Femme Jazz

Femme Jazz: A Celebration of Jazzy Femme Folk

Friday, May 9 2025

7:30 PM

New Tricks, Collingwood Street, Albion

We’re turning up the volume and celebrating the fierce, fabulous, and ridiculously talented femme-identifying musicians of Meanjin's jazz scene.

From straight-ahead jazz to soul, Femme Jazz is an all-out celebration of women and non-binary musicians who are making waves, taking up space in our music scene.

Meet the Band: The Unladylike Quartet

An all-femme powerhouse ensemble

Cassie Whitehead – Sax

Peta Leigh Wilson – Piano

Shelley Robin – Double Bass

Katie Randall – Drums

Led by an fierce & fkn fabulous lineup of vocalists:

Melody Graves (Paula Hackney)

Drawing inspiration from the early jazz and blues of New Orleans, big band swing, and iconic vocalists like Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, Melody Graves is a truly unique voice on the Meanjin jazz scene. With a sound that’s both timeless and raw, she effortlessly transports listeners to another era—close your eyes, and you’d swear you were hearing an old gramophone record spinning in the corner of a smoky jazz club.

Kat Manolatos

A dynamic vocalist with deep roots in Greek music and jazz, Kat Manolatos weaves old-world charm with modern soul. As one-half of Girl From Greece, she’s known for reimagining classic Hellenic bangers with a Greco Retro twist—melding Greek nostalgia with jazz, blues, and vintage pop.

MORE FEMME VOCALISTS TO BE ANNOUNCED VERY SOON

Your Host: Mel Lathouras

Brisbane’s very own soul-jazz-greco powerhouse and founder of Fearless Singer, Mel will be guiding the night with her signature mix of big vocals, big heart, and a bit of Bundy-girl comedy.

Why This Show Matters

This year, we’re raising funds for Housing Older Women’s Support Services (HOWSS)—an incredible organisation dedicated to supporting older women facing housing insecurity.

Let’s celebrate, uplift, and support our femmes in jazz, in music, and in our communities.

Don’t miss the ultimate jazz party hang!

Get your ticket now! $25 online | $30 at the door