Upbeat – Modern, Jazz, Funk and Latin tunes

Upbeat play a vibrant mix of Modern, Jazz, Latin and Funk-infused tunes that appeal to a whole range of audiences, from young people to older jazz lovers.

  • Upbeat’s five members are seasoned local musicians who have variously played international jazz festivals, recorded albums or performed for years around Byron Shire in other local bands and vocal groups.
  • Upbeat’s distinctive sound features sax (Peter Chown), guitar (Matt Moss), harmonica, mandolin, trombone (Michael Leach), bass (Dan Ewald) and drums (Ticker James).
  • Hear Upbeat play tunes by Prince, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, The Meters, Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn, Dave Grusin, Joe Zawinul, Freddie Hubbard, Horace Silver, Stanley Turrentine and Grover Washington, among others.
  • While we feature regular favourites, we include new and exciting tunes every few months to keep things fresh.
  • Upbeat is based in the beautiful Byron Shire in the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Upcoming Gigs

Join Upbeat at the Three Blue Ducks at The Farm, Ewingsdale (Byron Bay) from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm on the second Sunday of every month.


Our next gig is August 3 from 4-6 pm at Federal Hall, 3 Federal Drive Federal. Come to the Slip Party and celebrate the reopening of Federal Drive. 3pm til late.


Our next gig at Three Blue Ducks is August 11 from 12-30pm until 3.30pm.

Check Us Out On Youtube
Upbeat at Three Blue Ducks at The Farm in Ewingsdale (Byron Bay) with the Herbie Hancock tune, Cantaloupe Island

Upbeat at the 2023 Mullum Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party, the Prince tune, Thieves in the Temple, inspired by the Herbie Hancock arrangement

Upbeat at the Mullum Chamber of Commerce Christmas Party (2023) with the Miles Davis tune, All Blues

Upbeat playing Stevie Wonder’s fabulous tune, I Wish at the Three Blue Ducks , The Farm in Ewingsdale (Byron Bay)

Here is a snippet from our September 24 gig playing a David Sanborn arrangement of the Stanley Turrentine tune called Sugar.


Upbeat performing Sugar at Three Blue Ducks

Upbeat performed with Happy Africa at Afrobeats held at Burleigh Bazaar, July 2023

Upbeat performing Full House by David Sanborn at the nor’easter Music Festival in Lennox Head, February 25, 2023.


Send us an email if you’d like us to play at your next function.