Bellingen Memorial Hall will transform into a jazz club for two nights this month, with the Beyond Jazz Weekender returning for its second year on Friday, 14 August and Saturday, 15 August.
The festival is run by Bellingen Shire Council through the Memorial Hall, and venue coordinator Phil Nicholas said last year’s event taught organisers plenty about what the crowd wants.
“People love to dance,” Mr Nicholas said.
That lesson has shaped both nights of this year’s program. Friday is billed as The Jazz Doof, tapping into a fast-growing warehouse jazz scene out of Sydney that blends improvisation with hip hop, electronic and disco influences.
“So we’ve basically brought up three acts that are right at the heart of that scene and they’re going to bring that sort of warehouse jazz party energy with them,” Mr Nicholas said.
Haztet, Lux Trevis and Flux State will play the Studio at the back of the hall on the Friday night, bringing what Mr Nicholas described as a club atmosphere rarely seen in Bellingen.
Saturday’s Jazz Social moves into the main hall for a broader journey through global jazz styles, from New Orleans brass with local band William Street, to the electronic and ambient sounds of Jeremy Rose’s Infinity featuring Alexander Flood, through to Ethio-jazz outfit Black Jesus Experience. The night builds to a finale from Mastersonics vs Dance Makers Collective, with cabaret interludes from SULT Movement and vinyl sets from Bellingen local DJ Peret von Sturmer.
Dance Makers Collective, a Sydney-based group, is running free workshops in the lead-up to the weekend so first-timers can build confidence on the dance floor before the Saturday night party.
“With so many venues closing, the more you can do to link up between major events, the more opportunities you’re giving for artists to develop and get taught regionally as well,” Mr Nicholas said, pointing to plans for closer ties with other regional festivals in future years.
Mr Nicholas said the festival’s inclusive, come-and-have-a-go spirit reflects Bellingen itself, and organisers are keen for it to grow into a destination event.
“We want people to come to Bellingen, of course, and visit the region,” Mr Nicholas said, pointing to the Gondwana rainforest up the hill in Dorrigo as a reason for visitors to make a weekend of it.
The event is all ages, with no dress code, and runs alongside the Saturday morning community markets. Free dance workshops will be held in the Studio on Thursday and Saturday, and in the hall on Friday.
Since a refurbishment in 2023, the Memorial Hall now offers three distinct spaces, the main hall, the Studio and the Old Supper Room, along with a back deck. Mr Nicholas said the team has put real effort into transforming the venue for the occasion.
“I’ve got people working on decor to the effect that when you come in, you’ll really be entering a place that feels like a jazz club,” Mr Nicholas said.
Saturday afternoon will also feature a listening session with Kingfisher Audio, a Bellingen family business that builds high-end loudspeakers from reclaimed hardwoods, with audience members invited to bring along a favourite track to play through the speakers.
Food will come from The Thirsty Dumpling, alongside tap beers from Bellingen Brewing Co and cocktails from the bar. The event is powered largely by solar, with Mega Watt Power among this year’s sponsors.
Tickets are available for Friday, Saturday, or as a two-day bundle, with the full program at beyondjazzweekender.com.au/program2026
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