The iconic music at the Geelong Botanic Garden’s series returns for a fourth year, presenting its biggest lineup yet.
The Geelong Botanic Gardens are set to resonate with the smooth sounds of jazz as the Geelong Jazz Soirees Summer Series returns for its fourth-year run. This iconic music series has become a regional Victoria sensation, attracting over 1800 patrons annually from across the state. Organiser Callum Watson describes the concerts as a Geelong tradition, with attendees returning year after year to enjoy great afternoons in a superb setting.
The 2024 series boasts its most impressive lineup to date, featuring Australian jazz stars The Syncopators, Hot Club Swing, and crowd favourites The Suspects.
Geelong Jazz Soirees Summer Series
- Geelong Jazz Soirees Summer Series (GJSSS) is bringing live music back to the iconic Geelong Botanic Gardens for the fourth year
- This year headliners are Australian jazz stars The Syncopators, Hot Club Swing and The Suspects.
- The concerts will take place on the Geelong Botanic Gardens camellia lawn on February 3, 10 and 17 2024
Keep up with the latest music news, festivals, interviews and reviews here.
The series kicks off on February 3 at 2:30 pm with a performance by Geelong jazz legends Hot Club Swing. Celebrating 25 years, this group has graced major festivals, including the Port Fairy Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, and the National Jazz Convention. Their unique style of 1930s French Gypsy Jazz draws influences from Latin America, Swing, and Eastern Europe.
The Syncopators, with an illustrious history that includes eighteen European concert tours, promise to be a highlight on February 10 at 2:30 pm.
Recognised by critics and peers alike as amongst the very best in Australia, Society Syncopators, now called “The Syncopators”, was founded by trombonist Chris Ludowyk in 1984 and has performed at most major Jazz and Performing Arts Festivals in Australia and some of the most prestigious International Jazz festivals. It has featured in two movies, on live TV concerts and entertained at countless corporate functions over its 40-year existence – a record for a currently performing Australian jazz group. Their performance is bound to be a highlight of the series.
Closing the series on February 17 at 2:30 pm, crowd favourites ‘The Suspects’ return with their multi-generational band, offering an extensive repertoire of jazz, soul, gospel, country, Americana, and R&B. The vocal prowess of the group, marked by rich harmonies and diverse singers, ensures an unforgettable performance.
The Geelong Jazz Soirees Summer Series has become a hallmark of Victoria’s summer festival season, showcasing some of the state’s finest musicians and ensembles in the picturesque Geelong Botanic Gardens. The stage, nestled among large trees and manicured gardens, provides the perfect backdrop for outdoor performances in the sun.
Punters are encouraged to embrace the outdoor experience by packing a picnic, laying out a rug, and enjoying the performances. The Geelong Botanic Gardens, conveniently located just across the road from the Geelong Waterfront, offer easy access for attendees from Melbourne, Regional Victoria, and within Geelong.
Early bird tickets are available now, starting from just $13.50 until the end of the year.
For more information on the February 2024 program and to secure tickets, visit www.geelongjazz.com.
