Wellington Jazz Festival

Wellington Jazz Festival Wellington Jazz Festival Grab a cosy booth or head onto the dance floor at some of the capital’s favourite music venues, bars and eateries. 25-29 October 2023

The annual Wellington Jazz Festival is a highlight of Aotearoa’s mid-winter music calendar, featuring some of the finest musicians from across New Zealand and around the globe.

These gigs are taking you somewhere a little different.Discover music in venues that don’t usually host jazz. Expect u...
08/09/2026

These gigs are taking you somewhere a little different.

Discover music in venues that don’t usually host jazz. Expect unexpected spaces, fresh sounds, and a few surprises along the way 🏩➡️

Tickets available at jazzfestival.nz 🎫

Happy spring, everybody! After a wild weather day yesterday, let's all be happy there's a little more sunshine now, and ...
08/09/2026

Happy spring, everybody! After a wild weather day yesterday, let's all be happy there's a little more sunshine now, and celebrate by going to the jazz gigs around town ☀️😝 As always, add any missed gigs in the comments 👇

🦋 Wednesday 9 September
5.30pm - Mark Lockett Trio Live At 5 Wednesdays at Cable Top Eatery
8pm - Swing Jazz Jam at The Undercurrent
8pm - Eyegum Free Wednesdays with Evie Bamford + Emily Alice

🦋 Thursday 10 September
7pm - Capital Blues Presents: Shaken not Stirred - Guitar Riffs are Forever at Lynott's Irish Bar
8pm - Rory Johns and The Mystic at Rogue & Vagabond

🦋 Friday 11 September
9pm - The New Zealand Swing Quartet - Music of New Orleans at Rogue & Vagabond

🦋 Saturday 12 September
3pm - As Bambas Do Samba at The Undercurrent
9.30pm - Sam Fowles And The Experience at Rogue & Vagabond

🦋 Sunday 13 September
3.30pm - Sunday Jazz Ft. Organ Trio at The Undercurrent
5pm - Sunday Jazz - Double Take at Rogue & Vagabond

🦋 Monday 14 September
6pm - Jazz Mondays at The Bridge Bar and Restaurant

Pictured: Sunday Jazz Ft. Organ Trio at The Undercurrent (Sun 13 Sep, 3.30pm).

Join Miles Crayford (organ), Nick Granville (guitar) and Mike Jensen (drums) for an afternoon of original tunes and jazz standards, brought to life through the classic Hammond organ/guitar trio. As established Wellington jazz musicians, expect a funky, groove-driven set filled with in-the-moment improvisation, swinging melodies, and plenty of musical interplay.

07/09/2026

Before the Mercury Prize, international stages and acting stints on 'Dune' and 'The Gentlemen' season 2, there was a young musician busking in the Paris Métro.

Today, Benjamin Clementine is one of contemporary music's most distinctive voices, an artist who moves effortlessly between piano, jazz, classical, experimental pop and poetry.

This October, discover what happens when Benjamin Clementine brings his extraordinary musical world to Te Whanganui-a-Tara at the 30th anniversary of the Wellington Jazz Festival.

Benjamin Clementine - Back to Basics Tour
📆Opera House on Sat 17 Oct, 7.30pm.
🎫 jazzfestival.nz/benjaminclementine

🎞 NPR Tiny Desk Concerts

One, two, three, FOUR... it's QUARTET time 🎺🎹🥁🎻 count your blessings, there are so many fabulous quartets in the City Li...
07/09/2026

One, two, three, FOUR... it's QUARTET time 🎺🎹🥁🎻 count your blessings, there are so many fabulous quartets in the City Line-up!

Get your tickets to these four-tastic events at jazzfestival.nz 🎫

🎶 Free Festival Warm-Up: Faleatua/Palencia Quartet
Samoan jazz pianist Andrew Faleatua and Malaysian-born songstress Mia Palencia join forces for a special new collaboration.
Wed 14 Oct, 5.30pm | Opera House (foyer)

🎶 Cumulonimbus Quartet – Jazz at St Michael's
Saxophonist Hayden Hockly performs a set of tunes inspired by the elements.
Wed 14 Oct, 6pm | St Michael's Church

🎶 The Juice Quartet
High energy quartet jazz with original and arranged tunes.
Wed 14 Oct, 10pm | The Library Bar

🎶 Tim Honiss Quartet - featuring Sylvester Green
A new set of original jazz tunes from Tim Honiss.
Thu 15 Oct, 6pm | Vogelmorn Upstairs

🎶 Pōneke La Pompe – Jazz Manouche a la hot club
1930s smoky Parisian jazz.
Thu 15 Oct, 7pm | Superfina

🎶 CHOPS
Energetic, groove-driven jazz fusion quartet.
Thu 15 Oct, 7.30pm | Havana Bar

🎶 The Lily Shaw Quartet
Saxophonist and vocalist Lily Rose Shaw presents original vocal jazz compositions.
Thu 15 Oct, 8.30pm | Bedlam & Squalor

🎶 B.R.O.A.T. Quartet – An Evening of Clowncore
Pop and rock-infused jazz music.
Thu 15 Oct, 9.30pm | The Undercurrent

🎶 Voyage Into the Abyssal Plain: Jake Baxendale and friends (AUS/NZ)
A quartet of immense talent from Sydney and Wellington.
Fri 16 Oct, 5.30pm | Bedlam & Squalor

🎶 Northern Skies Project
A tribute to the sounds and scapes of Northern Europe.
Fri 16 Oct, 6pm | Hamodava Cuba Street

🎶 The Iggy Nama Ruci Quartet
The Iggy Nama Ruci Quartet brings a fresh and powerful presence with interesting musical ideas through composition and improvisation.
Fri 16 Oct, 6.30pm | The Undercurrent

🎶 ISKRA
Two sets of high energy horn led jazz and dance music.
Fri 16 Oct, 8pm | Superfina

🎶 Alex Trask Quartet
Exploring iconic tunes from Broadway and beyond.
Fri 16 Oct, 10pm | The Library Bar

🎶 The Juice Quartet
The Juice Quartet play jazz standards and originals inspired by Thelonius Monk, Ahmad Jamal and Sonny Rollins.
Sat 17 Oct, 3pm | Gibbons Hotel

🎶 Scofield Synergy – Featuring Hilmar Backer
A high-energy jazz quartet channelling the groove-rich sound of John Scofield.
Sat 17 Oct, 3pm | Seatoun Bowling Club

🎶 Frank Talbot and his Franktastic Four
Saxophone-led jazz backed by some of New Zealand's finest players.
Sat 17 Oct, 5pnm | Lynott's Irish Bar

🎶 The Genesis Quartet “+1” (With special guest Ethan King)
A mixed bag of jazz standards and original compositions, by up-and-coming jazz musicians.
Sat 17 Oct, 6.30pm | The Undercurrent

🎶 The Ben Wilcock Quartet
A fresh take on the avant-garde of contemporary jazz playing material from Wilcock's recorded output and more.
Sat 17 Oct, 7pm | Rogue & Vagabond

🎶 Ballads and Blues – Standards and pop songs reimagined
Reimagined and reharmonised jazz standards and pop ballads.
Sat 17 Oct, 8pm | The Undercurrent

🎶 Jazz Brunch at The Cossie – Featuring the Carter Parker Quartet
Jazz brunch accompanied by a live jazz quartet.
Sun 18 Oct, 12pm | Arcadia @ The Cossie

🎶 Ella Sophie Quartet
Classic jazz and bossa nova vocals for a swinging Sunday afternoon.
Sun 18 Oct, 3.30pm | The Undercurrent

🎶 Northern Skies Project
Spacious, meditative jazz inspired by Northern European soundscapes.
Sun 18 Oct, 3.30pm | Cuba Street Tavern

🎶 Sunday Jazz at The Bridge – with the Hornett Quartet
Relaxed, easy-going jazz to wind down the weekend.
Sun 18 Oct, 4pm | The Bridge Bar and Restaurant

🎶 Hot Ostrich Quartet
Fiery original compositions and freewheeling improvisation.
Sun 18 Oct, 5pm | The Library Bar

🎶 Hepster Quartet vs The Undercurrent
An evening of swinging classic tunes and original piano-led compositions.
Sun 18 Oct, 8pm | The Undercurrent

These gigs feature tunes you know and love – but with a jazz twist! Perfect to bring your jazz-skeptical friends to, whe...
04/09/2026

These gigs feature tunes you know and love – but with a jazz twist! Perfect to bring your jazz-skeptical friends to, where they no doubt will exclaim: ‘Hey, I know that song!” 😈

Get your tickets at jazzfestival.nz 🎫 link in bio.

🎶 East Side Jive
A fusion of jazz, blues, jive and swing with classic rock and pop tunes.
Thu 15 Oct, 7.30pm | Thistle Inn

🎶 Set Fire to the Brass - Joanna Darling
Adele’s iconic hits meet well-loved jazz standards in a night that blends all.
Thu 15 & Fri 16 Oct, 8pm | The Opera House

🎶 All Jazzed Up - Reimagined Pop Rock Hits & Jazz Classics
Classics hits performed with a jazzy twist in a harbourside gallery.
Fri 16 Oct, 7pm | Alfred Memelink Artspace Gallery

🎶 The Zimmermans Play the Songs of Bob Dylan
Sing and sway along to the music of Bob Dylan played by a eight-piece band. 
Fri 16 Oct, 7.30pm | Gibbons Hotel

🎶 Blues Brothers Revival – Featuring Eugene Wolfin
Dance to tracks from both movies – sung by Eugene Wolfin.
Fri 16 Oct, 7.30pm | Southern Cross Bar

🎶 Wallace Sings Music from the Movies
Wallace presents songs from The Wizard of Oz, Singing in the Rain, Some Like It Hot, Sabrina and more.
Fri 16 Oct, 8.30pm | Bedlam & Squalor

🎶 Y2K Throwback: Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun - The Lowkeys
A bold reimagining of Erykah Badu’s ‘Mama’s Gun’.
Fri 16 Oct, 9pm | Havana Bar

🎶 Alex Trask Quartet
Exploring iconic tunes from Broadway and beyond.
Fri 16 Oct, 10pm | Library Bar

🎶 Ballads and Blues – Standards and pop songs reimagined
Reimagined and reharmonised jazz standards and pop ballads.
Sat 17 Oct, 8pm | The Undercurrent

🎶 The CS House Band
Funky, familiar covers flipped into fresh reinterpretations.
Sun 18 Oct, 3.30pm | Hamodava Cuba Street

🎶 TomTom and the Groove-Daddies
Hits from The Beatles, The Killers, The Rolling Stones and more.
Sun 18 Oct, 3.30pm | Lynott’s Irish Bar

🎶 Avatar - Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute
A high-energy tribute to funk and soul legends Earth, Wind & Fire with support from Monolithic.
Sun 18 Oct, 5.30pm | San Fran

🎶 Chelsea Prastiti plays Disney with strings
Prastiti performs music from favourites Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland and more, backed by a jazz combo.
Sun 18 Oc

Moe mai rā Cassandra Wilson We are saddened by the passing of jazz artist, singer and celebrated icon, Cassandra Wilson....
03/09/2026

Moe mai rā Cassandra Wilson

We are saddened by the passing of jazz artist, singer and celebrated icon, Cassandra Wilson. "Her sound, story and impact on the world of music was profound and framed with the intelligence and beauty of the sounds and stories she rendered and interpreted. A genre defying weaver of sound, Cassandra Wilson created blends and bonds between popular music and the jazz idiom," says Tama Waipara, Festival Co-Director.

Wilson performed in the 2013 Wellington Jazz Festival to a packed Opera House audience. "It's a long way. I remember you all were very nice last time so we're expecting a lot of old and new fans and we're expecting a great audience. You were great last time. And we're gonna be great. So you all need to be great too. We're gonna do a bunch of things from all across my career so we hope you all enjoy it" - Wilson to The Post, 2013

📷 Press photo, 2013

Let’s start off our City Line-Up showcases with something... big 👀 BIG BANDS! 🎺 Along with GRAMMY Award-winning Rebirth ...
03/09/2026

Let’s start off our City Line-Up showcases with something... big 👀 BIG BANDS! 🎺 Along with GRAMMY Award-winning Rebirth Brass Band, swipe to see who else is BIG ➡️

Go to these gigs for an unapologetically HUGE time. Get your tickets at jazzfestival.nz 🎫 link in bio.

🎶 Free Festival Warm-Up: Capital City Big Band: TNT!
A bilingual musical collaboration that brings together the explosive power of big band jazz and the rich storytelling of te ao Māori.
Sun 20 Sep, 11am | Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library

🎶 The Max Horn Big Band
Powerful original big band music.
Wed 14 Oct, 5pm | Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant

🎶 Music of Aotearoa – Aotearoa Jazz Orchestra
Eight NZ composers debut big band works.
Wed 14 Oct, 6pm | Meow Nui

🎶 The Biggest Big Big Band Bash - The Big Boy Band
Seth Boy and his marvellous band.
Fri 16 Oct, 6pm | Thistle Hall

🎶 The Biggest Big Big Band Bash - Vadim Fong’s Fongchestra
Vadim Fong presents his full 18-piece big band.
Fri 16 Oct, 7.15pm | Thistle Hall

🎶 Blues Brothers Revival – Featuring Eugene Wolfin
Dance to tracks from both movies – sung by Eugene Wolfin.
Fri 16 Oct, 7.30pm | Southern Cross Garden Bar and Restaurant

🎶 TNT! - A Te Reo Māori project featuring Lisa Tomlins
The explosive power of big band jazz meets waiata Māori. 
Fri 16 Oct, 8pm | Hannah Playhouse

🎶 The Biggest Big Big Band Bash – The Max Horn Big Band
Compositions written and performed by some of the best young musicians from over Aotearoa.
Fri 16 Oct, 9.15pm | Thistle Hall

🎶 The Biggest Big Big Band Bash – The Monkey’s Mystery
The Wellington debut of the national young jazz powerhouse.
Fri 16 Oct, 10.30pm | Thistle Hall

🎶 Shake-’em-On-Downers
Ripping-hot swing music, new music, and custom b**r from Abandoned Brewery.
Sat 17 Oct, 6pm | San Fran

🎶 Capital City Big Band Back at Seatoun
Classic big band swing and danceable hits.
Sat 17 Oct, 7.30pm | Seatoun Bowling Club

🎶 Wellington Youth All Stars with Lana Law
Jazz standards and vocal jazz from a youth big band directed by Lana Law.
Sun 18 Oct, 3pm | Seatoun Bowling Club

🎉 CITY LINE-UP OUT NOW 🎉 Celebrate 30 years of bringing the world of jazz and beyond to Te Whanganui-a-Tara, with the 18...
01/09/2026

🎉 CITY LINE-UP OUT NOW 🎉 Celebrate 30 years of bringing the world of jazz and beyond to Te Whanganui-a-Tara, with the 180+ events filling the Capital from 14-18 Oct!

Expect an extraordinary mix of jazz, soul, funk, blues, brass and contemporary sounds, with acclaimed Aotearoa artists, emerging talent, album releases, late-night sessions and special performances taking over venues across the city. Soak up the Festival atmosphere, follow the music and discover something unexpected around every corner. The City Line-up is your invitation to experience Wellington in full swing.

Full line-up at jazzfestival.nz 🔗

It's almost that time of year again, the City Line-up for the 2026 Wellington Jazz Festival is out TOMORROW! Scrub up on...
01/09/2026

It's almost that time of year again, the City Line-up for the 2026 Wellington Jazz Festival is out TOMORROW! Scrub up on your jazz and head to the below gigs this week - special shout out to the incredible Great Sounds Great festival from Eyegum Music Collective that is taking over town this Friday and Saturday🎉

🐱 Wednesday 2 September
5.30pm - Live At 5 Wednesdays April Phillips at Cable Top Eatery
8pm - Back Pocket Debut Gig at Valhalla

🐱 Thursday 3 September
7pm - Capital Blues presents: The Chess Tones at Lynott's Irish Pub
7pm - Hiatus Kaiyote at Meow Nui

🐱 Friday 4 September
From 7.30pm - THE NIGHT BEFORE (Great Sounds Great) - Various venues in Newtown
8pm - Katelyn Henshall EP Release With Jeline And Ari Leason at Vogelmorn Upstairs
9.30pm - Bojack Funkman at Rogue and Vagabond

🐱 Saturday 5 September
From 3pm - GREAT SOUNDS GREAT - Multiple venues across the Cuba Street precinct
5pm - Jan Preston Boogie Duo at Days Bay Pavilion

🐱 Sunday 6 September
2pm - Sunday jazz Club: Lockie Bennett and his crew at Parrotdog Bar
3.30pm - Sunday Jazz Ft. Tandrom Trio at The Undercurrent
4pm - Jan Preston Boogie Duo at St Peters Hall, Paekakariki
5pm - Sunday Jazz - Miles Crayford at Rogue and Vagabond

Pictured: Sunday Jazz - Miles Craford at Rogue and Vagabond - Free entry, koha encouraged.

The Rogue's regular Sunday afternoon jazz. Funky, jazzy, soulful jazz. B**r, hangs, and jazz, on a Sunday, perfect! This week featuring local organist Miles Crayford and his quartet.

Miles Crayford is a jazz organist playing a mix of jazz standards, tunes by Hammond organ legend Jimmy Smith, and a few original compositions. Expect plenty of improvisation, soulful organ sounds, and a laid-back set that draws on classic jazz with a touch of funk.

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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