Pack a picnic and the family for an afternoon of Geelong's best young jazz acts, poetry and live painting in the grounds of hidden heritage treasure The Heights.
Heady fusions, hard-grooving breakouts, finger-snapping elasticity and timeless elegance. Expect all this and more at Jazz in a Hat Spring Fest, a casual, family-friendly, picnic-style live music event in beautiful heritage grounds this November.
Presented by Jazz in a Hat, the homegrown jazz festival will take place at The Heights Heritage House in Newtown on 19 November, representing and celebrating jazz in all its forms while shining a spotlight on up-and-coming local musicians.
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Taking over the eclectic grounds of Heights Heritage House – which features stables and a water tower – emerging local artists will perform a range of jazz genres across multiple stages, as well as poetry and live art performances.
Gifting locals and visitors alike the chance to discover the gems of Geelong’s vibrant fringe jazz scene, the festival will feature the grooviest Jazz In The Hat alumni, from the french-inspired funk of the Calderazzo-Lorenne Group, to gypsy duo Gypsum Gypsie, and the modern and experimental jazz of Tony Soprano Band and Final Final.
You’ll also find live performances and improv from the likes of Two Flights, Harper Dawson with Jack Smythe, CRL.ORG, Tribü, Lionel Baker featuring Catie Alison & Pepper Willow, Emilia Fol, Immy Owusu and Oscar Rose, with guest appearances by Wild Gloriosa, Faerfolke and the Jazz In a Hat crew.
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Started in Geelong in 2018 by Philippine-born musician Eli Merquita and Geelong artist Joshua Maxwell de Hoog, the Jazz in a Hat collective brings local musicians together to throw their names in a hat, form a band and play a live improvisational set to an audience. The electric monthly sessions at Analogue Academy were soon selling out, with a waitlist of musicians wanting to participate.
Support from the City of Greater Geelong’s Creative Communities Grant Program allowed Jazz in a Hat to expand to a festival format for the first time, making this a not-to-be-missed experience.
The family friendly program begins at 2pm, with activities available for kids. Attendees are encouraged to pack a picnic and blanket.
Jazz in a Hat Spring Fest takes place 19 November, 2pm-9pm at Heights Heritage House, 140 Aphrasia St Newtown. Tickets can be purchased here.
