The line up for Jazz at the Lounge in Chatswood has been released for 2026 – and one of the Northern Beaches’ finest jazz musicians is on it!
The Lounge at Chatswood’s The Concourse has become known as one of Sydney’s top venues to experience live music – particularly jazz. Fans will be excited to know that Jazz At The Lounge’s 2026 program has been released, so you can now book ahead. And the Northern Beaches’ famous jazz star James Morrison is scheduled to star next month!
The 2026 Jazz at the Lounge season balances legendary artistry with fresh voices, delivering unforgettable nights of rhythm, soul, and spontaneous magic.
Audience favourites return this year, including James Morrison with Darren Percival, Simon Tedeschi, and Emma Pask, alongside jazz greats Michelle Nicolle, Paul Grabowsky and Monica Trapaga, while tributes to Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck honour the masters who shaped the music.
The refined elegance of the Peter Locke Trio featuring Kate Wadey sits alongside the vibrant energy of the Zela Margossian Quintet, the Pocket Trio, and the Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra and Spectra Jazz Orchestra, spotlighting the next generation of jazz stars.
The season crescendos with Dan Barnett’s high-octane Latin Fiesta, packed with bold brass, sizzling grooves, and infectious rhythms.
From intimate timeless standards to toe-tapping swing, Jazz at The Lounge 2026 is immediate, immersive, and vibrant – a must-see series for jazz lovers and curious newcomers alike.
“Another great gig at The Lounge, a venue which, as I have noted many times in these reviews, always seems to unerringly bring out the best in the musicians performing there.” – Sydney Arts Guide
Jazz At The Lounge 2026 Program
26 March – Zela Margossian Quintet- Launching 2026
ARIA-nominated Zela Margossian Quintet blend Armenian traditions, jazz and classical influences, touring globally, acclaimed for kaleidoscopic originality live.
“This is freshly minted contemporary jazz bursting with panache” – All About Jazz
16 April – James Morrison Quartet with Darren Percival
Following a sell-out show at The Lounge in 2025, do not miss this electrifying evening of jazz with one of Australia’s greatest musical showmen, the legendary multi-instrumentalist James Morrison. Joined on stage by the acclaimed vocalist Darren Percival.
“Electrifying, intimate, and soulful jazz experience” – Triple R Melbourne
21 May – Peter Locke Trio with special guest, Kate Wadey
Acclaimed pianist Peter Locke leads a stellar trio with Kate Wadey, delivering elegant jazz standards and originals with warmth, intimacy and sparkle.
“One of the great piano trios in Australian jazz” – Sydney Arts Guide
18 June – Michelle Nicolle & Paul Grabowsky: NOIR
Award-winning jazz singer Michelle Nicolle and acclaimed composer and pianist Paul Grabowsky unveil the hidden poetry within beloved ballads by artists such as Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter, transforming familiar melodies into haunting explorations of longing, heartbreak, and the bittersweet beauty of unrequited love.
“These superb artists made it a pleasure to escape into the shadows” – The Age
16 July – SYJO Big Band + SPECTRA Jazz Orchestra
Experience the next generation of Australia’s finest jazz players when the Sydney Youth Jazz Orchestra (SYJO) Big Band & Spectra Jazz Orchestra perform a double bill at the Lounge for a night of fun and a diverse range of jazz with an emphasis on adventurous Australian music, including music composed by their band members.
“Outstanding musicianship” Sydney Jazz Club (SYJO)
“The talent is strong with these legends” Eastside Radio (Spectra)
27 August – Blue Rhythm Band: The Duke Ellington Legacy
Extraordinary drummer and bandleader Andrew Dickeson brings his Blue Rhythm Band to The Lounge with a swinging tribute to Duke Ellington. The band draws on the traditions of Basie, Goodman, Hampton, and Lunceford, delivering authentic, toe-tapping swing.
“Perhaps the most tasteful drummer currently playing in the Sydney scene, and Dickeson’s expertise and brilliance are widely admired.” – Eric Myers
17 September – Emma Pask: High Standards
Experience the heart and soul of one of Australia’s most captivating jazz voices with award-winning vocalist Emma Pask returning to The Lounge with her Jazz Trio Band after a sellout concert in 2025.
“soulful delivery, soaring range and magnetic stage presence” – Time Out
15 October – Tedeschi/ Cutlan/ Undy: A take on Dave Brubeck
After a mesmerising performance at The Lounge in 2025, renowned classical pianist Simon Tedeschi returns with Paul Cutlan and Cameron Undy for “A take on Dave Brubeck” , celebrating Brubeck’s classical elegance, rhythmic brilliance, and timeless charm.
“An exciting tour de force… in fact all players went to town in their solos, bringing the performance to a rousing climax” – Sydney Arts Guide (2025)
19 November – Monica Trapaga and the Pocket Trio
Join Monica Trapaga and The Pocket Trio for a night of swinging jazz, good humour, and infectious energy. Together they will deliver an evening of feel-good jazz that swings hard and grooves deep, music full of life, style, and joy.
★★★★★ “Faultless Balance” – Fine Music FM
17 December – Dan Barnett Big Band: Latin Fiesta
Prepare for a night of sultry rhythms, bold brass, and irresistible grooves as The Dan Barnett Big Band brings LATIN FIESTA to The Lounge, joined by internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist and bassist Nicki Parrott. The concert also pays tribute to the masters who shaped Latin and Latin-jazz worldwide – from the poetic elegance of Antonio Carlos Jobim to the boundary-breaking spirit of Dizzy Gillespie, the vibrant rhythms championed by Poncho Sanchez, and the glamour of Xavier Cugat.
“that rarity of a real jazz singer and also boasting a trombone sound to blow your house down while dispensing wildly swinging lines.” – John Shand, SMH
Jazz At The Lounge
📍 The Concourse, 409 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood
Prices: Single Tickets Adult $52.00
Concession/Seniors Card Holder $47.00
Under 35/Junior $42.00
Adult – Premium $77.00
Concession/Seniors Card Holder – Premium $72.00
Under 35/Junior – Premium $67.00
Packages available – book a 2, 4 or 5 concert subscription and save.
Bookings: https://www.theconcourse.com.au/jazz-at-the-lounge-2026/
