Polish your dancing shoes and prepare for a night of big-band brilliance and sheer delight. Ali Bodycoat returns with The Embassy Big Band for another round of swinging, sumptuous melodies and outrageously good times. Dress up, bring your favourite people and let the music take over. Your dance floor awaits.
Dates & Times
Fri 27 & Sat 28 Feb
Show 7pm
Duration 1hr 45mins including interval
Access
Tickets
Ticket Notes
Discount available with Festival Club membership.
Mob Tix available for First Nations audiences.
FAQs here.
Location
The Embassy, Perth Town Hall 601 Hay St, Koorari / Perth CBD
More infoNotes
Persons under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (such as a parent or legal guardian).
Polish your dancing shoes and prepare for a night of big-band brilliance and sheer delight. Ali Bodycoat returns with The Embassy Big Band for another round of swinging, sumptuous melodies and outrageously good times. Dress up, bring your favourite people and let the music take over. Your dance floor awaits.
More info
Ali Bodycoat
Ali Bodycoat has a vocal performance history that is deeply rooted in the West Australian jazz, music, and cultural scene. She has been a Perth mainstay for over 30 years, holding a 17-year residency with the Ali Bodycoat Trio and performing for over 17 years of regular listings at The Ellington Jazz Club with her Quartet, amongst other multiple collaborations.
Ali has performed at the Perth International Jazz Festival, Perth Festival, Fringe Festival, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra, and Perth Symphony Orchestra, and has supported Vince Jones, Marcia Hynes and David Campbell. She has created, co-created, written and performed in a plethora of award-winning shows such as Minor Major Marlene, From Bodycoat to Barbra, Over the Rainbow and Bringing Back Bacharach.
Ali's most recent collaboration with Perth Festival commenced in February 2025 with the formation of Ali Bodycoat + The Embassy Big Band - an 18-piece jazz big band led by acclaimed pianist and MD, Tom O'Halloran with Western Australia’s finest jazz musicians.
This reimagining of the iconic Embassy Ballroom at Perth Town Hall continues, following two sellout runs into the third season for the 2027 Festival over four performances.
Tom O'Halloran
Tom O'Halloran is an award-winning jazz pianist, composer, arranger, conductor and educator based in Perth. In 2027 he will return for his third year as Musical Director of the Embassy Big Band at Perth Festival, bringing extensive experience as a performer, composer and leader of large jazz ensembles.
Tom is the recipient of the APRA Art Music Award for Jazz Work of the Year, West Australian Music Awards for Best Jazz Artist and Best Keys & Synth Artist, and the 2009 ABC Limelight Magazine Award for Best Jazz Achievement for his album We Happy Few. He has performed throughout Australia and internationally, including appearances in Malaysia, the United States, Italy, the United Arab Emirates and New Zealand. Career highlights include performances at the Sydney Opera House and appearances alongside internationally acclaimed artists including Robert Hurst, Walter Smith III and Peter Bernstein.
A passionate advocate for new Australian jazz, Tom has written extensively for big band, jazz orchestra and other large-scale projects. His composition My Voice, A Trigger for Change brought together the unusual combination of big band and jazz vocal choir, reflecting his ongoing interest in expanding the creative possibilities of contemporary jazz ensemble writing. He has also written and arranged music for leading Australian jazz vocalist Emma Pask in big band settings. Alongside his performance and compositional work, Tom is Senior Lecturer in Jazz Studies at WAAPA, where he teaches and mentors the next generation of Australian jazz musicians.