Concerts to jazz up Botanic Gardens

THE music series at the Geelong Botanic Gardens will return for a fourth year and present its biggest line up yet, featuring The Syncopators, Hot Club Swing and The Suspects.

Geelong Jazz Soirees Summer Series has run annually at the Geelong Botanic Gardens since 2021 and has grown to become one of regional Victoria’s biggest jazz festivals, attracting upwards of 1,800 patrons from across Victoria each year.

“These concerts have become a Geelong tradition. After people attend once, we find they return year after year. It’s just a really great afternoon in a superb setting,” organiser Callum Watson said.

Headliners in 2024 are Australian jazz stars The Syncopators, who will be performing the second concert on February 10 at 2.30pm.

The award-winning group, with 18 European concert tours, one LP and 18 CDs under their belt, are recognised by critics and peers alike as among the very best in Australia.

Trombonist Chris Ludowyk founded the band – originally known as Society Syncopators – in 1984, and the group has performed at most major jazz and performing arts festivals in Australia and some of the most prestigious international jazz festivals.

They have featured in two movies, on live TV concerts and entertained at countless corporate functions over its 40-year existence – a record for an active Australian jazz group. The Syncopators’ performance is bound to be a highlight of the series.

The first concert will feature Geelong jazz legends Hot Club Swing, performing on February 3 at 2.30pm.

This group have just passed a significant milestone birthday of 25 years, having entertained audiences at leading festivals such as Port Fairy Music Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival and the National Jazz Convention across this time.

Hot Club Swing performs a unique style of 1930s French gypsy jazz, drawing their influences from an exotic range of music from Latin America, swing and Eastern Europe and creating a style described by the band as “eloquently French, starkly rustic or romantically gypsy”.

The series will finish with a bang with crowd favourites The Suspects returning to perform on February 17 at 2.30pm.

The multi-generational band delighted crowds in 2021 performing their extensive repertoire of jazz, soul, gospel, country, Americana, R&B – whatever feels good.

Vocals are a real strength of the group, with rich harmonies and a variety of singers. Rarely does anyone sing two songs in a row.

The Suspects have a strong following and are a mainstay of Prahran Market music program.

Discount early bird tickets are on sale now from just $13.50 until the end of the year.

To view the February 2024 program and to purchase tickets, head to geelongjazz.com