Mussel & Jazz Festival Program

Charlie Needs Braces

Charlie Needs Braces is the latest project from Naarm-based musician Charlie Woods. A proud GuriNgai woman and direct descendent of Bungaree and Matora, Charlie’s uplifting and energetic music weaves together stories, language, and layered harmonies. 

Having played on stage with artists such as Casey Donovan, The Teskey Brothers, The Seven Ups, and TEK TEK Ensemble, Charlie has ventured out with her sister Miri to launch the project: Charlie Needs Braces.  

In 2022 Charlie was awarded 'First Place' from the 'Upstart Awards', and in 2023 received the 'Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent' through Music Victoria.  

In 2025 Charlie is releasing new music and performing at St Kilda Festival, the National Folk Festival, Clarence Jazz Festival, Sydney Road Street Party, ROAR Fest, Moomba, and is supporting The Teskey Brothers for 2025 A Day on the Green.  

Hoodoo Mayhem

Hoodoo Mayhem play dirty and groove hard. Heavily seduced by New Orleans funk and brass, it’s a horn blowin’ beat party as good as they come. Featuring up to ten of Melbourne’s hottest horn players and stick technicians with special guests at every performance. The band boasts a creative and organic repertoire of original music and is proud of their unique Melbourne sound. The Hoodoo crew have been working up a big new sound with the perfect blend of sassy soul, funkin grooves and dirty blues. 

Jackson Wade Band

Swingin’ and Groovin’ Rhythms. 

The Jackson Wade Band are driven by the distinctive sound of the majestic Hammond B3. Overlaid with the vocals of Wendy Wade and Peter Jackson in rich harmony and underpinned with swingin’ and groovin’ rhythms in a combination of great jazz and blues classics from Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Mel Torme', Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, BB King and more. Featuring one of Australia’s most accomplished Hammond players, Jon Wade. 

Jen Salisbury Trio

An enchanting singer with a natural sense of swing, Australian vocalist Jennifer Salisbury has made a name for herself with her breezy but contemporary renditions of American Songbook classics. She channels the great voices of the 40's and 50's guiding her audience in a time-traveling roller-coaster of emotions.

Margie Lou Dyer Quintet

Miss Lizzy and The Night Owls

Miss Lizzy and The Night Owls are a booty-shaking powerhouse inspired by vintage rock, blues and soul with a serving of pop on the side. Led by the superb talent of Miss Lizzy on vocals, this funky band of musicians fill dancefloors with infectious grooves, soaring melodies and heartfelt lyrics. By blending their love of various styles of music dating all the way back to the early 1900’s piano-driven boogie woogie, Miss Lizzy and her Night Owls captivate audiences with original music that uplifts and nourishes the spirit.

Truly an experience not to be missed! 

Noria and The Parisians

Acclaimed French chanteuse Noria Letts brings the verve, swing and excitement of a Parisian jazz club every time she hits the stage. 

Totally authentic, with a rich soulful voice, Noria has performed in clubs across France, Canada and NYC and is now based in Melbourne. With a gypsy jazz vibe, Noria’s show includes the songs of Piaf, Brel and Django Reinhardt, as well as some rarely performed French gems and host marvelous modern chansons. 

Backing Noria are some of the nation’s finest musicians Peter Baylor  (guitar) Jon Hunt (clarinet, sax), Tom Flenady (bass) and Phil Collings (drums). 

Rohan Hammit Elvis

Electrifying live music venues and private functions across Australia for over three decades, Rohan Hammit is considered to be a game changer amongst tribute artists and a Mussel & Jazz Festival favourite!

Known for his ‘Rock and Roll without Prejudice’ initiative, Rohan guarantees a high-energy live performance that gets the audience up on their feet and wanting more!  

Set to the tunes of “The King,” Rohan’s powerful vocals and live band invite everyone to ‘party up’ and have the time of your life! 

Seduceaphones

Since bursting onto the scene in 2014, Seduceaphones has been redefining brass band music with their electrifying energy and pioneering sound.

Based in Melbourne, this 8-piece ensemble has become a crowd favourite at festivals across Australia, delivering a genre-defying fusion of brass party beats.

With an anthology of original music and danceable grooves,
Seduceaphones guarantees to have audiences on their feet and moving to the beat for every show.

The Culture Combo Ft. Christine Manetta

Get ready to be transported to joint jumping - foot stomping good times as The Culture Combo serves up a cocktail of swinging jazz with a lavish slice of Afro-Cuban leanings injected with sinewy horn riffs. Known for its diverse shows, The Culture Combo bring to their audiences an eclectic selection of music including ‘award-winning originals’ and songs by iconic divas such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse and more.

Leading the way, internationally celebrated songwriter and dynamic powerhouse, vocalist Christine Manetta with her sassy stage spirit will draw audiences in, drenching them in a feel-good vibe, amidst swinging piano sounds and hot jungle jazz rhythms.  

Expect to get up dancing. Expect to join in singing. Get ready for a groove party! 

The Jackson Combo - Jazz Quartet (Featuring The Mussel Horns) 

Swingin' Grooves.

The Jackson Combo – Jazz Quartet features one of Australia’s most talented and virtuoso Hammond organ and piano players’, Jon Wade.  

Jon joins Jeff Mead on sax, Nick Mierisch on drums and Peter Jackson on vocals and congas to explore and interpret the songs of some of the greats like Mel Torme’, Lou Rawls, Nat King Cole, Joe Williams, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan among others. With a new original song or two also making it into the set, all performed in their own Hammond based style with a mix of Swing, Be Bop, cool Blues, Latin rhythms and improv. 

Joining them, the big brassy sounds of ‘The Mussel Horns’, with Marty West on Baritone sax (Grand Wazoo) and Dave Hedges on trumpet.

The Shuffle Club

Their style is most easily described as a hot blend of jazz, swing, blues and boogie. But that hardly does justice to The Shuffle Club's raw energy and enthusiasm – the kind that will bring you to your feet and on to the dance floor before you even quite know what is happening! 

Featuring all four band members singing individually, Melbourne jazz band, The Shuffle Club, is made up of hot sax, bass, drums and piano, with damn tight arrangements in a variety of styles setting this band apart from the rest.  

They have made music together since 1999, touring internationally across Europe, Asia and Central America, as well as performing regularly in venues and festivals all over Australia.