Summer Jazz Revives Garden Evenings

The Geelong Botanic Gardens will once again become a vibrant cultural gathering place this month as the much-loved summer jazz concert series returns, transforming the historic landscape into an open-air stage for live music. The programme features three family-friendly evening concerts that celebrate jazz in its many forms, from buoyant swing rhythms to the expansive sound of big band arrangements. Organisers say the series aims to blend accessible, high-quality live performance with the relaxed pleasure of outdoor summer evenings, encouraging audiences of all ages to experience jazz in an informal, welcoming setting.

The series opens on 14 February with Melbourne-based veterans The Pearly Shells, a group widely respected for their energetic stagecraft and dance-inflected interpretations of classic jazz and swing repertoire. Formed in Melbourne around three decades ago, the band has built a reputation for musical versatility and collaborative spirit, having performed alongside many of Australia’s most prominent jazz musicians over the years. Their concerts frequently feature guest vocalists drawn from the country’s best-known performers, adding variety and theatrical flair to each appearance.

For this performance, bandleader and double bassist Steve Purcell has confirmed that the ensemble will appear in its “Hot Seven” configuration. This format combines the group’s customary rhythm section with three horn players, creating a fuller, more resonant sound than a standard small combo. According to Purcell, the presence of multiple horns changes the entire dynamic of a live performance, lending the music a punchy, celebratory character that commands attention and draws audiences into the rhythm of the set. While not quite the scale of a full big band, the arrangement offers many of the same sonic thrills, particularly in an outdoor setting where brass and reeds can carry across the gardens.

The programme continues on 22 February with the Surf Coast Big Band, an ensemble known for its large-scale arrangements and classic big band repertoire. Featuring an expanded horn section supported by a driving rhythm unit, the group specialises in recreating the exuberant sound of mid-twentieth-century dance orchestras while incorporating contemporary influences. The series concludes on 28 February with Bob Sedergreen & Friends, led by the esteemed pianist whose long career has made him a familiar and respected figure in Australian jazz. Their performance is expected to focus on more intimate jazz forms, highlighting improvisation, subtle harmonic interplay and the warmth of small-ensemble collaboration.

Beyond the music itself, the organisers emphasise the broader cultural value of the series. By presenting live jazz in a relaxed outdoor environment, the programme seeks to attract both seasoned enthusiasts and newcomers who may be encountering the genre for the first time. The combination of accessible repertoire, accomplished performers and a picturesque setting has helped the concerts become a recurring highlight of the city’s summer calendar, contributing to the gardens’ role as a community hub as well as a place of botanical heritage.

Concert Schedule

With its blend of established performers, varied jazz styles and the appeal of open-air summer evenings, the Geelong Botanic Gardens concert series promises to offer both musical richness and a convivial social experience, reinforcing the city’s reputation for nurturing live music in accessible public spaces.