Due to unforeseen circumstances, Vince Jones will not be performing on Sunday evening with Paul Grabowsky, but in his place will be the fabulous Aria Award-winning Meg Washington.
The Castlemaine Jazz Festival is a volunteer-fuelled organisation drawn together by a common love for jazz.
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
7.00pm Choirs
Thompson’s Foundry Band
MaCapellas
Velvetones
First-ever Castlemaine Jazz Orchestra
Tickets available at the door
CASTLEMAINE JAZZ FESTIVAL JAZZ LOUNGE
Please join us for the Jazz Festival Jazz Lounge at the marvellous Maurocco Bar, Midland Hotel from 8.00 to 11.00pm on Friday 5th June.
The Jazz trio will perform soft, ambient jazz tunes which will perfectly complement the Paris Jazz Salon atmosphere.
Delicious pizzas will be available for $10.
Friday evening or weekend ticket required.
JAZZ JAM
At the Maurocco Bar 8pm-11pm
Please join us for this fun jam session at the marvellous Maurocco Bar, Midland Hotel from 8.00 to 11.00-pm on Saturday 6th June. If you wish to perform, please bring along three copies of the charts for your three songs.
Free entry and delicious pizzas will be available for $10.
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.
Meg Washington is a platinum-selling, five-time ARIA Award-winning singer, songwriter, composer and performer whose career spans jazz, pop, folk, screen music and contemporary performance. One of Australia's most distinctive musical voices, she has released multiple acclaimed albums, earning widespread critical recognition and a devoted national audience. Known for her ability to move seamlessly between genres, Meg began her career in jazz before establishing herself as one of Australia's most celebrated contemporary songwriters. Her work has featured across film, television and theatre, and she has become a familiar voice to audiences through both her recording career and live performances. It is difficult to describe Paul Grabowsky's career easily. He has been a director of some of Australia's most prominent arts festivals, the composer of nearly thirty feature film scores, and several works of music theatre, the founder and leader for nineteen years of the Australian Art Orchestra, an executive at the ABC, and currently heads up Monash University Performing Arts Centres. Whether as composer, teacher, television personality, mentor or advocate for the role of artistic expression as a defining attribute of contemporary life, for him this is all informed by his work as a pianist, and composer, particularly in the field of jazz, where, according to him, 'the piano never lies'.




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
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.
CASTLEMAINE VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
44 Mostyn St, Castlemaine
0409 309 753
info@castlemainejazzfestival.com.au
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