Creole Bells
http://www.creolebells.com/
Creole Bells continue to develop their creative approach to preserving the popular music of the turn of the century through the 20's and the West Coast Jazz Revival of the 40's and 50's, playing Ragtime, Barrelhouse and Hot Dance tunes in a style reminiscent of the Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band and the Turk Murphy Jazz Band.

Their extensive repertoire includes many Australian compositions by Graeme Bell, Ade Monsbourgh, Frank Johnson and Dave Dallwitz, the leaders of the 50's Jazz Revival in Australia, which are featured at all Creole Bells performances and on recordings. This Australian heritage gives the band a distinctive sound and rhythm and band members are acutely conscious of the importance of preserving this vital part of our musical history and culture in tribute to our jazz pioneers.

Trombone player, Steve Waddell, started this band over 20 years ago and since then their popularity has grown immensely through their many jazz festival and concert appearances both at home and overseas. They have appeared twice at the prestigious US Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in addition to other US festivals including the Santa Rosa Dixie Jazz Festival and the LA Sweet & Hot Festival in 1997. The band also has numerous Australian TV appearances to its credit including their very own program on the ABCs Jazz As Now series. During the past three years, in addition to their regular festival appearances, the Melbourne-based Creole Bells have several times visited Sydney for appearances at the Manly Jazz Festival and sell-out concerts for the San Francisco Jazz Foundation. This includes two concerts backing Carol Leigh, the US vocalist well known for her recordings with the Original Salty Dogs.
The Creole Bells have recorded four albums for Stomp Off Records (USA).

Band Members Include:
Michael McQuaid Reeds,
Bob Pattie Cornet and vocals,
Rob Moffart Trombone,
Sandra Talty Drums and Vocals,
Fred Clark Tuba,
Bob Franklin Piano,
David  Robison Banjo.

Loose Goose Jazz
The Loose Goose Jazz has recently released their second CD "Another Night With You" The band (formally known as the Shepparton Jazz Quintet) continues to carry the flag of “mainstream” jazz across Victoria and has become known as the “small group with the big sound” because of the use of the tenor sax/bass trumpet front line, utilising “head” arrangements for many of the great Basie/Goodman/Ellington/Dorsey standards.  Norm Gray and Walt Healey provide vocals in the style of Sinatra/Harry Connick Jr, and the band’s repertoire covers a wide spectrum – from Bix Beiderbecke to Gerry Mulligan. Walt Healey’s swinging drumming provide a solid rhythmic foundation for this very experienced outfit. Bass Player Peter Gray is a veteran of many great bands in Melbourne including the Maple Leaf All-stars whose playing style encompasses a wide variety of styles.  Loose Goose regularly appear at the Echuca-Moama Riverboats, Jazz, Food and Wine Festival.

BRIAN MATTHEWS–TENOR SAX & CLARINET
NORM GRAY – FLUGEL HORN, BASS TRUMPET, & VOCALS
DON EDSALL – KEYBOARDS
PETER GRAY – ACOUSTIC BASS 
WALT HEALEY – DRUMS & VOCALS

Lisa Edwards
Lisa Edwards is one of Australia’s leading performers.
The daughter of a jazz pianist and a stage performer, she was introduced to the entertainment world at the tender age of seven singing along with her father at various venues and making numerous television appearances.
Renowned for her on-stage presence and incredible voice, she is also a multi-instrumentalist and talented dancer. A consummate performer, Lisa's success as a vocalist has been well documented. She has shared the stage with high-profile international and Australian acts such as Natalie Cole, Al Green, Sting, Bryan Adams, Hall & Oats, Cindy Lauper, Lenny Kravitz, Yoko Ono, Tom Jones, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Olivia Newton-John, Kylie Minogue, Noiseworks, The Black Sorrows, Ross Wilson, Billy Thorpe, Brian Cadd and Kate Ceberano, though she is probably best known to Australian audiences as one of John Farnham's accomplished and dynamic backing singers.
Exuding sensuality, Lisa is the epitome of sophistication. Poised for phenomenal success both here and in the international market, the versatility of this masterful singer will charm both the critics and public alike.

Venetta Fields
http://www.venettafields.com/
Touring here is 1978 and 1980 with Boz Scaggs and liking it so much, she returned here permanently in 1982. The freshness and growing vitality of the industry was invigorating. She began recording with Australia's best: Richard Clapton, Australian Crawl, Jimmy Barnes & New Zealand's Tim Finn, to name but a few. She soon had her own band, "Venetta's Taxi". Then formed & toured with, her own Gospel show "Gospel Jubilee".

The "Voice" himself John Farnham, was instrumental in bringing her to the attention of the Australian public. When her spiritual rendition of the Classic "Amazing Grace" brought the concerts to a standstill. Achieving the respect and recognition she so truly deserved.

In 1989 another string was added to her bow when she made her Theatre debut as, "Alice" the slave in "Big River". Venetta received rave reviews, in turn creating more Theatre opportunities. Since then she has starred in the musical "Blues in the Night" - The concert version of "Chess", and two plays for the Melbourne Theatre Company - "The Crucible" and "Racing Demon".

She was the opening and the support act for George Benson, Venetta, with her trio earned more rave reviews. Dionne Warwick, Thelma Houston & Randy Crawford, are just some of the Great's she has supported while they were in Australia. To round out the year, she was asked by Barbara Streisand to perform with her again... On her Australian tour this tour took Australia by storm!

This lady is not only a star that sparkles but also a beautiful soul who brings richness and magic to the people....

New Melbourne Jazz Band
http://home.iprimus.com.au/rossjazz/
A six piece Dixieland Jazz Band based in Melbourne, Victoria. Our extensive repertoire enables us to present an extremely wide and varied range of programs, including:

• Traditional New Orleans
• Tribute to Louis Armstrong
• Swing era selections
• Roaring Twenties
• Fats Waller
• Benny Goodman etc.

These programs can also be modified, either in terms of time or variations in size of the group, to suit particular occasions.

On the many occasions we have performed at more formal functions, such as cabarets, weddings and dinner dances, we have catered for the particular needs of the audience by being able to present small group combinations in the early stages of the proceedings. This is particularly important while guests are settling in and getting to know one another. As the evening progresses, then the band builds the momentum, "reading" the crowd and responding as appropriate.

Matt Launer Sextet
http://www.mattlaunerquartet.com/
The Matt Launer quartet is a jazz group for all occasions.From a dark smoky night club to a big stage or is the perfect entertainment for an intimate occasion like a wedding or cool swinging cocktail evening.

The Matt Launer Quartet was established in 2001 for a one off show at the Barossa Jazz weekend, and the due to the success of that weekend the band has been playing together regulary since.

The group is a musical trio consisting of George Papanaum on piano, Darren Riggs on double bass, and Yuri Markov on the drums fronted by the dynamic vocals of Matt Launer. With a style that is relaxed yet exciting, the Matt Launer Quartet brings to life many old jazz standards and more modern contemporary songs, with varying styles like swing, latin, jazz, modern jazz and easy listening pop.

As the name suggests the regular band is a quartet, but a larger format band is also available. The group can expand to an eight piece group with saxaphone, trumpet, trombone and guitar or a mix of any of these.

Sarah MacLaine
http://www.sarahmaclaine.com/
Singer/song-writer Sarah Maclaine is known around the country as an exceptional young vocalist and is well known for her wonderful renditions of songs.
Her original compositions are fantastic and she is particularly interested in having her songs in film and television.

Having worked with some of Australia's finest entertainers such as Peter Cupples (Stylus), Ross Wilson (Daddy Cool/Mondo Rock), Lisa Edwards (John Farnham) and others, Sarah has had extensive experience as a session/back-up vocalist

Passionate about music, Sarah lives each song and constantly delights audiences with her rich, velvety voice; it's beautiful tone and fantastic vocal range.
If you happen upon one of her performances you feel drawn in.
She moves with ease from jazz to pop, blues to r&b, disco to Latin.
You name it; she does it!
Everything from Maroon 5 to Missy Higgins, Ella Fitzgerald to Elvis Costello, Diana Krall to Dusty Springfield!

Geoff Evans Jazzmen
Geoff Evans Jazzmen are a tribute band to the late Geoff Evans, a leading citizen of Echuca-Moama  who also led and played in The Geoff Evans Jazz Band for many years.

Geoff has been well respected throughout the music world and indeed here in Echuca-Moama, where he served terms as Mayor for the City of Echuca, was  a former timber-miller and a motel owner operator.

The band consists of musicians who have played with Geoff over the years and who respect him, his integrity and now acknowledge the contribution he has made to jazz music for over sixty years.

The Geoff Evans Jazz Men  2008 band will proudly pay their final tribute to Geoff’s memory, remembering his as one of the finest, widely recognized and respected jazz musicians in regional Victoria.

Other Bands that will be performing at the festival include:

Des Camm band

Hot house band