It’s a familiar story to South Australian music fans—international acts visit Australia for a three-city tour and Adelaide misses out. It’s happening again this June long weekend, but with one important difference: the three cities are Melbourne, Sydney and . . . Mount Barker!
Hoot! Adelaide Hills Jazz Festival – Mount Barker has posted its program online ahead of its official release on April 13, and it contains a few surprises.
In revamping the long-running Mount Barker JazzFest, organisers have moved the event to the Queen’s birthday long weekend in June, allowing them to work with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival to bring some significant international acts to the Adelaide Hills for the first time.
Three of the jazz world’s most respected performers —Dr Lonnie Smith (USA), Eli Degibri (Israel) and Tarbaby (USA)—add a dose of international credibility to the festival, which also includes a diverse and vibrant lineup of local and interstate artists.
“Jazz is a living art form, not a historical relic,” says Festival Director Mikyla Gilbert. “It’s exciting and relevant, and that’s reflected in the program for Hoot! There really is something for everyone, whether you’re a jazz tragic or just want to introduce yourself to the excitement of live music. We’re very excited about this important addition to the cultural calendar of our region.”
In addition to the international headline acts, Hoot! will feature performances from some much-loved stalwarts of the Adelaide music scene, such as Etypejazz, The Mike Stewart Big Band and Andy Seymour, as well as some newer arrivals like The Jazz Hop Experiment and Bottleneck.
The Mount Barker Town Hall is being made over into a jazz club for the weekend, and other venues range from historic Auchendarroch House to intimate cafes, with some quirky options including a cheese cellar, bowling green, vintage trains and even a funeral parlour.
Tickets go on sale through Ticketek on April 13, so check the program and plan your Hoot! weekend. Remember, the intimate venues chosen for Hoot! have limited capacity, so book early to avoid disappointment.
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