Nocturnal x Jazz

Proudly delivered in collaboration with Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

Nocturnal returns in June, as Melbourne International Jazz Festival assembles an all-star cast including: Jazz Party, Horns of Leroy ft Thando, Tanya George, and surprise performances from special guests throughout the Museum!

There will be intimate expert talks and all spaces open for curious minds - including acclaimed new exhibition Revolutions: Records and Rebels. Grab your dancing shoes and get ready for a riot!
 

Horns of Leroy ft Thando

Inspired by flavours of New Orleans and Fitzroy, this seven-piece takes brass band music to a whole other level. From humble beginnings, Horns of Leroy have evolved from playing the streets of Melbourne to some of Australia's biggest festivals and stages. Whether you love them for their street parties or raucous stage shows, Horns of Leroy never fail to deliver.
 

Jazz Party

Led by local legends Darcy McNulty and Loretta Miller (both formerly of Clairy Browne & The Bangin Rackettes), Jazz Party are an ensemble of inimitable force. Their records and performances are a riot of rhythm, with wild horn sections, manic keys and - above all - soul, soul, soul. As attendees of Golden Plains, New Years Evie and WOMAD can attest, Jazz Party are a frenzy of melody and joy. Don't fight the feeling.
 

Tanya George

Armed with loop pedals and a five octave range, Tanya George is an architect of dense and beautiful vocal compositions. With nods to hip hop, soul, jazz and pop alike, George improvises her pieces on-the-spot, creating instant hits that bounce off her crowd and exist only in the moment.
 

Nocturnal talks

• The Melbourne Story exhibition becomes our art-deco salon for the evening, with secret serenades to Phar Lap and resident Museum experts Deborah Tout-Smith and Hannah Perkins sharing an up-close look at treasured collection items from the jazz age and beyond.
• In the Science and Life gallery meet master preparators Sara Smith and Steve Sparrey as they deliver a rare peek at the amazing moulding and casting techniques used within the Museum's collections and exhibitions.
   

Revolutions: Records and Rebels exhibition

This blockbuster exhibition was developed by the V&A team behind David Bowie and Kylie: The Exhibition, the exhibition brings together over 600 incredible objects to tell the story of 1966-70 as five years that shook the world. Truly, madly, deeply "mind-bending".

Highlights for jazz aficionados include: John Peel's personal record collection; gorgeous stills from the Herbie Hancock-scored masterpiece Blow Up; a Woodstock audiovisual experience featuring Sly and the Family Stone, and clock artefacts from Miles Davis' iconic performance to 600,000 revelers at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970.
 

Coming up: Nocturnal October featuring Tora

On Friday October 4, Byron Bay electronic quartet Tora will headline Nocturnal with their blissful sounds, in celebration of sophomore LP 'Can't Buy the Mood'. Textured, vibrant and intoxicating sounds are coming to Melbourne Museum, with a full line-up of performers and expert talks soon to be announced.

Tora have been spun on the BBC by Sir Elton John, clocked 100 million+ streams globally, and sold out sets in Melbourne, Paris, and London. Tone Deaf called them 'enthralling'. Triple J's Dave Ruby Howe declared their sounds 'smooth like butter'. Melbourne, this is your once chance to catch Tora live on this tour.

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