Australia’s longest-running jazz festival isn’t politely sipping martinis in a velvet booth — it’s spilling out onto the streets of Manly with 70+ acts, four stages, and ten official venues. From powerhouse big bands to roving sax quartets, gospel services to after-dark jam sessions, this is three days where the Northern Beaches goes full Bourbon Street. September 19–21 is your cue to ditch the city grind, head waterside, and let Manly Jazz turn your weekend into a soundtrack.
Video
Video Credit: Northern Beaches Council - A quick hit of brass, beats and beachside vibes to set the mood.
Location
Address: The Corso, Manly NSW 2095
Website: northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au
Dates
Next Event: 19–21 September 2025
Frequency: Annual
Duration: 3 Days
Price
Free across public stages and roving performances.
Venues: walk-ins welcome, some ticketed headline shows at bars and clubs.
The BioHax Take
Forget polished recital halls — this is jazz with sand between your toes. For three days Manly turns into a sonic sprawl where Duke Ellington meets surf culture. Golden-hour sets spill across the beachfront, brass bands parade down The Corso, and hidden bars pump until late with funk, swing and improv jams. It’s democratic, it’s chaotic, and it’s very Manly. Think Newport Jazz Festival, but with better coffee and saltwater in the air.
Who It’s For
-
Weekend warriors craving live music without a mosh pit
-
Families looking for free outdoor culture with bite
-
Musos who worship swing, bebop, fusion and everything between
-
Locals who know jazz pairs best with sunshine and a cold drink
-
Travelers chasing Australia’s most iconic coastal music festival
Festival Program
Friday 19 September (not yet listed on their website)
Saturday 20 September
-
Sydney Conservatorium Big Band (11am): young guns channeling jazz greats.
-
Ten Part Invention (12.30pm): a legendary 10-piece ensemble with four decades of acclaim.
-
The Great Ladies of Jazz ft. Nicki Parrott (2pm): bass, vocals, Broadway chops and world-class swing.
-
Blue Rhythm Band (3.30pm): straight-ahead swing led by drummer Andrew Dickeson.
-
Boogaloo Biscuit (4.15pm): funky Blue Note vibes, horns blazing, shoes mandatory.
-
Craig Calhoun and the Brothers of Oz (5pm): funk bass legend delivering grooves that bite.
-
Stages & Venues: Todd Hardy Swingtet, Friends & Strangers, Nic Jeffries Quartet, Stratofibre, plus school bands at St Matthews and roving street performances from Kid Hank’s Ockerstra and The Jitterbug Club.
Sunday 21 September (Closing Day)
This is another full stage day like the 20th.
-
Beachfront Stage (11am–6pm): rotating headline acts through the day. (Council hasn’t broken out the hour-by-hour acts in the copy you shared, but structure is the same as Saturday.)
-
Sydney Road Stage (11am–6pm): parallel program with more big bands and feature ensembles.
-
Jazz Stars of the Future Stage (11am–6pm): high school and youth jazz ensembles finishing out the weekend.
-
Roving Performances (11am–6pm): Kid Hank and his Ockerstra, Sax Summit, Jitterbug Club dancers, Sentosa Trio moving through the Corso.
-
Special Feature: Sunday morning kicks off with the Gospel Jazz Service at Manly Presbyterian Church (9.30am) — Geoff Power’s New Orleans Jazz Band with full choir-style gospel.
Then the day transitions into golden-hour harbour sets (Felons Brewing with End Notes, The Cumberland speakeasy show, Ivanhoe funk, Hotel Steyne headliners) before wrapping with the Jazz Jam at The Manly Club on Gilbert Park (6–9pm).
Official Venues
Skip the main stage crowds and slip into Manly’s backbeat — the official venues. Each bar, church, and speakeasy dials up its own flavour of jazz, from waterfront brass to late-night swing. Think cocktails shaken to sax solos, gospel grooves over morning coffee, and back-alley jams that roll way past curfew. If you’re here for more than the headliners, this is where the festival gets deliciously local.
Friday 19 September
-
Hotel Steyne (from 12pm): marching bands, DJs and live musicians blending jazz, blues, house and funk.
-
Ivanhoe (from 12pm): a weekend hub for jazz, funk and blues, with Kamran, Joe Barrs and Keys by the Sea.
-
Felons Brewing (4–7pm): waterfront grooves at golden hour with Dink on stage.
-
Manly Library Open Mic (5.30–7pm): community takes the mic, 16+ performers welcome.
-
Cibaria 55 North Bar (6–9pm): Al Goodman Quartet in a chic coastal bar with an exclusive cocktail menu.
-
Henry G’s (8–11pm): Nick Howard and Lionel Robinson firing up the piano jazz late-night crowd.
Saturday 20 September
-
St Matthews Manly, Pont Hall (10am–5.30pm): community and school bands including The Combined Community Big Band, Burns Bay Big Band, Killara High, Balgowlah Boys, Mackellar Girls, Thomas Hassall, Brigidine College, Inner Sydney High, St Augustine’s College, and Killarney Heights High.
-
Hotel Steyne (from 12pm): DJs and live musicians with Noemme, Tom Southey, Mehmet (Vinyl DJ), Honeydrip, Oliver Debus, 343 Marching Band, Jensen and Jake Smith.
-
Ivanhoe (from 12pm): jazz, funk and blues with Meltia, Sam Appleby, Touch of Funk and Saturdaze.
-
InSitu (1–3pm): The Aston Martinis delivering swing, soul and vintage cool.
-
Felons Brewing Manly (4–7pm): golden-hour harbour session with Mâite Inaê.
-
New Brighton Hotel (6pm til late): David Weir Trio (The Weird Assembly) from 6–9pm, followed by late-night jams.
-
Henry G’s (4.30–11pm): Nick Howard and Lionel Robinson with a Saturday night jazz set.
Sunday 21 September
-
Manly Presbyterian Church (9.30am): Gospel/Jazz Service with Geoff Power & New Orleans Jazz Band, joined by Paul Furniss, David Saxon, Rachel Goeldner, Craig Goeldner and Lawrie Thompson.
-
Hotel Steyne (from 12pm): marching bands, DJs and live acts with Lari Costa, Chelsea, Saxbeatz, Jake Smith and Jaybro.
-
Ivanhoe (from 12pm): jazz, funk and blues all day with featured act Tom Southey.
-
The Cumberland (4–7pm): Leah Berry with Ben Daley (guitar) and Nick Jansen (bass) in a speakeasy-style jazz session.
-
Felons Brewing Manly (4–7pm): golden-hour harbour set with End Notes.
-
The Manly Club on Gilbert Park (6–9pm): open Jazz Jam finale with festival performers.
-
New Brighton Hotel (6–9pm): David Weir Duo (The Weird Assembly) bringing smooth, soulful jazz to the Corso Bar.
-
Donny’s Bar (7–10pm): Steve Tonge closing the weekend with jazz, blues and soul.
Sustainability Snapshot
The festival takes advantage of Manly’s natural footprint — no sprawling infrastructure, just stages on existing streets and venues. It encourages public transport, walking, and local hospitality, supporting small bars, cafes and the broader Northern Beaches economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Manly Jazz Festival 2025?
19–21 September 2025.
Where is the Manly Jazz Festival held?
The Corso and surrounding venues in Manly, NSW.
Is the festival free?
Yes, outdoor stages and roving acts are free. Some venues may charge.
What time does the festival run each day?
Generally 11am–6pm on stages, with venues continuing into the night.
Who is headlining Manly Jazz Festival 2025?
Line-up includes Sydney Conservatorium Big Band, Nicki Parrott, Ten Part Invention and more.
Can I bring kids?
Yes, it’s family-friendly with school bands and roving performances.
Do I need tickets?
Public stages are free, but check individual venues for ticketed sessions.
What’s the vibe like?
Think street festival meets seaside holiday — casual, lively, community-focused.
Where can I eat and drink?
Plenty of bars and restaurants double as venues, from Hotel Steyne to Felons Brewing.
How do I get there?
Take the ferry from Circular Quay or buses direct to Manly.
Related Reads:
→ Big Design Market 2025
→ Watsons Bay Spring Market
→ Sydney Fringe Festival 2025
→ Tulip Time Flower Festival Bowral 2025
→ Bella Vista Farm Light Show 2025
Article originally published: 18 September 2025, by Editor
