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

Mister Ott’s residency at the groovy Caterpillar Club continues! Free entry, delicious drinks and food.

92 Pitt St, Sydney CBD.

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

Mister Ott is back at Newtown’s favourite late night live music joint, the Pleasure Club!

Free entry!

https://oddculture.group/venue/pleasure-club/

We’re continuing our monthly residency into 2025, but we’ve switched to every 1st Thursday of the month!

If you’re sad that your New Year’s festivities are over… no they’re not! Come have a boogie with us ;)

Free entry too!

Spectra Jazz Orchestra will be playing at the fabulous Jazz in the Park event at Gladstone Park in Balmain. It’ll be a glorious summertime celebration of jazz and community, and it’s free! Spectra is on at 3pm, but check out the whole schedule as incredible groups Microfiche, Jiem and the Steve Hunter Band will also be playing.

https://www.innerwest.nsw.gov.au/explore/whats-on/annual-events/jazz-in-the-park

Boogie on down to Mister Ott’s hypnotic grooves at the ultra-hip Caterpillar Club in the CBD. Free entry, tasty bevvies, tastier beats.

92 Pitt St, Sydney.

Some of your favourite local bands are coming together to support Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation).

An amazing line-up of bands are locked in to play Friday November 29th at Petersham Bowling Club:

Lord Esme, Whopping Big Naughty, On The Stoop, and The After Thoughts

18+ only.

All proceeds go to Headspace.

https://events.humanitix.com/headspace-fundraiser?hxchl=hex-pfl

Goodness gracious, three whole bands? THESE three whole bands on the one lineup? Yep.

https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/lvl-1-on-the-stoop-fabulous-contraption-dave-sattout-quartet/172180?ref=RSS_Lazyboneslounge&skin=lazybones

This will be quite an out-of-the-ordinary event. Building Song is a project that has had two previous iterations, in Camperdown and Portland. I’m honoured to be part of it this time.

The performance at midday on Saturday October 26th will be the culmination of a two week residency in which myself and a group of artist-performers of varying disciplines collaborate with the buildings and surrounding grounds at Bondi Pavillion to create an immersive work.

The performance is free to attend, however we are raising money to help make our performance memorable and our residency fruitful. To donate, and read more about the project and past performances, visit this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/building-song-bondi-pavilion