Annual Jazz Festival in WA’s South West region goes global with international acts such as the Buena Vista Social Club and more from 2-5 June

Eclectic young Singapore band The Steve McQueens are the latest to join the line-up for this year’s ‘Jazz by the Bay’ festival in Dunsborough, Busselton and Margaret River — a region renowned for its world-class wines, gourmet produce and spectacular coastline — from June 2 to 5.

Described as ‘neo-vintage soul-funk,’ the sound of The Steve McQueens draws influence from artists like Theolonius Monk, James Brown, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Brad Mehldau, Steely Dan and Robert Glasper — soulful and sultry one moment, eclectic and eccentric the next.

Their appearance in WA is made possible thanks to a new relationship between Jazz by the Bay organisers and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, held over the same weekend. The McQueens will play in Melbourne first, then head straight to the South West for a Sunday night performance.

The band’s name is inspired by 1960s and ’70s actor Steve McQueen, an icon of cool known for his anti-hero persona and iconic films. Their recently released latest CD, Seamonster, was produced in London at Livingston Studios.

The Steve McQueens have been winning fans around Singapore and Asia, earning glowing praise at festivals like Japan’s iconic Summersonic, Indonesia’s Java Jazz, Singapore’s Singjazz, and London’s O2 Indigo. In 2016 they toured South Korea and drew strong reviews for their performances at the Brisbane Festival and Oz Asia Festival in Adelaide. The quintet joins the legendary Buena Vista Social Club Young Guns, popular Perth jazz crooner Adam Hall and the Velvet Playboys, UK-based jazz singer and recording artist Karen Lane with her four-piece band, and festival favourite Cathrine Summers.

Festival Director Cindy Wiese said, “Thanks to a growing demand, this year’s festival is expanding to four days for the first time. We are shaping up to have more than 200 individual performers appearing across the weekend. Jazz by the Bay turns the heat up in winter, and for our overseas guests, especially those from Singapore/SE Asia, this will be a cosy experience to enjoy cool jazz.”

Also confirmed for Jazz by the Bay 2017 are Nadira and Friends. Hailing from Tasmania, Nadira has performed at the Tasmanian jazz festivals and the Devonport Jazz Fest in 2016.

She’s played venues across Hobart and Melbourne including MONA, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Open Studio, and Paris Cat. Nadira will be accompanied by well-known local jazz band Jazztrix for a foot-stomping, heart-swooning performance.

Further acts include Doxy, Cassandra Charlick, SSB Quintet, The Sets, Freddie Grigson and Allira Wilson (Australian Bell Award for best jazz vocal album 2014), Serge Le Goueff, Elle Deslandes, South West Trad Jazz Collective, Mr & Mrs Smith, Pete Jeavons, Chris Tarr, Danny Moss Jnr, the Penny King Quartet, Jazz Jacks, WA Youth Jazz Orchestra and more.

Free and ticketed events are scheduled across the Jazz by the Bay long weekend, indoors and outdoors, catering to lovers of jazz, soul and funk. Taking place at the onset of winter, Jazz by the Bay offers a complete feast for the senses, including stunning local food and wine experiences.

More acts will be announced in the coming weeks, and a full program of Jazz by the Bay performances will soon be available from the event website http://www.jazzbythebay.com.au, along with ticketing information. Visit the event’s Facebook page for the latest news and accommodation partners Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, Wyndham Resort & Spa, or http://www.margaretriver.com for accommodation options. Sign up for the e-news for the latest updates.

The Festival is made possible thanks to support from City of Busselton, Tourism Western Australia, Department of Regional Development – Royalties for Regions, Retravision, Satterley, Singapore Airlines and more.