History

The Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues began with a simple idea, to create a distinctive jazz event in regional Victoria that could stand out on the national stage. In 1989, a group of local business leaders proposed the concept to the City of Wangaratta. A feasibility study followed, identifying a gap in Australia’s festival landscape, a modern jazz festival built around an international-standard performance competition. That recommendation led to the creation of the National Jazz Awards, and laid the foundation for what would become one of Australia’s most respected and enduring music festivals.

The first festival was held from the 2nd to the 4th of November 1990, under the artistic direction of Adrian Jackson, who would go on to lead the program for over 25 years. Modest in its early years, with around 2,500 attendees and a ticket sales of just $25,000, the event quickly garnered national attention. Reviews in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald described it as “the best festival of its kind ever held in Australia,” helping secure long-term support from the Wangaratta Council.

A defining element from the beginning was the National Jazz Awards, initially held as a standalone piano competition. The inaugural winner, Barney McAll, received a $5,000 prize and a trip to France to compete at the Paris Concours International Piano Competition. Today, the Awards rotate through different instruments each year and remain a vital platform for emerging Australian jazz talent.

Throughout the 1990s, the festival steadily grew in scale and scope. It began welcoming acclaimed international artists, often in collaboration with local musicians, while remaining committed to showcasing original Australian work.

In 2000, the festival was recognised as a Victorian Hallmark Event, celebrating its contribution to the cultural life and tourism economy of the state. A year earlier, it received a National Tourism Award, and was later inducted into the Victorian Tourism Hall of Fame.

As it approaches its 35th year in 2025, the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues will continue taking steps to rebuild Australia's premier regional music festival.