Thanks to its countless clubs that offer live jazz concerts all year-round, Melbourne has always had a thriving jazz and soul scene. But what really sets it apart from other Australian cities is the annual Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Now in its 29th year, the country’s largest jazz festival is showcasing both established and emerging musicians from Melbourne and around the world through both ticketed and free performances this year.
From street parades to high-energy free shows at Fed and Prahran Square, this yea’rs free jazz and soul concerts invite music lovers of all ages to discover new artists and soak up the atmosphere without breaking the bank. And for those that just can’t get enough of these two genres, The Jazz Room is celebrating the Prince of Soul on 22 October in Brunswick.
Brunswick Ballroom
Free jazz concerts and events at Melbourne International Jazz Festival
Melbourne International Jazz Festival returns this October for 10 days of live music across the city. From 16-25 October, you can experience world-class jazz at major venues, including Hamer Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Among big names like The Teskey Brothers, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Fred Wesley & The New JBs, you can also enjoy countless free performances and street parties:
➡️Keynote Lecture: George Lewis
Acclaimed composer, trombonist, and Columbia University professor George Lewis examines the intersection of music, creative improvisation, and AI. His paper, “Is Our Machines Learning Yet?”, explores the aesthetic and technical challenges that modern machine learning poses to the art of musical improvisation.
🕒 Fri 16 Oct, 4:00pm
📍 Monash University Performing Arts Centre
➡️Second Line Street Party
The New Orleans Rebirth Brass Band makes its Australian debut leading Melbourne’s vibrant, inner-city Second Line parade along the Yarra River. Attendees are invited to wear bright clothing and beads to join the 8-piece ensemble in a spontaneous, high-energy musical march, featuring live performances from Rebirth Brass Band, BIGYUKI, and Allysha Joy.
🕒Sat 17 Oct, 1:00pm
📍Meet at Red Stair Amphitheatre, 1 Southbank Blvd, Southbank
➡️Jazz Legends on Film
This double feature celebrates the revolutionary artistry and lasting impact of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. The special screening pairs a rare 1965 performance by Coltrane’s classic quartet with an acclaimed documentary charting Davis’s life and musical influence. Together, these films honour two great jazz icons that forever changed the genre.
🕒 Sat 17 Oct, 7:30pm
📍 Free Jazz at Fed Square
➡️Soul Screening
Fed Square is hosting a free screening of Pixar’s animated film Soul (2020), directed by Pete Docter. The movie follows middle-school music teacher Joe Gardner (voiced by Jamie Foxx) as he travels to another realm and discovers the true meaning of having soul. But the real highlight of the film is the Oscar-winning jazz score by Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross.
🕒Sun 18 Oct, 3:00pm
📍Fed Square
➡️Footscray Sunday Sessions
Taking over Footscray’s local watering holes across two Sundays, this community bar crawl delivers refreshing drinks alongside free live performances, from traditional swing and soul to contemporary Afro-diasporic rhythms.
🕒 Sun 18 Oct, 2:00pm – Sun 25 Oct, 2:00pm
📍Various Footscray Venues
➡️Circadian Rhythms
Led by Lauchy Daff, this event offers a glimpse into the crazy world of improvised jazz. The band rotates week to week and there is no setlist. Nothing is rehearsed, it’s just music literally created in real time.
🕒 Mon 19 Oct, 7:00pm
📍 Wax Music Lounge
➡️Toff Tuesdays: Jazz Club
The evening moves from soul and Arabic house beats courtesy of Antwin & Friends to spontaneous live sets by the Melbourne Improv Collective. Backed by seamless genre-blending tracks from DJ Colette between acts, the local ensemble showcases a mix of jazz fusion, funk, and experimental grooves.
🕒Tue 20 Oct, 9:00pm
📍THE TOFF
➡️Inside Out: Jump, Jive, Jazz
Have you got a kid who loves music? Inside Out blends live jazz with hands-on artistic exploration to ignite young imaginations. Designed for kids aged 2-7, they can collaborate using colorful materials to build cushion play spaces, translate musical sounds into drawings, and more.
🕒Thurs 22 Oct – Sun 25 Oct 10:30AM – 12:30PM
📍ArtPlay
➡️Jazz Upstairs
This free biweekly series from Solace Bar is known for improvised setlists and drawing energetic crowds. Located in Melbourne’s CBD, the event acts as a primary launchpad for the city’s top emerging improvisational talent.
🕒Thu 22 Oct, 9:00pm
📍Solace Bar
➡️Free Jazz at Prahran Square
Prahran Square plays host to a massive free afternoon event featuring a vibrant mix of jazz, soul, and Afrobeat. Its lineup includes DJ MzRizk spinning high-energy global grooves, the Melbourne Conservatorium Big Band performing modern classics, and soul-psychedelia outfit Owelu Dreamhouse.
🕒Sat 24 Oct, 1:00pm
📍Prahran Square
➡️Jazz at the Stables
Set in a charming heritage landmark, the historic Crown Street Stables hosts a free afternoon of outdoor jazz, improvisation, and sound exploration. You can bring a picnic blanket and relax in the open space while discovering a variety of live musical performances. The featured lineup includes sets from both the Slow Poke trio and the Emma Gilmartin Quartet.
🕒Sat 24 Oct, 12:00pm
📍Crown Street Stables
➡️Prahran Market Pop-up
Another Prahran Market event, the Saturday showcase features global fusion vocalist Priscilla Stanley alongside classic standards from the student-led New Day Trio. On the other hand, Sunday keeps the energy going with neo-soul singer Lani Zimmer, followed by a collaborative set from rising local talents Fraillon, Handoyo, Halliday, and McLaren.
🕒 Sat 24 Oct, 11:00am – Sun 25 Oct, 11:00am
📍Market Square at Prahran Market
➡️Sound Walks
If you’re looking for something a bit more dynamic, this guided walking tour invites participants to experience the acoustic environment of Moonee Valley through deep listening, taking in sounds ranging from local birdlife to neighborhood activity. Keep in mind that the event requires advance registration due to limited capacity.
🕒Sat 24 Oct, 12:00pm – Sun 25 Oct, 11:00am
📍Crown Street Stables and Valley Lake
