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Join us!
Volunteer at the Castlemaine Jazz Festival
The Castlemaine Jazz Festival is a volunteer-fuelled organisation drawn together by a common love for jazz.
Networking
Volunteering with us is a great opportunity to make new friends and join a group of like-minded individuals who want to help out and support the festival and the communities it represents. Volunteers assist the Festival with front-of-house duties, driving, program distribution, and event delivery. They bring the enthusiasm and the energy to each Festival, and we couldn’t do it without them
Friday Opening Night - 5th June
The Goods Shed
7.00pm Choirs
First-ever Castlemaine Jazz Orchestra
Saturday Program - 6th June
Castlemaine Bowling Club
11.30am The Hackney Sacks
12.50pm The Dozeytones
2.10pm The Capitol Theatre Orchestra
3.30pm The ‘Maine Course
4.40pm Steamboat Whistlers
6.10pm Shirazz
Northern Arts Hotel
6.10pm Simpatico
7.30pm Bluetone Assembly
8.50pm The Anticlinal Fold
The Goods Shed
2.10pm Exit Left
4.50pm Femmes de la Résistance – Josephine Baker
6.10pm Afrospace Interchange
7.30pm Mad Vantage
8.50pm Mount Kujo
Sunday Program - 7th June
Castlemaine Bowling Club
11.30am Pip Avent’s Mouldy Jazz
12.50pm Vida Jazz (Quintet)
2.10pm Lena Mitchell’s Low Lounge Collective
3.30pm The Little Brass Band
4.50pm From Paris to Brazil
6.10pm Maggie Jackson
Anglican Church
2.10pm Aryo Sena Ensemble
3.30pm Dans Les Arbres
Northern Arts Hotel
6.10pm Girls Night In
7.30pm Charlie & Co
8.50pm Katrina B Quintet
The Goods Shed
2.10pm Royal Navy Jazz Band
3.30pm Melbourne Tramways Big Band
4.50pm Melba Big Band
6.10pm Monkey Stick
7.30pm Red Sand Big Band
8.50pm Big Band Frequency
Theatre Royal
6.10pm Nat Bartsch Quartet
7.30pm Vince Jones & Paul Grabowsky
Featured Artists
Dans Les Arbres
Dans les arbres is a renowned Franco-Norwegian free improvisation quartet formed in 2006, recognized for a unique sound mixing acoustic, airy, and metallic textures. The group features Xavier Charles (clarinet/harmonica), Ivar Grydeland (guitar/banjo), Christian Wallumrød (piano/harmonium), and Ingar Zach (percussion/gran cassa), known for using unconventional techniques. Since the recording of their first album in 2006, Dans les arbres has performed more than 150 concerts around the globe. The two releases on ECM Records and one on Hubro – the self-titled debut “Dans Les Arbres” (2008), “Canopée” (2012) and “Phosphorescence” (2017) have received praise from reviewers and audiences alike. In October 2019 the group’s fourth album “Volatil” was released on the label SOFA, and in November 2019 they launched “Mausoleum” – their first download-only-album on Bandcamp. Dans les arbres was nominated for the prestigious Nordic Music Prize 2015.
Paul Grabowsky & Vince Jones
Vince Jones and PG have been making music together in one way or another since the late 70s, when Vince would occasionally sit in with various bands in which Paul played. Their relationship became a serious proposition when Paul was asked to produce Vince’s 1987 album ‘It All Ends in Tears’, for which they co-wrote several songs, including the timeless ‘Rainbow Cake’. That album won the inaugural jazz Aria, and ten years later their second album as a partnership, Provenance, won the trophy, no 6 for Paul, who has 8 in total. When they perform, their shared love of jazz (as well as music more broadly) is immediately evident, and their mutual respect for each other’s consummate artistry allows for magic to lift each song into a very special and unique experience for the listener. They have begun creating a batch of new songs and some of these are sure to be in their upcoming set lists. Now elder statesmen of the music, Vince and Paul bring their message of the healing power of song to audiences of every stripe. Don’t miss them.
CJF Bands 2026
2025 Festival Wrap
It was a true honour to host Grammy award-winning artist Dobet Gnahoré at the Theatre Royal — an extraordinary performer backed by an exceptional team of musicians.Opening night once again shone brightly, with outstanding performances from the Castlemaine Secondary College Stage Band and the ever-brilliant Thompson’s Foundry Band. Choirs in Concert featured the CSC Vocal Ensemble, Rainbow Voices, MaCapellas, Mainesong, and the Divine Divas Show Choir — with a particular highlight being the CSC band’s collaboration with Son Quba.To all choir directors, and especially Ben Nieuwkerk (CSC Music Coordinator) and Adam Przewlochi (Big Choir Director), we thank you sincerely.We were thrilled to welcome 320 musicians across the weekend, with performances from icons like Paul Grabowsky at the Phee Broadway Theatre and Jazz Party at the Theatre Royal, through to big bands, swing, Latin and soul at every venue. Dancing the night away at Boomtown with Shirazz and the Seduceaphones was a definite highlight — and that’s just a taste of over forty incredible acts!Finally, I want to acknowledge the hard-working CJF Committee. Your commitment, generosity, and behind-the-scenes effort make all of this possible.What a weekend of Jazz! What a community!
With deepest thanks,
Lyndal McClure President, Castlemaine Jazz Festival
Thank You!
On behalf of the Castlemaine Jazz Festival team, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the many people who made this year’s Festival such a success.To our incredible musicians, choirs, production techs, volunteers, and of course our audiences — thank you. Your energy, talent and enthusiasm created an unforgettable weekend of music and community celebration.We are extremely fortunate to have the support of so many wonderful local venues: the Theatre Royal, the Coolroom at the Northern Arts Hotel, Castlemaine Bowling Club, Boomtown, the Anglican Church, Cumberland Hotel, MASC venue, and Phee Broadway Theatre. Your generosity and partnership are the backbone of this event. A special thank you to our generous sponsors, without whom the Festival simply wouldn’t be possible: Major Sponsors: Maxi IGA, Mt Alexander Timber & Hardware, and Rotary Castlemaine. Silver Sponsors: Cantwell Property, Lambert Capital, Gunangara, and Value-Added Business Strategies. Bronze Sponsors: Edifice, The Rails, McKenzie Davey Amcal Pharmacy, and Maine Shoes and Accessories.
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