Valley Jazz Festival

Festival showcasing the most innovative accomplishments in Australian jazz

The Valley Jazz Festival runs for five days annually in Australia’s only live music precinct, the Fortitude Valley. With over 10,000 visitors, 250 local, regional, national and internationally acclaimed artists, it features 65 events including a public live music stage, Gala Festival Dinner, Jazz Vocalist Award Ceremony, artists workshops, emerging artists stage, the popular after party jam sessions, and the official CD and merchandise stall at the weekend Valley Markets.

In 2009, the Valley Jazz Festival commissioned four jazz composers to write jazz music to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Queensland. This was the Valley Jazz Festival’s first commissions and world premiere performances. The Valley Jazz Festival 2009 project was a discreet phase of an ongoing biennial jazz festival project, produced by Jazz Queensland Incorporated (JQ). This festival is one of JQ’s major programs of events and also a key event on the national jazz festival circuit, presented across 16 live music venues.

The event remains Brisbane’s only multi-venue jazz festival, critically focused on jazz as an art form by showcasing the most innovative accomplishments in Australian jazz and creative improvised music. The festival strives to maintain its ongoing commitment to the community through affordable ticket prices and mostly free events.

The Valley Jazz Festival was founded in 2004 by Jazz Queensland, presenting 35 bands and workshops over six days. In 2005 it presented 40 acts over 6 days, supporting local and emerging talent and provided a platform for presenting national and international artists. The festival grew in 2007 to feature 60 acts, 216 musicians and 15 venues on a program of local, interstate and, for the first time, international artists, cementing the Valley Jazz Festival as the most significant jazz event in Queensland. In 2009, the festival commissioned four jazz composers to write works to celebrate Queensland’s 150th anniversary.

Last updated by Maxine Balzat (2009-10-21)