Two of Australia's most accomplished jazz musicians, award-winning pianist Matt McMahon and long-time collaborator and guitarist Carl Dewhurst, come together to open the Live at the Village 2025 concert series in April. A duo known for their delicate soundscapes, expect an intimate night of originals, traditional Irish tunes, free improvisation, much-adored 'not-so-standard' standards, and two musicians at the top of their game. Join Live at the Village for a memorable night of world-class live music - see you there!

MATT MCMAHON & CARL DEWHURST: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE [2025 CONCERT SERIES] // Saturday 5 April 2025 // Doors 7:30 pm; Show 8:00 pm // Tickets: $35 or $28 Concession

Location: Springwood Presbyterian Church Hall. 160 Macquarie Rd, Springwood NSW.

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/ MATT MCMAHON /
Matt McMahon is a Sydney-based pianist/composer who has been actively performing and recording music since 1993. His accomplishments include winning the National Jazz Award (Wangaratta 1999), the Freedman Jazz Fellowship (2005), and he has appeared on several ARIA and Bell award-winning albums.

Matt released his debut album “Paths and Streams” (2006) to critical acclaim, and his Matt McMahon Trio album “Ellipsis” in 2007. “The Voyage of Mary and William”, a solo piano album, came out in 2015. He co-leads the Band of Five Names with Simon Barker and Phil Slater. His compositions appear on film, television and many albums – he is regularly commissioned to produce new work.

He has performed in the groups of some of Australia’s most distinguished jazz musicians – Dale Barlow, Bernie McGann, David Theak, Jonathan Zwartz, Steve Hunter, Jamie Oehlers, Simon Barker, Andrea Keller, Sandy Evans, Carl Dewhurst, and Phil Slater. He appears on over ninety albums with these musicians and others – including three as a leader and seven as a co-leader. Matt has performed with many visiting artists on their Australian tours, including Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Previte, Greg Osby, Bob Hurst, Aaron Goldberg, Joe Lovano and Mary Coughlan.

Matt is Vince Jones’ pianist/musical director and has been performing, touring, co-writing and recording with Vince since 2000. He has also collaborated with many other musicians, such as Katie Noonan, Darren Percival, Emma Pask, Kristin Beradi, Virna Sanzone, Jackie Orszaczky, and Tina Harrod.

Matt has embraced music of great stylistic diversity – appearing with Tim Freedman, Baecastuff, Gurrumul, Joseph Tawadros (Oud virtuoso), Michael McMahon (folk singer/guitarist), Sharon Shannon (Irish accordionist), Christina Leonard (classical saxophonist), Daorum (Simon barker’s collaboration with Korean Pansori singer Bae Il Tong), Bandaluzzia (Flamenco), and Jenny Erikkson (Viola da Gamba specialist).

Matt is also a radio broadcaster at Eastside Radio 89.7FM, where he has presented his weekly jazz program “Blow” for over twenty years. He also teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

/ CARL DEWHURST /
A leading figure in the jazz and improvised music scene, Carl can effortlessly slide across genres from pop to world music, rock to blues, blurring them at will.

Carl has led his own jazz trio and quartet and is co-leader of Showa 44, with drummer Simon Barker. He has also collaborated with a long and impressive list of international and Australian artists across several genres. See carldewhurst.com.au for details.

“Dewhurst is an exceptional guitarist. He reinvents himself and his sound for different contexts, always playing with commitment, imagination and heart.”
- Sydney Morning Herald.

“..one of the warmest and most versatile jazz musicians to emerge here in the past decade”
- Sydney Morning Herald.

“In this age of convergent politics and convergent art it's refreshing to know anarchy still has a champion, and his name is Carl Dewhurst…he is such a pure, intuitive improviser… Like a liquid, Dewhurst fills any context, but never blandly so.”
- Sydney Morning Herald.

“ (Dewhurst)… is the hallmark of contemporary creativity.”
- Drum Media.

“His sound carves the raw edge between jazz, blues, rock and funk.”
- Drum Media

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/ LIVE AT THE VILLAGE /
Live at the Village has been presenting music concerts in the iconic Blue Mountains since 2009. We are dedicated to presenting the best Australian contemporary composers and musicians in an eclectic range of music styles, including world, jazz, soul, folk, and all improvised music genres. Performances occur at Springwood in the lower Blue Mountains, just over an hour west of the centre of Sydney. Live at the Village members are professional musicians of national standing and music lovers.

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/ THE SCHEDULE /

Date: Saturday, 5 April 2025.
Venue: Springwood Presbyterian Church Hall. 160 Macquarie Rd, Springwood NSW.

Doors Open: 7:30 pm
First Set: 8:00-8:45 pm
Second Set: 9:15-10:00 pm

Tickets: General Admission $35 or Concessions $28

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