Venues
Venues come and go. I have a long list gathered over the years of CJ that are now defunct. Check CJGrp for gig annoucements and related locations. Otherwise, here are a few worthy locations in early-2025.
Molly Bar / Speakeasy whisky bar. Free entry. Behind the wooden door and upstairs.
Smiths Alternative / Alternative is apt. Our much-loved all-ages bohemian venue with all manner of entertainments.
ANU School of Music / The training heart of jazz in Canberra hosts jazz, classical and other musical events.
Street Theatre / Theatre complex beside ANU with a range of music and theatrical events.
Jazz Haus / Bassist Eric Ajaye's jazz series, featuring a range of visiting Australian and overseas musicians
Gang Gang Cafe / Friday evening jazz. Free entry
Blue Eyes / Frequent small ensembles. Check CJGrp for who's playing
Geoff's Jazz / Longstanding monthly jazz sessions with the best local and visiting musicians. Coordinated by poet Geoff Page at Smiths Alternative.
National Press Club / Jazz on Friday evenings
Queenies Kingston / Features regular small jazz ensembles, Wed-Sat evenings?
Tilley's Devine Cafe / The famed women's bar from Whitlam's days features Wayne Kelly Trio on Saturday nights and occasional other events. Check out the history of concerts at Tilley's!
SoundOut / Richard Kingston's annual festival of Free Jazz and Experimental Music, first weekend of Feb each year at the Drill Hall Gallery and occasional revisits during the year
Hippo Bar / Longstanding music venue under different names, jazz on Wed nights?
Tuggeranong Arts Centre / A range of musics including monthly Fri night jazz and Eric Ajaye's monthly Jazz Haus.
Other musics, perhaps of interest?
Here are a few interesting venues/events that I can think of offhand... And not to forget the national institutions. Note that many are closed over Christmas/NY period
Canberra Symphony Orchestra / Our local pro orchestra
National Capital Orchestra / Our best local community orchestra, very worthy
Musica da Camera Canberra / String orchestra, again worthy
Wesley Music Centre / An intermediate-sized venue with several classical and related concert every week.
Canberra Blues Society / Monthly jams at the Harmonie German Club
Harmony German Club / For a string of tribute bands amongst strippers and CBS and more
Transit Bar / Catch all manner of younger musics here
Canberra International Music Festival / Our annual classical-cum-inventive music festival
And our local jazz radio
ArtSound FM92.7 / Canberra's community music radio station including broadcasts of local jazz and classical concerts. Listen to Friday Night Live with Chris Deacon (Fridays, 8-10pm) for local live jazz concert recordings.