Frequently Asked Questions

All musicians need to complete an online Musician Registration. You will need the following information before you start: Full name, email address, mobile number, suburb, postcode, bank details if you wish to receive a disbursement (for those in a band of 11 or less, including the Band Leader). Name of band you are playing in (maximum four bands but we only guarantee two opportunities to play in two bands – these should be Bands 1 and 2), and the instrument you are playing in each band. Please note you can’t save the information midway but we do allow 30 minutes to complete the form.

On the ticketing page you will see a list of all tickets and registration options. If you are attending with your partner choose the Musician Registration WITH Partner – if not choose Musician Registration WITHOUT Partner. Scroll down to see the ENTER DETAILS button at the bottom of the page and click this to get to the next page. Simply fill in your information including the name/s of the band/s you are playing in and what instrument you play (just click the small arrows in the instrument box to get a complete list and click on the one that applies). Depending on the size of your band, you may be asked to complete the bank details for disbursement plus whether you are taking part in Jazz Quest. Scroll down to see the SAVE & CHECKOUT button, click on it and complete the payment section using either a credit/debit card or Paypal. All done! You will receive an email confirmation with your registration details within minutes.

If you are a Band Leader you will need to fill in a free Band Leader Registration as well as your Musician Registration. Please note you can’t save the information midway but we do allow 30 minutes to complete the form.

You will need to have the following information when you select the Band Leader Registration. Your full name, email address, mobile number, suburb, postcode, band name, number of band members, band style, time slots when band is not available to play and any specific band programming requests. Please click every time slot for which your band is not available. Remember to allow travel time if you are coming from another gig or event. Please remind your band members to complete their Musician Registration as the band will not be registered until all band members are registered. Band Leaders will be contacted after band registration, for a list of band members, as a cross check for programming.

On the ticketing page you will see a list of all tickets and registration options. Choose Band Leader Registration and enter the number of bands for which you are the Band Leader. Scroll down to see the ENTER DETAILS button at the bottom of the page and click on it. Simply fill in your information and the details of the band/s for which you are the Band Leader. This includes band name, number of band members, style and your availability for programming. If you are a Big Band Leader we will ask for bank details for disbursement to Big Bands. Scroll down to see the REGISTER button and click on it. You will see the details of your registration on screen and will receive an email confirmation with your registration details within minutes.

We will program you into the first two bands you have listed. If you have listed up to four bands we will try and program you into the third and fourth band but it is your responsibility to avoid clashes.

Please email us at merimbulajazzfestivalbookings@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Add Partner Ticket’ and we will advise the next steps.

If you have already submitted your Musician Registration ticket or Musician and Partner Registration ticket, please email us at merimbulajazzfestivalbookings@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Change My Bands’ and tell us which bands you will be playing in and what instruments you are playing in each band. Any changes must be notified by COB 16th March 2026. We will advise the next steps.

If you have already submitted your Band Leader Registration ticket and the number of musicians in your band has changed, please email us at merimbulajazzfestivalbookings@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Change Musician Numbers’ and tell us how many band members you will now have. Any changes must be notified by COB 16th March 2026. We will advise the next steps.

SOUND EQUIPMENT AT OUR FULL TIME VENUES

Our full time venues are Club Sapphire (Audi and Kitty’s Bar), The RSL (Function Room and Maple Leaf Room), Twyford Hall and The Lakeview Hotel.

BASS AMPLIFIER

Each venue will be equipped with a high quality bass amplifier. These feed the PA systems via a DI. Microphones for bass instruments are generally not used. It is preferred that musician use the amplifiers supplied.

DRUMS

Each venue will have a high quality jazz drum kit which will be tuned before each day’s performances. It is usual for some drummers to use their own cymbals or snare drum. If this is the case, it is important that the kit is returned to its original state at the end of the set.

PIANO/KEYBOARD

The RSL Maple Leaf Room and Lakeview Hotel will have baby grand pianos. Twyford hall will have an upright acoustic piano. The pianos are typically Yamaha or Kawai. The pianos are tuned daily. The other venues* will have digital keyboards.

STAGE MICROPHONES.

All venues will have at least 5 vocal/instrument stage microphones plus DIs. All microphones are of professional quality (typically SM58 or similar). If bands need unusual microphone requirements, they should talk to the sound engineer at the venue well ahead of their performance to see if they can be accommodated.

A band from a primary or secondary school in Australia. A band from a music school is not considered a school band. School band leaders are asked to fill in a special form available by clicking here.

We are excited to announce that our Jazz Lover Early Bird tickets providing a pass for the entire weekend 5th-8th June, 2026 – across all venues – are available. And great news, our Early Bird tickets are available until 16th March 2026.

If you have read through our ‘how to guides’ and they are not solving the issue you are having with your registration, please email us at merimbulajazzfestivalbookings@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Trouble with Registration’. Please include your mobile so that we can get in touch.

It’s possible to buy several different types of ticket in the one transaction, simply by clicking the number of tickets required in each drop down box on the ticketing page. For example you may be a Musician with a Partner, a Band Leader and also wish to buy a vocal workshop ticket and a Jazz Lover ticket for a friend. It’s no problem. Click all the drop down boxes that apply. Scroll down and click the ENTER DETAILS button. Our system will ask you to fill in all the requirements for each registration or ticketing option. Scroll down and click the SAVE & CHECKOUT button, enter your debit or credit card details and it’s all done in one transaction.

This year we are offering two vocal workshops as part of the Merimbula Jazz Festival. Each comes with the opportunity to perform during the festival as part of a large vocal group. Workshops are open to all registered attendees, Jazz Lovers, Musicians and Partners; no experience is needed to have fun. Beginners are welcome too.

Leisa Keen is very experienced as a musical conductor/director and choir director of large scale musicals, an award winning actress, great vocalist and a whizz keyboard player. The two workshops will be held on Saturday, 6th June 2026, in the morning and afternoon. If you’ve ever thought how wonderful it might be to sing as part of a gospel choir or in front of a big band – here’s your chance and beginners are welcome. Details will be sent to participants prior to the Saturday morning workshops.

Workshop Saturday. We also invite you to perform at the Jazz Ecumenical Service on Sunday morning at 11.30am – 12.30pm.

Workshop Saturday morning. You will also be given the opportunity to perform with a big band during the festival program.