Presented by Melbourne Recital Centre in arrangement with Calibre Music Management
Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen
Two-time Grammy winner Jon Cleary brings the grit, funk, and joy of New Orleans to the stage.
After 35 years at the forefront of New Orleans' ever-evolving musical landscape, two-time Grammy Award winner Jon Cleary brings audiences a musical tour-de-force that showcases the grit, funk, and joy that’s packed concert halls from his home in New Orleans to London, Tokyo and beyond.
Making his highly anticipated Melbourne Recital Centre debut, Cleary and his celebrated band, the Absolute Monster Gentlemen, deliver their unmistakable take on New Orleans soul and R&B.
'Sophisticated, nasty, good-time, low-down funk is the folk music of New Orleans. Everyone playing on this stage is a New Orleanian by birth or by choice, having learned their craft at the feet of the masters who in turn were taught by the old lions in their day – it's a tradition stretching back over two hundred years.' – Jon Cleary
Praise for Jon Cleary
‘He’s the eighth wonder of the world.’ – Bonnie Raitt
‘His songwriting is pure New Orleans.’ – NPR’s All Things Considered
‘Music as broad, deep and roiling as the Mississippi River.’ – David Fricke
Duration: 2 hours 30 mins (incl. interval). Please note, running times are approximate and subject to change.
Ticket Prices
A Reserve $79
B Reserve $69
A Transaction Fee between $4 and $8.50 applies to orders made online and by phone. Delivery Fees may also apply. A ticket limit of six is in place online to ensure fair ticket access for all. Want to bring a bigger party? Call our Box Office during business hours on (03) 9699 3333 to book.
About the Artist
Born in London and on a plane to New Orleans before he turned twenty years old, Jon Cleary grew up absorbed by the sounds and rhythms of the Crescent City. His mastery of the city’s music landed him gigs playing as a session musician in the bands of local legends Earl King, Johnny Adams, Walter ‘Wolfman’ Washington, Snooks Eaglin, Ernie K-Doe, Jessie Hill – and as a guitarist for Dr John. He later toured extensively with icons like Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal. His solo career began in earnest in 1989 and includes beloved records like their self-titled band debut and his 2015 Grammy winner, Go-Go Juice.
2026 will see the release of Live at the Royal Albert Hall, a solo performance and piano tour-de-force where you can hear Cleary invite the crowd at the venerable London institution to 'stomp your hands, clap your feet, and turn this hall into a back-alley juke joint in New Orleans.'
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