Fresh from their successful Woodford Folk Festival shows Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption (MGHR) bring their red-hot eight piece ensemble to JMI Live. Rooted in the jazz, swing, and blues traditions of the 1920s and ’30s, the band draws on the sounds of old New Orleans to deliver a style that feels both authentic and new.
Led by vocalist and washboard percussionist Melody Graves (Paula Hackney), whose influences include Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, and Louis Armstrong, MGHR are known for their standout musicianship and dynamic arrangements thanks to the seasoned players and soloists.
The ensemble features dual vocalists, with Dennis Duigan adding a distinctive ragtime and hokum blues edge (also on guitar and mandolin), alongside a three piece horn section—Alyssa Sinclair (trumpet), Zoe Atkinson (trombone), and Andrew Garton (clarinet)—and a driving rhythm section with Jordan Stitt (piano), Benja King (double bass), and Evan J. Evans (drumkit).
Recent highlights include appearances at Blues on Broadbeach, Fever’s The Jazz Room: A Journey to New Orleans, Maleny Music Festival, Jumpers and Jazz in July, and the Brisbane International Jazz Festival.
GIG DETAILS:
Thursday 26th March 2026
$20 Entry (+GST & BF)
Doors open from 7:30pm
Music starts at 8pm
ALL AGES (people under 18 need to be accompanied by a guardian)
LICENSED BAR
Head to our Humanitix to purchase limited seated tickets
How do I purchase a ticket?
Tickets are being sold through Humanitix. Purchase limited seated tickets here. Due to JMI Live being an intimate space, we have a maximum number of guests allowed in the venue. We highly recommend it is best to get in early before tickets sell out.
What is JMI Live?
JMI Live presents live jazz in Brisbane every Thursday night from 8pm and a jam session after each gig. JMI Live is renowned for its intimate setting, providing the best opportunity to listen to live jazz in Brisbane. Just like a jazz club in New York, this venue is the ideal location for great jazz music, acoustics and atmosphere.
Location
JMI Live is located at 10 Exhibition Street, Bowen Hills.
Live streaming
All JMI Live concerts are live streamed to JMI’s YouTube account. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to access our free live streams.
Ticket Refund Policy
If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms and are unable to attend after having purchased a ticket, please contact the JMI office (07 3216 1110 or email play@jazz.qld.edu.au) as soon as possible during business hours (10AM-4PM) to let us know you won’t be able to attend. A full refund will be given if we are contacted prior to a performance. Refunds will not be processed if we are contacted after the gig.