Perth will step firmly onto the global jazz stage as the 2025 Perth International Jazz Festival (PIJF) kicks off this Saturday night, producing its most prestigious program in history.
Across 14 days from 18 October – 2 November, audiences will experience four GRAMMY Award-winning artists, the highest concentration of international jazz stars ever presented in Western Australia. This landmark program represents a defining cultural moment for both the festival and the city.
At its heart is two-time GRAMMY-winning vocalist Gregory Porter – the most celebrated artist ever to headline PIJF. He will be joined by fellow luminaries Samara Joy, Bill Frisell, and Hiromi, completing the lineup of jazz heavyweights.
Festival Director Dr Mace Francis said:
“To welcome artists of this calibre to Perth, for the very first time, is extraordinary. Gregory Porter alone is a once-in-a-generation performer, but to host him alongside Samara Joy, Bill Frisell, and Hiromi is truly remarkable.”
But 2025 is not just about big names. PIJF is expanding in bold new directions, breathing life into the revived Liberty Theatre with a week of late-night underground shows at an accessible price point.
Tickets start from just $15, or audiences can secure a $95 Liberty Pass for entry to all four performances including Melanie Charles (USA) with Ignabu & Paul Wilson Bae, Jam Session with Edward, Tom Ollendorff Trio (UK), and the Sandy Evans Trio & Holly Moore Quintet — making world-class international jazz more attainable than ever.
The program also features an intimate screening of Bill Frisell: A Portrait, underscoring PIJF’s commitment to offering diverse and memorable cultural experiences with both the film maker and Frisell present for Q&A.
Behind the scenes, 2025 marks a year of transformation. Long-time Artistic Director Dr Mace Francis steps into the role of Festival Director, supported by new board members acclaimed Australian jazz musician Dr Jamie Oehlers and former Perth City Councillor Sandy Anghie, ushering in a fresh era of leadership and vision for the festival’s future.
This evolution follows PIJF’s recent APRA AMCOS Art Music Award win for festival growth, cementing its reputation as one of Australia’s most dynamic and forward-looking music festivals.
Francis says this year’s program reflects a cultural turning point for Perth:
“Jazz is moving beyond outdated perceptions and reaching broader audiences of genuine music lovers. Every artist brings new sounds and new inspiration, and that energy continues to ripple across our city long after the festival ends.”
With its biggest bill in history, diverse programming and a wave of new partnerships, PIJF 2025 is more than a festival. It’s a landmark cultural event series for Perth and a statement to the nation.
PIJF kicks off with a record-breaking festival launch at Brookfield Place this Saturday 18 October.
After back-to-back sell-outs in 2023 and 2024, the PIJF Launch at Brookfield Place returns for its third year. This time it promises to be bigger, buzzier and brimming with energy, as more than 3,500 people are expected to flood into the city centre for a night inspired by New York’s great jazz haunts.
From 4:00pm until midnight, Brookfield Place’s bars, restaurants and brand-new open-air zone will come alive in one continuous celebration of jazz. Across nine venues, a hand-picked lineup curated by Festival Director Dr Mace Francis will showcase the best of WA talent, from soulful trios and big boss brass to experimental grooves and late-night jams, each space transformed into a gateway to the world’s great jazz cities.
Venues including Print Hall, W Churchill, Papi Katsu, Bob’s Bar, Bobeche, Small Print, Bar Lafayette, The Heritage Wine Bar and Lupe’s Cerveceria will add their own flair, layering food, drink and atmosphere into the soundtrack of the night.
New for 2025, the Brookfield Place podium will become a vibrant open-air precinct and the beating heart of the celebrations. Expect a high-energy program of live bands, pop-up bars and a festive atmosphere that spills well into the night.
Established in 2012, PIJF was the brain-child of (the late) Associate Professor Graham Wood. The purpose of the PIJF is to promote jazz music to the wider community, including the international community.
It aims to bring inspiring music by talented musicians from around Australia and the world to Western Australia, and present creative programs in an accessible and vibrant way. Their vision is to become nationally and internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s iconic jazz festivals and attract distinguished jazz performers from all around the globe.
Perth International Jazz Festival kicks off this Saturday and runs 18 October – 2 November 2025.
Launch info: https://perthjazzfest.com/program/2025-pijf-launch-at-brookfield-place/
Website: https://perthjazzfest.com/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/perthjazzfestival/
Hero image photo by Corey James
