The Great Scout Hall

A night of fearless improvisation and sonic exploration featuring some of Sydney’s most dynamic musicians. From the intimate interplay of Gill & Murphy-Haste, to the boundary-pushing Denley & Farrar Duo, this lineup celebrates jazz and experimental sound in thrilling new forms. Fate Maps redefines string ensemble improvisation, while BELIEVE delivers raw energy and transcendent beauty.

Sam Gill and Phillippa Murphy-Haste duo

Phillippa and Sam have been dipping into duo moments for almost a decade as members of Microfiche, and they’ve been playing as a duo in their own right since 2023. Their music casts a wide stylistic net, in freely improvised sets that draw on their shared love of jazz, folk music, contemporary chamber music and meditative minimalism. Expect the stage to be strewn with woodwind instruments large and small, as well as a viola for good measure.

Jim Denley / Peter Farrar Duo

Jim Denley and Peter Farrar are Sydney’s premier improvising alto saxophonists.

Jim and Peter have performed together many times in various improvising groups, notably as long-term members of the Splinter Orchestra and recently in the trio Vents with Dale Gorfinkel. This will be one of the few times they have collaborated in an alto saxophone duet and it promises to be an engrossing meeting of two unique personal approaches to a common instrument.

Fate Maps

Fate Maps is an improvising string ensemble convened by Sydney double bassist Clayton Thomas.

The ensemble combines string players from various backgrounds in improvised and classical music to produce unique real time music. Originally the ensemble was concentrated at the lower end of the violin family spectrum, featuring cellists Freya Schack-Arnott and Jack Ward along with double bassists Clayton Thomas and Ben Ward.

This performance will present a new and exciting version of this too little heard ensemble.

• Clayton Thomas, double bass

• Phillippa Murphy-Haste, viola

• Freya Schack-Arnott, cello

BELIEVE

BELIEVE have been described as a super-group, a Sydney staple and a local institution. Formed in February 2023, they are the hardest gigging free jazz band on the local scene and their experience of playing together has made them capable of peaks of intensity and beauty that few can match.

‘This is some of the most honest jazz being made in the world. This is truly music for our times.’ You better BELIEVE it! – Mike Nock

• Peter Farrar, alto saxophone

• Novak Manojlovic, piano

• Clayton Thomas, double bass

• Laurence Pike, drums

This event is part of the Dulwich Hill Relit Festival, proudly funded by the NSW Government.

Dulwich Hill Relit, showcasing genuinely innovative and cutting-edge contemporary music and performance.

With a strong emphasis on the use of unusual and innovative spaces and activations for performances, events and temporary venues within the Dulwich Hill village area.