Original jazz and improvised music every Monday Night.  Intimate, personal, revealing.  Come listen to sinful musicians confess all. 😉 

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(Doors open at 7.30pm)

Following a recent New Zealand tour, ARIA-nominated ALLY returns to Sydney to workshop new material for an upcoming album. Bringing together leading Australian jazz, Afro-Latin and world music artists, the group moves between Afro-Peruvian festejo and landó, Cuban son and rumba, Andalusian traditions and contemporary jazz. The ensemble features Gai Bryant, James Greening, Ed Goyer, Giorgio Rojas and Dave Quinn. Since 2021, ALLY has toured Australia and internationally, appeared at Germany’s Enjoy Jazz Festival, and collaborated with Grammy-nominated Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca and Afro-Dominican musicians Josean Jacobo and Otoniel Nicolas.  (Doors open at 7pm)

VIDEO OF ALLY HERE

SOLD OUT.  Australian Songwriter of the Year 2020 and ARIA Award winners Beautifully Mad present a rare concert with their full band: Nina Vox on lead vocals, Tony King on vocals and guitar, Bill Risby on piano, Natalie Risby and Lalo Risby on bass, Hamish Stuart on drums, and Craig Walters on saxophone. Their original music blends the beauty of James Taylor, Melody Gardot’s honey, Cohen’s lyrical spice and Waits-like humour, creating a musical flame that licks at the heels of folk and jazz. Expect captivating voices, masterful musicianship and heartfelt songs shaped by lives fully lived, loved, lost and laughed through. “Great songwriting!” declared Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers, while filmmaker Bob Connolly described them as “engaging, incredibly versatile and inventive, an altogether class act.”

8pm, South African-Australian composer Sonia De Freitas joins trailblazing Australian-British composer and multi-instrumentalist Keyna Wilkins for original piano duets inspired by nature and philosophy, alongside reimagined pop classics including Radiohead’s “Exit Music”. Both acclaimed collaborators and radio presenters, they unite creativity, inclusion and genre-bending musical exploration.
8.30pm, composer and vocalist Jenna Cave presents Heart Songs with pianist Matt McMahon and saxophonist Paul Cutlan. Drawing on grief, healing and hope, the trio performs deeply personal songs following Cave’s ABC Jazz-produced 2024 album, Grief, Hope, Love. (Doors open at 7.30pm).  

Isoeleh's debut EP launch 'Romance Is Dead' is a dark electronic pop offering with material fine tuned through music production study over the last four years. Featuring multi-instrumentalist Michelle Lonsdale on synth and background vocals for this exclusive launch performance, this their debut. Fusing genres and aesthetics such as New Wave, Goth, Experimental and Folk, this EP is an original exploration of dating, camp, whimsy and yearning as well as current gender politics. Opening act Grassuke is an acoustic/folk singer songwriter who has spent their life moving audiences with their voice and guitar skills. Returning to their birth city after a tumultuous youth abroad, they're in Sydney determined to pick up the pieces of their story and build something beautiful and vulnerable to share with the world. (Doors open at 6.30pm)

Celebrate the talent, dedication and individuality of Excelsia’s graduating musicians. Across two afternoons of live music, our students will present programmes that reflect their musical influences, creativity and developing artistic voices. Join friends, family, fellow students and music lovers in supporting these emerging artists as they share the music they have worked so passionately to bring to the stage. Whether you’re cheering on someone you know or discovering new talent, we’d love you to be part of this celebration.

Saturday 14 - Featuring Tapendra Tikathari, Nhu-Y Nguyen, Joe Oubridge and Bolor.

Saturday 21 - Featuring Naran Rawal, Mark Chua Lord and Zahra Panahiasad.

(Doors open 1pm)

Jessica Scott and Nathaniel Kong presents a musically evocative and diverse exploration of the flute repertoire from 20th century French, to modern local Australian and tango by Piazzolla. Wander through impressionistic colours, nature-inspired reflections to jazz improvisations and rhythms. Join us for an afternoon of showpieces that capture the vibrant colours of the flute's versatility and flair.

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Works by Louis Ganne / Pierre Sancan / Rosalind Carlson / Carolyn Morris // Kerin Bailey / Astor Piazzolla / Valerie Coleman
 

(Doors open at 2:30)

Established young Jazz guitarist DOM ROCHE is joined by three of Sydney’s best jazz musicians in Freddie Stafford, Alex Young and Phil Stack, as they explore the swinging setting of Jazz guitar quartet. Centred in the bebop & swing tradition, the group will be playing a curated mixture of American Songbook tunes, famous Jazz compositions & some of Dom's originals.  A must watch for all Jazz lovers in Sydney!!!

(Doors at 7pm)

Steve Sedergreen is one of Melbourne’s most respected jazz identities. Over the decades he has earned a formidable reputation a jazz pianist, arranger and educator. Founder of the genre-defying group Mistaken Identity, for years a powerhouse of contemporary jazz playing across the country and earning an APRA nomination. He has performed at many major festivals, curated Dizzy’s Jazz Club (1999 -2006) and mentored members of the next generation of Australian jazz talent - including members of The Cat Empire, Axle Whitehead and Paris Wells, to name a few.​

“Steve brings to every performance a spirit of inclusiveness and his focus has always been on the collective endeavour…his passion for jazz as an artform that unites, engages and entertains…” Jessica Nicholas, The Age, May 2018.  (Doors open at 7:30)

Michelle Gronich is an emerging Sydney-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her raw, expressive vocals and authentic, genre-blending storytelling. On grand piano and guitar, Michelle crafts an intimate, soulful soundscape that shifts effortlessly from classical motifs to quiet, reflective bluesy folk into sophisticated high-energy pop and jazz hooks.  As both a solo artist and a prominent creative force behind youth collective House of Monkeys, Michelle has spent years championing independent live music and performing her original material across vibrant community spaces and major cultural events. Grounded in emotional honesty, her songs unpack themes of nostalgia, connection, and the chaotic freedom of navigating young adulthood. (Doors open at 6pm)

Di Bird Sextet: "Everything I Love" is a brand new project that features the collective musical voices of six of Sydney's most experienced and groovy (!) jazz musicians. Leading the group on Vocals is Di Bird, and accompanying her are Michael Bartolomei on Piano, Cameron Reid on Drums, Craig Scott on Double Bass, Jim Pennell on Guitar and Craig Walters on Saxophone. The sextet has just finished recording the music that will be featured in the concert at Church Street's own Studio D, and a CD is in the works. We are excited to bring you some tunes that you will have heard before done in a different way; some tunes which you may never have heard; and even a sprinkling of music by Burt Bacharach presented through a jazz lens. (Doors at 7.30pm)

Join Ash Quartet for a celebration of 20th-century music, journeying from the beautiful, tumultuous sound of Benjamin Britten’s String Quartet No. 2, Op. 36 to Astor Piazzolla’s playful tango reimagining of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The program features Britten’s Allegro calmo, senza rigore; Vivace; and Chacony: sostenuto, followed by Piazzolla’s Verano Porteño, Invierno Porteño, Primavera Porteña and Otoño Porteño. Founded in 2018, this dynamic Sydney ensemble is acclaimed for its artistry and technical command across genres. Awards and scholarships have taken the quartet throughout Australia and Europe, with advanced training from the Emerson, Hagen, Jerusalem and Doric Quartets. Featuring Marrianne Liu and Eva Li on violin, Dana Lee on viola and Sebastian Mansell on cello.

Sydney-based composer and pianist Sarah Elise Thompson will be performing in her debut Australian shows in celebration of her new EP Eternal Light. Sarah will be performing an intimate, one night only performance of her music and will be joined by the Nomad String Quartet. The EP, out on Friday 16 October, features 5 inspiring, uplifting works for piano and string quartet, including singles  ‘wings’  and ‘saw you in a dream’. Sarah's compositions – often reflective and meditative – have a flowing quality that transports listeners into a peaceful, hypnotic state, exploring our deepest emotions through grief and joy and everything in between.  Sarah Elise Thompson - Piano, Meg Cohen – Violin I, Georgia Cartlidge – Violin II, Beth Condon – Viola, James Larsen – Cello.   (Doors open at 7.30pm)

Steph Russell and her all-star band present new original music from Steph's upcoming album

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(Doors at 7.30pm)

Led by ARIA Award-winning saxophonist and composer Jeremy Rose, this quartet unites pianist Steve Barry, bassist Noel Mason and drummer Alex Hirlian. Together they create lyrical, spacious acoustic jazz shaped by deep collaboration, expressive improvisation and musical storytelling. Their repertoire draws from Rose’s acclaimed albums Chiba, Sand Lines, Within and Without and Face to Face, alongside favourite standards. Conceived during lockdown, Face to Face affirms the importance of genuine connection in an increasingly isolated world. Intimate yet outward-looking, contemporary yet emotionally rich, the quartet captures the enduring power of musicians creating together with shared intent. Rhythms praised their “state-of-the-art acoustic jazz,” while Jazzwise celebrated Rose’s “buoyant invention.” (Doors open 7.30pm)

Composer Cyrus Meurant presents an evening of his music with saxophonist Andrew Smith of the Nexas Quartet. The program opens with Four Pieces for soprano saxophone and electric organ, before moving to Sortie and Distant Cities for solo piano. At its centre is the premiere of Three Poems for solo tenor saxophone, followed by Constancies, which brings Meurant and Smith together once more. Across the evening, the music moves between intimacy and intensity, solitude and connection - shaped by breath, resonance and silence.   Andrew Smith: soprano, alto and tenor saxophones. Cyrus Meurant: piano and electric organ

 “This is music that tells a story … instinctive and palpable” – Limelight

(Doors open at 7.30pm)

An intimate performance of the new single and the unreleased 'Lace' EP

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Before the 'Lace' EP is released and launched at a full band show, Gabe will be stripping the songs back and playing an intimate set with special guests to accompany. On top of the live performance Gabe will be discussing the influence and meaning for the tracks and answering any questions the audience might have about the project and the process of making it. 

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(Doors open at 1.30pm)

Back for its seventh instalment, we’re bringing together some of Australia’s finest charango players for a powerful night of live music.

From traditional sounds to contemporary expressions, experience the charango accompanied by winds, strings, percussion and vocals live at Church Street Studios.

FEATURING: HANSEL JIMENEZ, VICTOR JIMENEZ, ATILIO VILLEGAS, VALERIE RODRIGUEZ, CESAR MARIN & SPECIAL GUESTS.

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Ticket via email only.  Click here to email for Charango Sessions tickets.

(Doors open at 7.30pm)

The Risby(s)/Gander/Koopman project was formed by Lalo Risby with the intent of reintroducing the music of his Father Bill Risby, from his 1999/2000 album called ‘Falling’. Risby (senior) recorded the album with Andrew Gander and guitarist Dieter Kleemann (who co-composed a number of the tracks on the album) so it was only right that half of Andrew’s current band lock horns with a couple of Risbys (junior and senior) and create some mayhem in public… In addition to the tunes from this album, there will be a few classic fusion ‘Standards’, and some of Bill’s new compositions that are in a similar vein.  The Band: Bill Risby - Piano / Keyboards, Andrew Gander - Drums, Galileo Risby - Electric Bass, Peter Koopman - Guitar

(Doors open at 7pm)

International artists, Ayşe Göknur Shanal (voice) and Ashley Hribar (piano), join forces after five years, to present an exciting repertoire of folk songs from from heart of Anatolia. Turkish-Australian soprano Ayşe Göknur Shanal is one of our most versatile classical singers, having displayed outstanding artistry in opera, recital, oratorio as well as concert repertoire. She is also a tireless advocate for Australian composition. She has been a Dame Joan Sutherland Scholar at the Royal College of Music and an adjunct member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, New York.

(Doors open at 2.30pm)

Fri 11th SOLD OUT.  Sat 12 NOW AVAILABLE.
Over the past decade, Mark Wilkinson’s Christmas shows have become somewhat of an institution. With just his incredible voice and acoustic guitar echoing off the walls, these performances are as intimate as they are immersive. It’s a festive night where all ages are welcome, requests and singalongs are encouraged and new songs are unveiled.  ‘I love finishing the year with these shows. There’s always a super relaxed, fun vibe and it gives me a chance to thank my fans up close. I always try to mix up the sets with some deeper cuts from my catalogue and it’s the perfect opportunity to road test some brand new material.’  Tickets and always sell fast, so be sure to get in quick to secure your spot! (Doors at 7.30pm)

EXTRA SHOW - SUN 13th NOW AVAILABLE.
Over the past decade, Mark Wilkinson’s Christmas shows have become somewhat of an institution. With just his incredible voice and acoustic guitar echoing off the walls, these performances are as intimate as they are immersive. It’s a festive night where all ages are welcome, requests and singalongs are encouraged and new songs are unveiled.  ‘I love finishing the year with these shows. There’s always a super relaxed, fun vibe and it gives me a chance to thank my fans up close. I always try to mix up the sets with some deeper cuts from my catalogue and it’s the perfect opportunity to road test some brand new material.’  Tickets and always sell fast, so be sure to get in quick to secure your spot! (Doors at 7.30pm)

The pipa has carried stories for more than two thousand years. In Pipa Postcards: Sounds of Home, we hear it through the lens of today: an ancient voice reimagined in world premiere new works, fresh arrangements, improvisations and collaborations with piano and dizi. Jinqi Guo is a versatile pipa performer and educator based in Sydney. Trained at the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music in China and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, she has performed at major venues including Beijing's Great Hall of the People and Sydney Town Hall, as well as on international stages across Italy, Austria and Hungary. Special guests: Ray Lin, piano. Billy Han, dizi.

JINQI YOUTUBE

Church Street Studios are not licenced, nor serve food.  We're all about the music.

All ages (supervised) are welcome.

Click here for a list of pre & post concert sustenance:

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​​Alcohol can be brought into the venue but we prefer food consumed off site.