The Melbourne International Jazz Festival has today revealed the first three international acts set to grace stages across the city in October 2025, featuring some of the most exciting names in contemporary jazz.
Jazz-loving Melburnians, mark your calendars – Melbourne International Jazz Festival just dropped its first lineup bomb for 2025.
The festival has unleashed its opening salvo with three international heavyweights set to light up the city this October. Two-time Grammy winner Gregory Porter, Japanese piano virtuoso Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet, and funk collective LETTUCE lead the charge in what’s shaping up to be an absolute ripper of a program.
Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2025
- Across Melbourne from 17 to 26 October
- Gregory Porter – Friday 24 October 2025, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
- LETTUCE – Friday 24 October 2025, 170 Russell
- Hiromi: The Piano Quintet – Sunday 26 October 2025, Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne
- Subscriber Pre-sale: 11am, Thursday 3 April
- General Public On-sale: 11am, Friday 4 April
- The full program will be announced in August
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Two-time Grammy winner Gregory Porter to headline
Soul-jazz heavyweight Gregory Porter will bring his velvety baritone to Hamer Hall on Friday 24 October. Known for his commanding stage presence and deeply personal songwriting, Porter has become one of the most respected voices in contemporary jazz since his breakthrough album Liquid Spirit, which sold over a million copies and earned him his first Grammy Award.
The American vocalist seamlessly blends jazz, soul and gospel influences, creating a sound that pays homage to legends like Nat King Cole while establishing his own distinctive musical identity. His powerful yet tender delivery has captivated audiences worldwide.
Funk powerhouse LETTUCE set to ignite 170 Russell
Grammy-nominated six-piece LETTUCE will bring their high-octane funk fusion to 170 Russell on the same night (24 October). The Boston-originating collective has built a reputation for explosive live performances that blend razor-sharp musicianship with infectious grooves.
Throughout their career, LETTUCE have released eight studio albums, including the Grammy-nominated Elevate and their latest release Unify, which features legendary bass player Bootsy Collins. Their signature sound effortlessly fuses funk, jazz, soul, rock, psychedelia and hip-hop elements, creating an unmistakable sonic cocktail that’s guaranteed to move bodies.
Hiromi returns with groundbreaking Piano Quintet
After a nine-year absence from Melbourne’s stages, virtuoso pianist Hiromi will return to Hamer Hall on Sunday 26 October with an exciting new collaboration. Hiromi: The Piano Quintet sees the Japanese keyboard innovator joining forces with multi-Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet to create a boundary-pushing musical experience that seamlessly bridges jazz and classical worlds.
Hiromi’s extraordinary career has included collaborations with legends such as Chick Corea and Stanley Clarke, 12 acclaimed albums, and a performance at the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony. Together with PUBLIQuartet, she continues to push the limits of genre, crafting a high-energy live experience unlike anything else in contemporary music.
MIJF Artistic Director Michael Tortoni says: “This is just a sneak peek at what’s shaping up to be another inspiring and diverse Festival program. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the extraordinary and unique talent of Gregory Porter, Hiromi, and LETTUCE, who are set to deliver unforgettable performances at our Festival in 2025.”
The full program for the Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2025 will be announced in August, with pre-sale tickets for these three headline shows available from 11am Thursday 3 April, and general public tickets on sale from 11am Friday 4 April.
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