Review: Beyond Jazz Weekender

Beyond Jazz Weekender

15-17 August, 2025

Bellingen Memorial Hall

Review by John McNamara (Friday Drive)

Sandy Evans , Bobby Singh on tabla and percussionist Greg Sheehan. 

A long weekend of very fine jazz and much more returned to Bellingen in the mid-north Coast hinterland and what a treat it was for the locals and those who made the trek to this beautiful part of New South Wales.

I usually present Friday drive on Eastside Radio but am lucky enough to spend part of my life in this region. So I made a point of checking out the Beyond Jazz weekender that ran from the 15th to the 17th of August at the lovely refurbished Bellingen Memorial Hall.

Roger Burke on saxophone with Trumpeter Ashley Hall.

Organised by the Bellingen Shire Council, the festival featured three days of jazz, jazz-infused and influenced groups as well as dance music and even a Sunday morning yoga session. This is Bellingen after all.

Nu-jazz and jazz doof pioneer Horatio Luna helped kicked off the fun on Friday night and no doubt had the dance floor pumping. Horatio was preceded by jazz cabaret acts Little Jazz Bird and The Velvet Caboose along with jazz group Reimagined.

The Saturday sessions were also sold out and welcomed local saxophone stalwart Roger Burke and his quintet for a tight barrelling session. Then followed the fantastic saxophonist Sandy Evans performing with tabla legend Bobby Singh and they were joined by local artist Greg Sheridan on percussion for a mesmerising session of jazz infused Indian rhythms that had the crowd howling for more.

And more Sandy Evans was soon to be had when the Sandy Evans Andrew Robson Quartet appeared on the main stage a little later for another great performance with Brett Hirst on bass and Hamish Stuart on drums.

Local youth theatre Young Stars Theatre group kept the crowd intrigued with their roving theme of “Jazzcats”.

And so it went on with more dancing and cabaret later that night. The aforesaid yoga recovery the next morning had everyone stretching for more sounds. And sounds there were to be had with DJs and more keeping the jazz and beyond groove happening through until the sunset on this long weekend of festival-going.

Taking a break from the performances, you could inspect the fascinating exhibition of vinyl album covers produced over the years by Blue Note Records.

It is to be hoped that the weekend success keeps the shire in the groove for another go round next year. A great venue, brilliant line up and sound organising made for a very happy crowd off jazz heads out Bellingen way.

An audience member getting in on the act with their answer to the question “What is jazz?”