jazz by the Bay program on their website or download the pdf here. Discovery is all part of the fun, but for those looking for a snapshot of the colourful and diverse selection of acts to check out, we’ve whittled it down to a few of our highlights for 2019…
Michelle Spriggs Trio
Rustico at Hay Shed Hill
Friday, May 31 – 2.30pm-5pm
Join three of Margaret River’s most experienced jazz musicians as they explore their love of fine jazz, gutsy soul and recharged pop covers. Enjoy mouthwatering tapas and drinks by Hay Shed Hill Wines served in Rustico’s award-winning style and a free with table booking.
Tickets free with booking. Get more info here
Bambuseae Rhythm Section
Settlers Tavern
Friday, May 31 – 10pm-1am
Bambuseae Rhythm Section combine their vast musical influences to deliver a robust elemental fusion of original Fremantle brewed rhythm & blues, funk, soul, rock and roll and disco. Wild and free one moment, soft and sensual the next. The music is groove based and designed for dancing your worries into oblivion.
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here
Sinti Jazz with Brunch
Rivendell Winery Restaurant
Saturday, June 1 – 9:30am-11:30am
Every language is different; gypsy jazz has its own. Sinti Jazz are true to the tradition. The Old World has never sounded so close! From Strasbourg in France, Loic brings gypsy jazz in its traditional European style. Supported by Ben and his swinging rhythms, they are pushed up with Gavin’s jazzy bass. Inspired by the incredible musicianship of not just Django, but also the many masters who came in his footsteps, Sinti Jazz focuses on the guitar. Their mission is to keep alive the 1930’s timeless romantic hot swing of France and bring it to a new audience.
Tickets free with booking. Get more info here.
Swingin’ Gypsy Jazz with Sassafras
Lions Park, Dunsborough
Saturday, June 1 – 2:00pm to 3:30pm
Gypsy Jazz hails from 1930s Romany camps outside Paris to the clubs of New York with a strong guitar influence. This supremely talented band will transport you to the cobbled streets of Montmartre and you’ll leave with a swing in your step. Formed in mid 2015, Sassafras has now established a reputation as one of Perth’s premier gypsy jazz groups, combining toe-tapping swing, breakneck gypsy classics, wistful french ballads and reworked jazz standards in a vibrant and engaging mix of acoustic music.
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here
Adam Hall & the Velvet Playboys
Caves Road Collective (home of Black Brewing Co)
Saturday, June 1 – 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Caves Road Collective will become a swinging dance hall when Perth’s best jazz, rhythm and blues performers hit the boards and rock the room! This band is always a sell-out when they head south and we expect this year to be no different when they bring the best of their repertoire from the 1940s and ‘50s and beyond to this versatile venue. Expect foot-stompin’ favourites from legends like Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Jackie Wilson, Sammy Davis Jr, and Louis Prima, delivered by the smooth vocals of Adam Hall and backed by the Playboys’ big bold brass. Enjoy a jazz-themed dinner menu available for purchase from 5pm, specially-crafted cocktail and the great Black Brewing Co beer, gin, wine and cider offering from Caves Road Collective.
Get more info and tickets here.
Boom! Bap! Pow!
Supported by Farraday’s Cage
Settlers Tavern
Saturday, June 1 – 10:00pm – 1:00am
Perth rock ‘n’ soul merchants Boom! Bap! Pow! are a band that know how to work their crowd the old fashioned way. Two years on from the release of sophomore album So Heavy, lead single Suit is showing no signs of going away. After being selected by the the likes of Bonds, Value City Furniture (US) and GILT the track has recently been commissioned by Diet Coke and Microsoft for their respective Economy Class and Surface Pro 23 campaigns, which has seen the 2013 WAM Pop Song of The Year award winner connect with a worldwide audience.
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here
Swing spectacular with Jus Jump
Clancy’s Fish Pub
Sunday, June 2 – 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Jus Jump maintain a fresh, original repertoire, pulsing along with a freight train groove, guaranteeing to get your toes tapping and hips swaying, with acrobatic antics and loud suits- the works! They’ve toured extensively with various bands playing world wide including the UK. Jus Jump are a mix of rock & roll, swing and rockabilly at its best.
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here.
Holli Scott & the Rush Hour Circus
Lions Park, Dunsborough
Sunday, June 2 – 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Holli Scott was a hit when she performed at her first Jazz by the Bay in 2015, and she’s returning this year with her quintet, the Rush Hour Circus. Holli’s deep and soulful vocals will transport you as she performs a combination of jazz standards and original music drawing on the work of artists such as Cassandra Wilson, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone in this free family-friendly concert. There will also be plenty of fresh material with the release of her debut album DUST on May 17.
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here.
Songbirds of the South West
Lions Park, Dunsborough
Sunday, June 2 – 10:00am to 11:30am
Songbirds of the South West combines the beauty of harmony from six vocalists with the tight rhythm and hot horn section of the eight-piece band, to pay tribute to some of the jazz greats. All members are professional working musicians from the south west WA. stretching from Dunsborough to Denmark. An idea sparked by saxophone player Louise Marsh, their performance at Jazz by the Bay Festival 2018 was such a success their return will be warmly welcomed as they perform works from their favourite jazz artists Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Astrid Gilberto, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse.
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here
Thomas HS Trio present Benny & Buddy (WAAPA)
Caves House Hotel
Monday, June 3 – 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Benny & Buddy present an evening of the very best Jazz classics; written and performed by Benny Goodman; the King of Swing along with Buddy Defranco; one of America’s leading jazz clarinetists of the time. Playing regularly at jazz festivals around Western Australia including Jazz by the Bay 2018 & the King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival 2018; Benny & Buddy are back on the Jazz by the Bay scene in 2019!
FREE, no booking required. Get more info here.
