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Email Eric with with changes for this page - any new venues or changes to times and days of regular gigs.

Last updated?

Check the "(Last update ...)" tag on these posts. Gigs change frequently so I can't promise these are all correct. I suggest you contact the venue to confirm before attending.

More gigs

See the CJCalendar for more gig announcements. Email any news of gigs for the Calendar to Eric at
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Venues and regular jazz gigs known to CJ

CJMap : Find these jazz venues and other jazz locations around Canberra

• Smith's Alternative, Jazz perhaps THURSDAYS 7-9pm or other times, House band & jam SUNDAYS 2-6pm, 76 Alinga St, Civic. Has some of the most challenging and satisfying music around. Usually $15/10 for the band, free for the jam session. Cafe atmosphere, licensed, piano, PA, lighting, etc. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Old Canberra Inn, Wednesdays 6.30-9pm, House band then jam with some of the best local musos and guests. Highly recommended. Also nice beers and food. Free entry. 195 Mouat Street, Lyneham. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Hippo Bar WEDNESDAYS 9-11pm, Garema Place Civic. Has been on and off as Canberra's premier jazz venue over the years under various names. These days mainly local jazz on Wednesday nights. ~$5 entry. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Molly Bar Jazz on TUESDAYS 6-10.30pm and jazz jam session FRIDAYS 9.30-Midnight iwth great players; also solo piano SUNDAYS 7-10pm. A new cool basement speakeasy. Free entry. Lots of whiskys/whiskeys listed. A discrete find (hint: check Google Maps). (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Street Theatre Increasing music at this theatre venue with three spaces. Lots of theatre but also music incl jazz (Last updated Apr 2017)
• National Press Club, 6-9pm FRIDAYS (program). Free jazz on Friday nights with some great local players (incl. ANU Faculty) rotating through the month. Blues on Thursdays. Requires club signin. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Geoff Page runs an annual series of monthly concerts and has for many years. Concerts now held at Smiths (see above). Selected bands, an attentive audience and excellent performers often from interstate. See reviews of past concerts in CJBlog. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• ANU School of Music Excellent, interesting music when it's on. Jazz less often these days, but some experimental, classical, chamber. Highly recommended alhtough much reduced afterchanges at the Music School in 2012. See the concert program. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Blackbird Jazz fairly frequently. Check FB for what's on (Last updated May 2023)
• Herbert's at Evatt Often have jazz-based Sunday session early afternoon. (Last updated May 2023)
• Gang Gang Cafe Fairly frequent jazz, but see FB for what's on. (Last updated May 2023)
• Jazz Haus is a jazz series run by Eric Ajaye at the Austrian Club Mawson. FRIDAYS 8-10pm ~MONTHLY Great musicians, ofter invited from interstate. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Canberra Jazz Club runs a monthly (?) series of dance/dixieland/trad/1920s jazz at the Souther Cross Club, Macquarie. SUNDAYS 1-4pm MONTHLY. Free entry but again club membership of sign in required. (Last updated Feb 2020)

No longer current

• Fenway Public HouseI understand there's jazz on Tuesday evenings at Fenway Pub at Woden, but yet to get there. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Melting Pot at Makeshift in New Acton is a monthly invitation series with the last local musicians. MONTHLY ON THE LAST FRIDAY, 8-11pm. Book online for a discount. (Last updated Feb 2020)
• Tuggeranong Arts Centre. 5-7pm FRIDAYS, once a month. Lakeside venue, water views, comfy atmosphere.
• Front Gallery. Occassional jazz, indie, folk, etc and other arts in a listener's environment. 1/2 Wattle St, Lyneham. Ph 6249 8453. Cover charge usually ~$10 to the band. (Last updated Apr 2017)
• New Acton. Some excellent bars for the artform. MusicArtFood at New Action. Good reports for various musical forms. (Last updated Feb 2011)
• Dendy Cinema, Canberra Centre. 6pm EVERY Wed?. Nice vocal trio continues. Two sets widely dispersed, to match film times. Finishes ~9.30. Wines and drinks available, and decent movies. (Last updated Jan 2013)
• Adore Tea, Federation Square. 1-5pm, EVERY SUNDAY. Free smooth jazz with a large range of teas on tap. (Last updated Oct 2010)
• Polit Bar. Smooth jazz and cabaret, comedy, etc. Polit Bar, 8 on Franklin, Manuka Village. (Last updated Jun 2014)
• Alliance Francaise. Long standing, occasional venue for jazz of various formats. Alliance Française, Maison de France, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner. Cover charge ~$12/15 (Last updated Oct 2010)
• Diamant Hotel, New Acton. I understand there's jazz piano and bass every Friday 5.30-7.30. (Last updated Nov 2013)
• Belgian Beer Cafe, Kingston. Used to have Sunday afternoon jazz. (Last updated Oct 2013)
• Trinity Bar (Facebook | MySpace), 28 Challis Street, Dickson. Used to be a great jazz venue on Tuesday nights. Now check the Facebooks site to see if anything's on. Cocktail/wine bar; free entry; $5 beers; free cheese. (Last updated Oct 2010)
• Casino Canberra, 9-11pm EVERY FRIDAY and SATURDAY, (program). Jazz, swing, blues, etc. (Last updated Nov 2007)
• Debacle (Lonsdale St. Braddon). defunct, I think. (Last updated Nov 2013)
• Babar's Woden, used to have Jazz on the pavement. Sadly no longer.(Last updated Feb 2010)
• Folkus Room Used to be occasional live music venue, mostly folk. Now defunct. (Last updated Mar 2010)
• Hotel Kurrajong. Longstanding after-work gig featuring the staff of the CSM Jazz School now defunct. A sad loss! (Last updated Nov 2007)
• Jazz @ White Eagle (MySpace site). No jazz now, but Canb Music Soc has indie music (Last updated Sept 2013)
• Minque Bar (Facebook). Used to have jazz. Now closed. (Last updated Aug 2009)
• George Harcourt Inn. Pleasant beer garden with local jazz and other styles on Sunday afternoons. Free entry and some interesting beers. (Last updated Oct 2013)
• Trinity Tuggeranong, has featured regular jazz in the past. (Last updated Jan 2008)
• Julep Lounge at Manuka. Used to features Thurs eve jazz. (Last updated Apr 2008)
• Kremlin Bar. (Last updated Apr 2008)
• Teatro Vivaldi Restaurant at ANU Arts Centre. Occasional jazz
• University House Friday evening summer sessions now ended (Last updated May 2007)
• Edgar's Inn, Ainslie, 3-5pm Sun? Jazz on the pavement. (Last updated ~mid-2005) (menulog)
• Lanyon Homestead. Lanyon is part of the ACT Museums & Galleries group. Occasional, intimate jazz in the old stables with players out of the ANU Jazz School. See CJNews for more info.
• Kamberra Winery, 1-4pm last Sun each month. Stupid website entry requires you to be 18yo?!? Psst...big adult secrets here... (Last updated ~mid-2006)
• Das Kapital. Occasional jazz

See lists of bars and restaurants in Canberra (from NineMSN). You can browse by suburb or venue name. See venue records for links to street maps. Doesn't seem to include links to websites. Some also have gig info.

See outincanberra.com.au for a list of bars in Canberra, with contact phones, addresses and links to websites.