Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2018

Overview

Sound the trumpets and let the good times roll, because the Melbourne International Jazz Festival is back. Bustling into town for the first ten days of June, this year's festival will see more than 100 events (and 400 musicians) pop up around the city.

As expected, the 2018 program is packed to the brim with concerts, workshops, panels and late-night jams. Standout guests include American saxophonist Maceo Parker, who'll join forces with Melbourne's own soul-jazz-blues outfit The Meltdown in a special tribute to the music of Ray Charles, and French-American jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux, who's been hailed as an heir apparent to the legendary Billie Holiday.

Most events are ticketed, but there is a decent amount free gigs happening at bars and public spaces around the city. If this is your first Jazz Fest, this is a good way to dip your toe into the musical pool.

Amateur musicians can also take part in the fittingly named Jazz Massive, where members of the public will be invited to join players from the Horns of Leroy, Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Papa Chango on the lawn outside the State Library. BYO instrument.