Splinter is a radically inclusive large-scale orchestra that has been a forum for improvising for well over 100 exploratory musicians and sound artists living in or passing through Sydney for over 2 decades. Currently having a diverse membership of roughly 25, the process of co-creation and the resulting music is probably best left undefined—amorphous and ephemeral qualities being inherent to the orchestrating—but it can be said that playing is the group’s fundamental activity. Meeting weekly, with ever-fluctuating line-ups, they do just that. Splinter's approach to open improvisation makes the group super sensitive to place, and this new venue will provide marvellous potential for co-creation.

This will be the Orchestra's first public outing since their April Fool's Day performance with Tetuzi Akiyama at the Paddington Uniting Church.

The performance will take place in the new home of The Living Room Theatre at 21 Shepherd St, Marrickville.

"Every Splinter Orchestra performance unfolds a unique improvisational sonic ecology combining highly developed music skills with thoroughly experimental sound-making and an intuitive compositional repertoire built from years of collective engagement. The entire space becomes a stage for performers and audience alike to wander, carrying their generative or listening attentions amongst, between and through an evolving sonic unknown.” - Gary Warner, 2017

$20 and $15 on the door. Kids welcome.
Doors 6pm. Music from 6:30.

Pharos (The Sydney Women’s Jazz Collective) is a 10-piece powerhouse showcasing some of Australia’s finest emerging and established jazz artists — including multiple winners of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and Art Music Awards.

With a dynamic six-piece horn section and four-piece rhythm section, Pharos blends the drive of a big band with the creativity and genre-defying spirit of today’s leading ensembles.

They have collaborated with an extraordinary array of local and international artists including Dr Sandy Evans, Ingrid and Christine Jensen (USA/Canada), Silke Eberhardt (Germany), Helen Sung (USA), and Lakecia Benjamin (USA), and performed to sold-out audiences at the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival and Sydney Con Jazz Festival.

Loretta Palmeiro | Alto/Sop/Clarinet
Mariela Mulder | Tenor sax
Kali Gillen | Baritone sax
Ellen Kirkwood | Trumpet
Louise Horwood | Trumpet
Alex Silver | Trombone
Hilary Geddes | Guitar

Lauren Tsamouras | Piano
Hannah James | Double Bass
Jodie Michael | Drums

With support by Tymbal Echoes - Simon Barker and Hinano Fujisaki

Book Tix Here

Award-winning composer, trumpeter and bandleader Ellen Kirkwood performs with the WAAPA Big Band in a concert that’ll blow the roof off the Richard Gill Auditorium! Winner of the 2019 NSW APRA Art Music Award for Jazz Excellence and the 2012 Jann Rutherford Memorial Award for Young Women in Jazz, Kirkwood is known for the rich emotional depth and intricate arrangements of her music, often blending contemporary jazz with traditional influences. This one-off concert showcases Kirkwood’s innovative compositions and exceptional trumpet playing, backed by the powerhouse sound of the WAAPA Big Band.

Info and tix here

Back to our old tricks again! Every first Thursday of the month you can find us at the groovy Caterpillar Club. Free entry - come down for a boogie and a tasty bevvie!

https://swillhouse.com/venues/the-caterpillar-club/

Pharos (The Sydney Women’s Jazz Collective) is a 10-piece powerhouse showcasing some of Australia’s finest emerging and established jazz artists — including multiple winners of the Jann Rutherford Memorial Award and Art Music Awards.

With a dynamic six-piece horn section and four-piece rhythm section, Pharos blends the drive of a big band with the creativity and genre-defying spirit of today’s leading ensembles.

Info and tix here

Alloy’s first gig was a Jetsets gig, and now we’re back, alongside the incredible Marcus Whale! We’ll be presenting new, weird and wonderful works of mine written for my PhD.

Alloy is:

Ellen Kirkwood - trumpet, objects

Phillippa Murphy-Haste - clarinets

Hinano Fujisaki - tenor sax

Matt Bell - trombone, euphonium

Tix are $25 full/$15 concession on the door only (cash or EFT)

Address - "Stadium Rockdale" Lvl 1, 5 Tramway Arcade (find the "Massage" sign, go upstairs and we're the door on the left). Please be aware that the venue is accessible by stairs only. We apologise for any inconvenience. 

A prolific composer and leader of many successful projects over the past 15 years, award-winning trumpeter Ellen Kirkwood has assembled some of her favourite musicians to form this exciting collective. Performing up-beat and fun re-imaginings of Ellen’s pieces from past projects such as Fat Yahoozah and Captain Kirkwood, EK & the EkstraOrdinaires combine jazz with genres from around the world such as Balkan, Ethiopian and Latin American musics. With a lush 3-piece horn section backed by punchy drums and bass, EK & the EkstraOrdinaires bring the party!

Ellen Kirkwood - trumpet, Melissa Mony - tenor sax, Lee Orszaczky - trombone, Sarah Homeh - electric bass & Alex Masso – drums

https://events.humanitix.com/ek-and-the-ekstraordinaires

Mister Ott returns to the Caterpillar Club for the August instalment of our monthly residency. Free entry, good vibes, sassy grooves.

https://swillhouse.com/venues/the-caterpillar-club/

Spectra Jazz Orchestra is a vibrant group of young women and gender diverse musicians whose passion and creativity is launching them into careers in the Sydney scene. The group plays a wide range of jazz and jazz-adjacent works, with a focus on local Australian composers - even a few pieces by the band's members. Conductor Ellen Kirkwood leads the group, creating a safe place for young players to grow and connect in a male-dominated industry. Join the orchestra for a night of upbeat, adventurous tunes with the talent of the future.

https://events.humanitix.com/spectra-at-goethe-lounge

Described by festival goers as The Clash meets Frank Zappa, On The Stoop manage to pack their love of all things punk, free-jazz, spaghetti-western, latin and Devo into their sound. They are subversive, uncompromising, challenging and always satisfyingly riotous.

https://townhallhotelnewtown.com/event/97

Acclaimed saxophonist Matthew Ottignon fronts Sydney outfit Mister Ott, merging mesmerising Eastern sounds, tasty horn melodies, tight and popping jazz/funk and hypnotic grooves that drift on the edge of psychedelica.

https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/mister-ott/181705

Legendary Sydney guitarist Arne Hanna (Jackie Orszaczky, Max Q) is back with The Felas, bringing the joy and power of Afrobeat to cure all ills. Featuring the music of Fela Kuti, Tony Allen & more, The Felas are a die-hard group of evangelists who honour and spread the infectious energy and grooves of Afrobeat. Dense and complex rhythm partners with a pumping horn section to create a relentless and joyous beat that hearts, hips and feet cannot resist.

Afrobeat is an inclusive, unifying force. It's revelatory, revolutionary and inspiring – a celebration of diversity, connection to the music and to each other. Truly a tonic for the times.

GET YOUR TIX!

The Felas feature the following fabulous musicians:

Tim Bradley (percussion)
Ben Fink (conducting, vocals, guitar)
Kali Gillen (baritone sax)
Arne Hanna (guitar)
Gabe Haslam (drums)
Ellen Kirkwood (trumpet)
Scott Leishman (guitar)
Juan Mulet (percussion)
Matt Ottignon (tenor & soprano sax, flute)
Pat Powell (vocals)
Jeremy Rose (tenor & soprano sax)
Harry Sutherland (keyboards)
Jed Wesley-Smith (bass)

Playing at Jetsets with Elizabeth Jigalin, following a set by Belgian guitarist Alec Ilyine.

Liz and I have been enjoying improvising together lately on our instruments and other objects both chosen and found, and with the sounds of Country.

Address - "Stadium Rockdale" Lvl 1, 5 Tramway Arcade (find the "Massage" sign, go upstairs and we're the door on the left). Please be aware that the venue is accessible by stairs only. We apologise for any inconvenience. 

Tix are $25 full/$15 concession on the door only (cash or EFT)

EK & the EkstraOrdinaires’ very 5th gig! But who’s counting?

Bringing back hits by Fat Yahoozah plus throwing some new things in the mix, this horn-driven groovebus wants you to get downie at the Townie. I think that’s the daggiest thing I’ve ever written.

https://townhallhotelnewtown.com/event/Q7RN0

Your favouritest, groovingest monthly appearance at the Caterpillar Club, Mister Ott!

9-11pm, free entry!

https://swillhouse.com/venues/the-caterpillar-club/

The Magic Lantern is singer-songwriter/composer Jamie Doe, an artist blurring the boundaries between folk, jazz and contemporary music. I’ll be playing in his band for what promises to be a gorgeous performance, as part of his Australian tour. There will also be a set by local singer/pianist Ofri, whose 2024 album is stunning!

Get tix: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1373462

5oLo5 is a series of monthly contemporary music presentations that brings together five preeminent performers to present short solo works and to present a longer work as a quintet. Carefully curated by Trevor Brown, 5oLo5 examines the very personal elements of practice and the nature of collaboration and cooperation.

Performers for 5olo5, Friday May 23:

Hayley Chan (drums, percussion)
Gary Daley (piano, accordion)
Ellen Kirkwood (trumpet, objects)
Freya Shack-Arnott (cello)
Trevor Brown (woodwinds)

Paddington Uniting Church, 7:30pm.

Underwards will be playing alongside the Tom Avgenicos Trio for this free outdoor gig at the Ryde Park rotunda. Underwards @ 2pm, Tom Avgenicos trio @ 3:15pm.

https://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Community/Arts-and-Culture/Rhythms-of-Ryde

Alloy (8pm)

Who needs a rhythm section anyway?

Late in 2022 Ellen Kirkwood assembled this group of stellar improvisers, each with their own cool and impressive things going on, for a performance of experimental compositions and improvisations. Bringing together the unique ideas and approaches of each player, expect fascinating explorations stretching beyond the sounds you might expect from a bunch of jazz horn players, and without pesky drums and amplified instruments getting in the way!

Ellen Kirkwood - Trumpet
Phillippa Murphy-Haste - Clarinet
Hinano Fujisaki - Saxophone
Matthew Bell - Trombones/Euphonium

Volant (9pm)

From one of Australia’s most in-demand saxophonists, Matthew Ottignon leads Volant, his latest quartet that has risen from the contemporary underground.

The music moves effortlessly from moments of anthemic heroism, with Matthew’s fiery tenor at the fore, to lyrical melodies and intimate soundscapes, where the confident artistry of Hayley, Hannah, and Lauren bring the music to a place of sheer beauty.

While embodying the spirit of giants such as John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, Volant is undeniably still a modern quartet, delivering world-class compositions and thrilling improvised dialogue.

Matthew Ottignon - tenor, alto, and baritone saxophones
Lauren Tsamouras – piano
Hannah James - acoustic bass
Hayley Chan - drums and percussion

Doors 7:30pm

Show 8:00pm

Tickets: $15 Student / $25 General Admission - BOOK TIX

BYO drinks 

You’ll never have a dull time listening to On The Stoop! We’ll be supporting The Asthmatix, who have returned from a long hiatus! /wheeze

https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/the-asthmatix-on-the-stoop/175456?ref=RSS_Lazyboneslounge&skin=lazybones

Stories of human-nature connectedness though contemporary, explorative jazz.

Evoking places and experiences in nature through a rich blend of jazz and experimental music, with hints of folk and contemporary classical, Underwards is led by award-winning composer and trumpeter Ellen Kirkwood. The music of Underwards is inspired by places and experiences in nature, and features group and solo improvisations, vivid colours and textures, emphatic rhythms and enigmatic melodies.

Currently, the majority of Underwards’ works form part of Kirkwood’s PhD project, exploring respectful Indigenous-informed immersive connecting with Country in locations in Dharug and Wiradjuri Nations. The works of music are stories of a kind; manifestations of learnings and experiences with Country. Audiences are guided through Underwards’ musical journeys with personal, spoken introductions to these works, detailing Country’s influence on the music.

Underwards is:

Ellen Kirkwood - trumpet
Hilary Geddes - guitar
Brendan Clark - electric bass
Alex Inman-Hislop - drums

Spectra Jazz Orchestra are stoked to be sharing the bill with the amazing Mosaic! Two exciting bands featuring young Sydney jazz talent, not to be missed.

Get your tix quick! https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/mosaic-spectra/176831

Our residency continues! Get down and boogie in this excellent bar - delicious drinks, vinyl spinning between sets, free entry!

https://swillhouse.com/venues/the-caterpillar-club/

Tetuzi Akiyama, born in Tokyo, 1964, is a highly unique and experimental guitarist heavily applying free improvisation and noise. Every Splinter Orchestra performance unfolds a unique improvisational sonic ecology combining highly developed music skills with thoroughly experimental sound-making and an intuitive compositional repertoire built from years of collective engagement. 

Book tix: https://events.humanitix.com/tetuzi-akiyama-and-splinter-orchestra-at-the-church-paddington

The SP7 is a jazz septet consisting of prominent Sydney Jazz musicians including Nishcal Manjunath (sax), Ellen Kirkwood (Trum), Rhys Moore (Trom), Yutaro Okuda (Guit), Casey Golden (piano), Jodie Michael (drums) and lead by bassist and composer Siebe Pogson. Based on Siebe’s experiences in Barcelona. He's most known for leading the jazz-funk Funk Engine collaborating with artists such as Indigenous rapper DOBBY and soul singer Pat Powell. He was also a founding member and composer of the jazz cross-over group Elysian Fields working with Matt Keegan, Matt McMahonn and Dave Goodman.

https://events.humanitix.com/the-sp-7

EK & the EkstraOrdinaires brings the boogie to Kalyx in Randwick! 3 horns, bass and drums playing a fun mix of Afrobeat, Latin, Ska, Jazz and Klezmer.

https://events.humanitix.com/ek-and-ekstra-ordinaires-wednesdays-jazz

It’s that time again! Come have a boogie and a delicious bevvie at the Caterpillar Club! Free entry and funky vibes.

An evening of three enthralling improvised sets by three multi-faceted local and international duos:

Venus Observed: Clayton Thomas (bass) + Phoebe Bognár (flutes) 
A duo of dynamic energy, sonic playfulness and honed skills. It is a rare orbit to find them in Australia at the same time!

James Morley (cello) + Mikołaj Rytowski (drums)
Pulsating rhythms and infectious energy, the Basel-based performers give their Australian debut as a duo.

Elizabeth Jigalin (keyboards + objects) + Ellen Kirkwood (trumpet +objects)

Concocting curiosity and stimulating the senses, Liz and Ellen come together to present their sonic playground. 

https://events.humanitix.com/two-two-two