It’s time to enjoy some sax in the city this spring, with the return of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) for its 27th edition in October. This year, more than 400 artists representing 12 countries will participate in more than 100 events. Between them, they boast a collective 34 Grammy wins and 98 Grammy nominations – phew! Better yet, more than one third of the MIJF 2024 program is free to attend.
Since 1998, MIJF has taken the underground above ground and celebrated the best of jazz culture by showcasing leading and emerging contemporary artists from home and abroad.
During the festival, which runs from October 18-27 , Melbourne will once again become the epicentre of Australia’s vibrant and buzzing jazz scene, with music taking over the streets, concert halls and clubs throughout late October.
Everything kicks off with the Second Line Street Party, where crowds will gather and weave through the city in all their thumping, syncopated and feet-moving glory. Living legend Herbie Hancock (USA) will headline Jazz at the Bowl, alongside performances from the impressive Marcus Miller and local soul star Bumpy.
Over at 170 Russell, innovative musician, composer and producer Nubya Garcia (UK) will offer Melburnians a sneak peak of her new album, while cutting edge London collective Steam Down will make their Australian debut with a party at the same venue.
Five-time Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding will present a collaborative work called Off Brand gOdds, where live jazz meets contemporary dance from New York’s Antonio Brown Dance Company.
During the closing weekend, join the Night Crawl for a wild night of free jazz across some of Melbourne’s favourite inner city live music venues.
This is a mere snippet of the MIJF 2024 program. For a greater delve into this year’s offerings, visit the website here.
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