Genre pioneers, fresh voices and undeniable talent make up the lineup for this years 10 day Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) returns for its 27th year from 18 – 27 October, bringing a pool of international and local talent to Australia’s jazz capital. Across the ten days, audiences across Melbourne will witness legendary artists and legends-in-the-making stun with awe-inspiring performances, including special festival-only experiences, and unique multi-artform collaborations. The festival program boasts first-time guests from the experimental jazz scenes in the UK and Japan, a New Orleans street parade through the CBD to kick off the festival celebrations, and a big-time name of Herbie Hancock leading the entire force.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival
- When: Friday 18 – Sunday 27 October
- Where: Various locations across Melbourne CBD
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The program is nothing short of spectacular for the 27th year with jazz pioneer Herbie Hancock leading an impressive selection of names including Marcus Miller, Esperanza Spalding, Antonio Sanchez, Nubya Garcia, Bumpy and the TBC Brass Band who are set to bring the New Orleans second line back to the CBD. In a special event, Orchestra Victoria celebrates 100 years of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue featuring piano virtuoso Makoto Ozone (Japan) and Melbourne’s Panorama Brasil.
This year’s line-up showcases some of the world’s most accomplished musicians, boasting a collective tally of 34 GRAMMY wins, 99 GRAMMY nominations, and one Oscar win. The 2024 festival features 109 events and performances across 34 venues, with 400+ artists representing 12 countries. Over one-third of the program is free, offering broad access to this extraordinary celebration of jazz.
From Jazz at the Bowl with Hancock, Miller and Bumpy taking over the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, to multi-award-winning collective Steam Down (UK) jumping up at 170 Russell, the expansive program cuts into every crevasse of the city. This is further highlighted through one night only event, Night Crawl, a jazz bar crawl that takes over Melbourne’s favourite live music venues and bars for a wild night of free jazz across the inner city. From the dark, vibey ambiance of Toff in Town to the riverside views of Arbory, hop between city hotspots and craft your own adventure as you experience the best of Melbourne’s cutting-edge jazz scene, with gigs lasting late into the night.
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Arden Sounds a festival-only musical journey, also features on the program, spotlighting new compositions by artists Allara, the Brandee Younger Trio (US), and Invenio. Supported by the Metro Tunnel Creative Program, these intimate shows will breathe life into one of the city’s much-anticipated new Metro Tunnel stations (Arden Station), before it officially opens to commuters in 2025.
In a special closing event, Ozone formed by new trio TRiNFiNiTY, featuring bassist Shimpei Ogawa and drummer Kunito Kitai will make their Australian debut.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival Artistic Director Michael Tortoni says of the massive program, “MIJF 2024 will be one of our most ambitious festivals to date, with a prolific line-up of gifted musicians set to join us this October in Melbourne. Whether it’s in a parade, at the Bowl, in the city or out west, we’re so excited for audiences to join us again, celebrating all there is to love about this music.”
The program doesn’t stop here seeing names like Nicole Zuraitis (US), Vince Jones, Brandee Younger (US), Jazzmeia Horn (US), Nubya Garcia, Rai Thistlethwayte, Erica Tucceri and Audrey Powne pop up for special performances and events.
The full program can be discovered here with tickets on sale now for Melbourne International Jazz Festival events.
