Another festival taking place this month is the sixth annual the Castlemaine Jazz Festival, which will be held on the Queen’s Birthday weekend. Taking place right in the heart of Castlemaine, a real treat is that the festival runs across a number of separate and historical venues, each within walking distance and all specially selected to create the ideal environment to enjoy this weekend full of jazz.
Over the four days, stunning venues such as The Phee Broadway Theatre, The Theatre Royal, the Castlemaine Senior Citizens Centre, Run Rabbit Run, The Maurocco Bar, and The Cumberland Hotel will open their doors to a bill that includes Nardia Rose Band, Paige Duggan, The Django Fretts, The Seven Ups, Bete Noire, Elle T & the Doctors, Harry Coulson’s Blue Dogs, and Lachie Evans Band, plus many more. With more than 50 different bands and around 300 highly talented musicians, this Queen’s Birthday long weekend is sure to be a musical one.
Returning as festival favourites, Melbourne’s Low Down Big Band will be playing a balanced mix of Trad, Blues, Funk, New Orleans, and Contemporary styles once again. Under the leadership of guitarist Ben Delves, you can expect high-intensity, hard-swinging, funk-filled fun when this 18-piece hits the stage, while award-winning 22-year-old performer and composer, Emilia, will be bringing the jazz, soul, and funk. With a voice that has been likened to Chaka Khan’s, mixed with the writing style of Kimbra and Esperanza Spalding, get ready to be transported back into time with Emilia’s timeless voice in what will be a truly magical performance.
Festival goers and musicians alike will also see a new addition to the Festival programme this year with the original and electrifying fusion quartet ‘Jungle Fusion’. An original electrifying jazz fusion quartet with deep ethno roots and an avant-garde philosophy, the band is inspired by the Miles Davis electric era, John Coltrane’s avant-garde emotion and John McLaughlin’s spiritual wisdom. Frontman Deco Jovanovic is a versatile and adventurous guitarist and composer. The band’s lineup is completed with the remarkable Gordon Gunn on bass, the extraordinary Chris Georgiou on drums and multi-instrumentalist Mark Gardner on trumpet and didgeridoo. You can expect a seriously wild and eclectic show at the Maurocco Bar on Saturday afternoon, and at the Senior Citizens Centre later that night.
Another highlight of the weekend includes ‘The Goldfields Jazz Orchestra’ with Meg Corson performing at the Theatre Royal in what will be an unforgettable experience of quality music from entirely local musicians. Promising to deliver a high energy evening of hip-swinging, toe-tapping tunes, featuring smokin’ instrumentals, cracking solos, and songs to fall in and out of love to, this classic 18-piece line-up will leave audiences flushed with a bad case of gold fever as they power through a glittering array of tunes from the great arrangers.
Located in the central area of Victoria, the Castlemaine region is less than 90 minutes from North-West Melbourne, and roughly a two-hour drive from Geelong, making it easily and conveniently accessed by road and rail. With stunning villages and towns located close by, this region is an ideal base to explore Central Victoria.
You can find more information, running times and ticket sales via www.castlemainejazzfestival.com.au
