Jazz in Sydney first became a thing over 100 years ago when jazz bands from the US first started to tour Australia’s capital. By the 50s and 60s, and jazz was having a real moment—legendary spots like El Rocco club hosted rising jazz stars like Judy Bailey and Don Burrows. Today, the best jazz shows in Sydney groove inside intimate, live music hangouts and jazz bars that echo the magic of the era’s golden era. Here are some of the top jazz clubs in Sydney, from an old-world Parisian joint to a speakeasy-style bar in the CBD.
LazyBones Lounge
Looking for the top jazz bars in Sydney? Let’s kick things off with Lazy Bones Lounge. It’s decor— leather lounges, chandeliers and vintage lamps—brings an old-age edge to the place and the atmosphere is nothing less than inviting. There’s live music six nights a week that ranges from jazz and blues to soul, funk and more. Most nights will set you back $10 for the cover charge, but there are some free jazz shows weekly here too.
Free jazz shows in Sydney are hard to come by, but Curtains Jazz Club is a hidden gem. Owned by Swillhouse, the group behind Sydney hotspots like Restaurant Hubert and The Baxter Inn, they host many free music events throughout the week—even entry to their Curtains Jazz Festival is completely free. There’s live jazz music every night as well as dedicated jazz DJ sets that spin everything from classics by Armstrong and Sinatra to modern takes with fusion-funk and Afro-Cuban beats.
Albert Palais Events
Featuring marble finishes, chandeliers and warm wooden floors, Albert Palais is one of the most elegant venues in Sydney. They host luxury weddings, club nights, dance shows and of course, live jazz. This season, The Jazz Room is jiving inside this majestic space with smooth tributes to blues, a New Orleans-inspired special and nights dedicated to legends Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.
Palmer & Co.
Another addition to our list of best jazz clubs in Sydney is Palmer & Co.—a Prohibition-era speakeasy-style bar nestled in the CBD. Every Tuesday, there’s live jazz, soul, Motown, and swing shows, plus staff often dress in flapper-style fits. The menu also showcases the best of the best in terms of mixology, like the South Street with Beefeater, blackberry, honey, lemon and seltzer.
Camelot Lounge
Camelot Lounge is a cherished bar and one of the top jazz clubs in Sydney’s Marrickville suburb. Expect all the live jazz programmes and improvisation, plus performances of world music, folk, blues, cabaret and a sprinkle of comedy. There are two stages: one with a grand piano and the other with the Django Bar fitted with jazzy figurines, Persian rugs and rustic lamps.
Miss Celie’s
You can’t talk about jazz shows in Sydney without mentioning Miss Celie’s. It’s a bar and kitchen serving up some of the best grub in town (the Antipasto Miss Celiano remains unbeaten) that also hosts live music every single night. Tuesdays bring live jazz jams, Wednesday trivia plus live tunes, Thursdays are for blues, funk and soul jams and they round the weekend up with rotating lineups. Some recent performers include jazz-rock guitarist Lee Jones Quintet, legendary Aussie musician James Greening and renowned pianist Gary Daley.