2022
Community Music Update
In 2022 Jen is running the Swingalong Ukestra in Newport and Creswick and is available for uke and guitar workshops in many different styles.
Join Jen at The Whittlesea Uke Muster on 15 October 22 for a fabulous day of community uke playing. Jen will be teaching Speakeasy Blues and Gypsy Jazz with u-bass parts. Something for everyone:)
2020/2021
In 2020 and 2021 Jen delivered online community ukulele workshops for a gypsy jazz uke course with Anu Grace from Townsville, which ran all through lockdown with around 30 to 40 participants each month. In 2021 Jen moved her uke teaching into the real world again!
Head over to the community music tab to see online videos and find out more.
All about Jen…
Jen Hawley can be found exploring the cracks between jazz, blues and world music.
Well known and loved for her skills as a guitarist, uke player and singer, Jen has been performing in Australia and Europe for many years.
She is a graduate of the late great jazz tutor Bruce Clarke, and has worked with The Great Chefs of Europe, Alanna and Alicia, Alex Burns, Christophe Genoux and Blue Drag.
She is currently a member of The Royal High Jinx and Alanna And Old Hat as well as running her own jazz and euro style bands.
Originally from Sydney, Jen has been teaching and performing guitar and uke for many years. She has also made a name for herself in the community music sector, teaching at workshops at music camps and also creating The Footscray Gypsy Orchestra in 2011 (now run by Terry Cole) and Supporting Women in Blues (2014-2017). Jen currently runs The Swingalong Ukestra, based in Newport Vic.
Recordings
2002 Parisienne Swing – The Great Chefs of Europe
2003 Dr Knickerbocker – Mike Jackson
2003 Dark Waters Tango – Phil Carroll and David Wayman
2004 Cumquat Guitars Anthology – Bruce Clarke
2005 She Fly Away – Skirl
2007 Adventures in Paradise – Alex Burns
2011 Alex Burns and Jen Hawley Band – self titled.
2014 Your Place or Mine – The Royal High Jinx
2017 Wheel of Poor Choices – The Royal High Jinx
2018 Gone Gone Gone – The Royal High Jinx
2018 Kitchen Ballads – Enda Kenny
2019 Alanna and Old Hat – The Mood that I’m In.
Festivals include:
Just Shows To Go tours: 2002, 2013, 2019
Port Fairy Festival
St Kilda Festival
Frankston International Guitar Festival
Moonee Valley Festival
Bayside Festival
Bendigo Festival
Maroondah Festival
The Royal High Jinx Festivals 2018
2018 National Folk Festival Festival, The Royal High Jinx, Canberra, ACT, Australia
2018 Firelight Festival, The Royal High Jinx, Docklands, VIC, Australia
2018 SchaubudenSommer Festival, The Royal High Jinx, Dresden, Germany
2018 Alles Muss Raus Theaterfestival, The Royal High Jinx, Kaiserslautern, Germany
2018 BoulevArt Straßentheaterfest, The Royal High Jinx, Wismar, Germany
2018 Fleurieu Folk Festival, The Royal High Jinx, Willunga, SA, Australia
2018 Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, The Royal High Jinx, Kangaroo Valley, NSW, Australia
2019 Lunar New Year Festival, The Royal High Jinx, Footscray, VIC, Australia
Corporate Clients include:
National Gallery of Victoria opening weekend
Melbourne Cricket Club – Grand Final lunch
Melbourne Food & Wine Festival opening event
Grand Prix CEO retirement dinner
Olympic Games Parade 2004
Australian Tennis Open Championships
Victorian Racing Club – Melbourne Cup
Victoria University – Dean’s dinner
IBM
Clayton Utz
TXU
Myer VIP Charity Ball
Delfin Lend Lease
ANZ Private Bank
Geelong Football Club
ETM
BT Financial Group
Australian Institute of Credit Management
Wilkhahn Asia Pacific
Institute of Transport Engineers
Fund Executives Association Ltd
AWM Electrical
Venues include:
Sofitel Hotel
Parliament House
Grand Hyatt Hotel
Regent Theatre
National Gallery of Victoria
Port Melbourne Yacht Club
MCG
Arts Centre
Southbank
Crown Casino