Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption

Fresh from their successful Woodford Folk Festival shows Melody Graves and the Hokum Redemption (MGHR) bring their red-hot eight piece ensemble to JMI Live. Rooted in the jazz, swing, and blues traditions of the 1920s and ’30s, the band draws on the sounds of old New Orleans to deliver a style that feels both authentic and new.

Led by vocalist and washboard percussionist Melody Graves (Paula Hackney), whose influences include Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, and Louis Armstrong, MGHR are known for their standout musicianship and dynamic arrangements thanks to the seasoned players and soloists.

The ensemble features dual vocalists, with Dennis Duigan adding a distinctive ragtime and hokum blues edge (also on guitar and mandolin), alongside a three piece horn section—Alyssa Sinclair (trumpet), Zoe Atkinson (trombone), and Andrew Garton (clarinet)—and a driving rhythm section with Jordan Stitt (piano), Benja King (double bass), and Evan J. Evans (drumkit).

Recent highlights include appearances at Blues on Broadbeach, Fever’s The Jazz Room: A Journey to New Orleans, Maleny Music Festival, Jumpers and Jazz in July, and the Brisbane International Jazz Festival.

GIG DETAILS:

Thursday 26th March 2026

$20 Entry (+GST & BF)

Doors open from 7:30pm

Music starts at 8pm

ALL AGES (people under 18 need to be accompanied by a guardian)

LICENSED BAR