Doors 5pm
Show 6pm
ELLINGTON SWEET 16 FESTIVAL: SIXTEEN YEARS OF SWEET JAZZ
20th February – 2nd March 2025
In our festival finale, the Ellington’s glittering golden girls, Ali Bodycoat, Libby Hammer, Jessie Gordon and Simone Craddock, invite you to celebrate their beloved club with an afternoon of world-class vocal jazz and much merriment!
16 years is a remarkable achievement and through thick and thin, The Ellington has prevailed, giving local, national and international artists a space in which to flourish, supported by the brilliance of our dedicated audiences.
Accompanied by a swinging trio, our wonderful Divas celebrate their favourite jazz club with highlights from their rich and varied repertoire. There will be heavenly harmony, heartwarming anecdotes and as always when these ladies come together, much hilarity!
So raise your glasses high and let’s toast to The Ellington Jazz Club’s Sweet 16th birthday… and here’s to another sixteen years of sweet jazz!
Ali Bodycoat is Perth’s femme fatale. Winner of the Fringe World WA Cabaret Award 2017 for her original show Minor Major Marlene and owner of the long running 17 year jazz trio residency with Graham Wood and many other Perth-born jazz luminaries, performing with our very own WASO, for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and throughout WA, Ali is one of Perth’s most respected artists.
Libby Hammer is a performer whose talents know no bounds. She sings, composes, plays the ukulele, walks on stilts, sews glorious costumes and has a strong fan base among Perth’s 3 – 6 year olds. She is Perth’s own resident jazz diva, a multiple WAMI award winner and recipient of the WA Children’s Event Fringe World Award for her 2017 original music show Crazy Hat Day.
Jessie Gordon is a very sun-shy red-head who enjoys dirty jazz and even dirtier martinis! She has toured through Europe, South East Asia and Australia and is a multi-award-winning writer, vocalist and instrumentalist. Jessie has fronted countless bands over the years and broken records for Fringe World wins with her popular shows. She is a prolific recording artist and Perth’s own sweetheart.
Simone Craddock is a West End leading lady turned multiple award-winning Jazz Songstress. Returning home from a dazzling career in London 6 years ago, Simone won the 2020 Fringe World Overall Music & Musicals Award for Nina, Love Simone. She has performed at Ronnie Scotts, Houses of Parliament, sung with The Perth Symphony Orchestra, starred at His Majesty’s Theatre and has been commissioned to sing for two Governors of Western Australia.
