Band Bio's

Kate Wadey and her Presidentials

Kate Wadey is Sydney bases Jazz singer, hailing from Adelaide. Kate effortlessly explores and interprets jazz classics with a charm and sophistication that appear to come from another time and place. Kate has a gorgeously rich and warm voice, coupled with a vocal range, sophistication and innate swing that bely her youth. Imbued with emotion, yet technically masterful, these interpretations are destined to hold their own among the greats.

Kate began singing in gospel choirs and jazz vocal ensembles as a 13 year old in Adelaide. She moved to Sydney and immediately made waves in the notoriously difficult to crack Sydney live scene as a backing singer, studio vocalist, pop vocalist, soul and Motown singer. 

Recently however, she has found her way back to her jazz roots and she’s making people sit up and take notice. Kate regularly sings live and records with the cream of Australia’s current crop of extraordinary jazz musicians and composers and has rapidly gathered praise and new fans.

Catch Kate Wadey and her Presidentials at the Friday night Jitterbug Jam Up Late at the Ashfield Polish Club.

andrew dickeson's blue rhythm band feat. jane sol

Andrew Dickeson's Blue Rhythm Band is a band for dancers. They do what Basie did. They play 4 solid beats to the bar and no cheating. The Blue Rhythm Band has impressed dancers at the Little Big Weekend, Jazz with Ramona, Melbourne Lindy Exchange and Sydney Lindy Exchange.

For the Deco Dance Andrew Dickeson‘s Blue Rhythm Band, as well as featuring the regular members – Andrew, Brad Child, Peter Locke and Ashley Turner will be augmented by trumpeter Al Davey and vibraphone player Glenn Henrich.

As a special treat they’ll also be joined by new singing sensation - Jane Solo. Born and raised in a mwusical environment, her family were also dancers, who loved swing music - so she grew up surrounded by the sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Anita O’day, Peggy Lee, Bessie Smith, Jo Stafford and more.

Catch Andrew Dickeson's Blue Rhythm Band with special guest vocalist Jane Solo at the Saturday night Deco Dance.

sara jeanne and the city gents

Sara Jeanne has been entertaining the Australian Swing Dancing scene for over 10 years. As a swing dancer, she appreciates what tempos fill the dance floor and how important musicality is for enjoying a great dance. Sara Jeanne elegantly creates an atmosphere that is reminiscent of the 1940’s and 1050’s. Her interpretation of classic jazz standards has delighted many audiences.

Sara Jeanne studied classical singing at University but has enjoyed the freedom of singing jazz music for nearly 20 years. She has performed with The Velvet Set, Swing City, The Black & White Big Band, James Morrison and more.

Catch Sara Jeanne and the City Gents Saturday night at the late night P-Jam at Camelot event.

queen porter stomp

Queen Porter Stomp use their dirty swamp magic to shirk those Prohibition Blues – swinging skirts and scuffed shoes for hardwood and concrete dance floors alike. This is jazz where swing is the key you play, Melody is your gypsy mistress, and signature is what you’re trying to avoid committing to paper until you have a shot of bootlegged whisky. They pack horns that scream straight into your soul, squeezed tight into a caravan they’ve taken up and down and through the smoke and mud of the festival circuit (like the Falls Festival), supporting the hardened and never weary (like Charles Bradley).

Swagger comes from a rhythm section borne of cut-throat jazz chops and a banjo that can exorcise demons on the wrong side of midnight. Amongst all this well honed haze comes the clarity and seduction of the ukulele songstress upfront. Shine those shoes and undo that top button – if you’re just tapping those toes, then you’re in the wrong bar. This is Queen Porter’s joint.

Catch Queen Porter Stomp Sunday night at Now You Got Jazz.