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The Teskey Brothers Review: Jazz at the Bowl Melbourne

The Teskey Brothers Review: Jazz at the Bowl Melbourne

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival kicked off at Sidney Myer Music Bowl with Jazz at the Bowl, headlined by Australian band The Teskey Brothers. Celebrating 10 years of their breakthrough debut album Half Mile Harvest, the band delivered an evening of blues, soul and familiar favourites, with new music offering a glimpse of what might come next.

The Teskey Brothers Review: Jazz at the Bowl Melbourne
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, The Teskey Brothers, credit: Yoothz

It was my first time seeing The Teskey Brothers live, even though I have listened to their music for years. Their sound draws heavily on classic blues and soul, with influences from artists such as Otis Redding and Sam Cooke.

The Teskey Brothers’ journey began in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, where brothers Josh and Sam grew up playing music together. In their early days, they busked and played gigs around Melbourne before building a following.

Sidney Myer Music Bowl was a great setting for the show. The outdoor venue had a relaxed festival atmosphere, with people settling in to enjoy the music. Emily Wurramara opened the afternoon with her soulful blend of folk and blues, followed by funk legend Fred Wesley and the New JBs, who brought plenty of funk and energy to the stage. The Melbourne weather turned it on, too, with sunshine and blue sky all afternoon.

The Teskey Brothers Review: Jazz at the Bowl Melbourne
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, The Teskey Brothers, credit: Yoothz

Hearing them perform live made it easy to understand why they have built such a strong following in Australia and overseas. Watching Josh Teskey sing was one of the highlights of the night. His raw, soulful voice carried across the venue. His harmonica playing and guitar skills were just as impressive, adding another layer to the band’s bluesy sound.

His brother Sam was equally impressive on lead guitar, with his solos a real highlight. The brothers are supported by a talented band whose bass, drums, piano, trumpet and saxophone added depth to the performance.

The set celebrated a decade of Half Mile Harvest, with songs from the album alongside familiar favourites, including Crying Shame and Hold Me. The band also gave the audience a taste of some new songs they have been working on.

The Teskey Brothers Review: Jazz at the Bowl Melbourne
Melbourne International Jazz Festival, The Teskey Brothers, credit: Yoothz

One thing that stood out to me was how humble the band seemed. Despite their success, they looked genuinely happy to be on stage doing what they love. Josh regularly held his hand over his heart, showing his appreciation for the moment and the audience. It was a small gesture, but one that said a lot. The crowd brought plenty of energy of its own, with people singing along, clapping and dancing throughout the performance. As the sun went down over Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the band’s infectious rhythm and soulful vocals made it hard to sit still.

The Teskey Brothers were a fitting headline act for the opening event of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Seeing them live was well worth the wait, with Josh’s distinctive vocals, Sam’s impressive guitar playing and the natural connection between the brothers making for a memorable performance at Sidney Myer Music Bowl

The Melbourne International Jazz Festival runs until 25 October 2026, with performances taking place across Melbourne. 

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