George is a legend, a brilliant fiddle player and astounding entertainer.  His main-line is gypsy jazz, which he plays with his various duets, trios, and quartets. 

But for his last gig at Colbourne Ave, he got together old friends Peter Locks and Jonathan Zwartz, leaning into some standards and styles you'll rarely hear played or sung like this.

It was fantastic.  We booked another date so we could hear it again.

George Washingmachine - the most entertaining musician we know.  His gypsy swing is infectious, his jazz chords are genius, his comedic timing is perfect.

George will be playing his Stéphane Grappelli style gypsy jazz fiddle with Peter Locke on piano and Craig Scott on double bass - two of the most good-humoured men on the jazz scene.  They'll be pleasing all of the people.

georgewashingmachine.com

Piano, violin, double bass.  George is calling it "intimate".

Featuring the most entertaining man in jazz, George Washingmachine, with Sydney's great swing player Peter Locke, and the endlessly creative bass legend, Jonathan Zwartz.  Great jazz, great entertainment, it's going to be all-around great.

George is a legend of Australian entertainment - playing any instrument which has strings, acting on stage and television, comedian and MC for a host of public events.  But his main love is playing the gypsy jazz fiddle, in the style of Stéphane Grappelli.

This week he will perform with his two sons, both fine guitarists.  If you already love his hilarious style and astounding musicality, you'll be there.  If you just want another great night out in an already great January, we'll look forward to seeing you.

Manouche is a term derived from the Romany gypsies of Europe, what we in Australia call gypsy jazz.

This fine band has been put together by it's individual members as an exercise in small group swing.  Feel the Manouche has a 'world music' feel. Through it's use of double bass, guitar, accordion & fiddle, the band achieves a strong melodic groove that can take on gypsy waltzes, swing jazz, choro and many other flavours of music from our diverse planet. We invite you to sit back and 'Feel the Manouche'.

 

The return to Colbourne Ave of George Washingmachine on violin, ukelele & vocal, with Arthur Washington on guitar, Clare O’Meara on acccordion, violin & vocal, and Stan Valacos on double bass.

Manouche is a term derived from the Romany gypsies of Europe, what we in Australia call gypsy jazz.

This fine band has been put together by it's individual members as an exercise in small group swing.

Feel the Manouche has a 'world music' feel. Through it's use of double bass, guitar, accordion & fiddle, the band

achieves a strong melodic groove that can take on gypsy waltzes, swing jazz, choro and many other flavours of music from

our diverse planet. We invite you to sit back and 'Feel the Manouche'.

 

The return to Colbourne Ave of George Washingmachine on violin, ukelele & vocal, with Arthur Washington on guitar, Clare O’Meara on acccordion, violin & vocal, and Stan Valacos on double bass.

Time: Doors open at 7pm. Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson are opening the night, then Captain Matchbox will take us to midnight!
Tix: $50 full, $40 concession, $30 children under 16 yrs
Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com/BCAQ

 

Inspired by early jug band music and jazz recordings they heard on reel-to-reel tapes as teenagers, brothers Mic Conway and Jim Conway formed a raggle-taggle group which grew from an underground art school band to a national icon, with a cult following, film and television appearances, Top 10 hits and two Gold Records.
From 1970-1980, The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band toured the length and breadth of Australia, performing more than 2,000 shows, supported by the likes of Skyhooks, Cold Chisel, Split Endz and others along the way.
They were a very odd sock in the glam-rock world and Aussie pub scene. Their debut LP “Smoke Dreams” went to Gold in 1972 and was released in the USA. This year, “Smoke Dreams” has been listed among The 100 Best Australian Albums. Their second LP “Wangaratta Wahine” featured a classic cover design by Michael Leunig which won the award for Album Cover of the Year in 1974. Assisted by their memorable first appearance on Countdown performing “Wangaratta Wahine”, this album became their biggest success. In 2010, at the request of Woodford Folk Festival, a hot 8-piece band has been built around Mic and Jim Conway and is set to present the songs, silliness and satire from the Matchbox repertoire including “My Canary Has Circles Under His Eyes”, “That Cat is High”, “Smoke Dreams”, “Half a Moon”, “Hernando’s Hideaway”, “Nagasaki”, “Sophisticated Mama”, “Who Walks in When I Walk Out?” and many more.
The reincarnated Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band deployed a broader brand of humour amid expert musicianship, and its endlessly cavorting leader, Mic Conway, has found an ideal foil in violinist George Washingmachine.
: John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald, March 2011.

 

PLUS.... HAT FITZ AND CARA ROBINSON:  one of Australia’s festival favourites and perennial showstopper Hat Fitz is now joined on stage by Northern Ireland’s critically acclaimed vocalist extraordinaire and multi instrumentalist Cara Robinson on drums, washboard, flute and tin whistle.
Countries including Australia, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany can’t get enough of their live performances and although their debut independent release, the critically acclaimed and ARIA nominated “Beauty ’n the Beast” is already considered by many to be a classic it’s experiencing one of their live shows that’s exciting audiences.
The blending of pre war hill country and delta blues with traditional Celtic and early Australian folk has produced a truly unique musical style that’s seen fans world wide drift off into the early morning, often drenched with sweat and always covered in smiles.
Sometimes referred to as “Aussie mongrel Celt tinged blues” ... you’ll soon appreciate what all the fuss is about.