George Washingmachine & Jim Pennell // Live

Musician, actor and comedian extraordinaire, GEORGE WASHINGMACHINE, is returning to the Blue Mountains to perform alongside the fabulous, JIM PENNELL. Violin and guitar combine to make a wonderful string section, alongside luscious vocals and the rich vein of jazz classics from the last century. This show is sure to thrill, so book your tickets now!

GEORGE WASHINGMACHINE & JIM PENNELL // Saturday, February 27th, 2021 // Doors 6:00 pm // Tickets: $89.50 ea

Location: Pigeon Lane @ GalleryONE88, Katoomba. 186-188 Katoomba St, Katoomba

Ticket price includes a 2-course meal & event memorabilia // This is a seated performance // BYO alcohol // COVID-Safe Event. We recommend that you visit our good friends at Leura Cellars en route to GalleryONE88, who provide an exquisite selection of wines, beer, and spirits, including locally brewed beers from ‘Mountain Culture’ and ciders from ‘Hillbilly’.

GEORGE WASHINGMACHINE –

Singing and fiddling aside, George is a multi-instrumentalist – proficient on double bass, guitar or anything with strings! George is also a sought after MC – and has hosted ‘Jazz in the Domain’ several times, as well as ‘The Darling Harbour Jazz Festival’ and presented concerts at ‘The Thredbo Jazz Festival’ and the ‘Taronga Park Zoo New Year’s Eve Party’. George has also worked in TV and radio. You may have heard George as the voice behind the recent Banana Boat campaign, or his fiddle playing & scatting on the Uncle Toby’s campaign. George is also a composer in his own right.

He recently composed the music for the Qantas Business Class Lounge commercial and has written everything from Rock and Roll Nursery rhymes for Mr Squiggle to music for the Bell Shakespeare Company. George’s acting gigs include guest roles on TV shows like Chances and A Country Practice. He also worked in theatre, playing Guildenstern in Neil Armfield’s production of Hamlet – where he shared the stage with Richard Roxborough, Geoffrey Rush, David Wenham, Jacqueline McKenzie, and a host of other acting luminaries.

Many moons ago, George even took over the role of Jake Blues from Russell Crowe in the official tribute to the Blues Brothers, produced by Paul Dainty.

But of course, you’re here for the music. As a child he trained for 7 years as a classical violinist, however, left all that behind when he formed his rhythm & blues band, The Dead Wringers in which he played the guitar and sang. In 1984, George moved to Sydney and started playing jazz fiddle with The Conway Brothers Hiccup Orchestra. In the same year, he performed with Graham Bond in the stage show “Captain Bloody”.

In 1985 he worked with Circus Oz and did some featured extra work in the film Bliss and the television mini-series “Shout! The Johnny O’Keefe Story”. A foray into Shakespeare followed with Hamlet in 1986 for The Adelaide Arts Festival. In the same year, he toured to the UK and Edinburgh Festival with The Hiccups Orchestra and was musical director and acted for The Sydney Theatre Company’s production of “The King Of Country”.

In 1987 George and guitarist Ian Date formed Sweet Atmosphere, a string jazz quartet. They released their debut self-titled album in 1989. George continued acting over the next few years with the Canberra Theatre Company, Jigsaw Theatre Company, the Storytellers Theatre Company and the Darwin Theatre Company. In 1990 he formed Jalousie with Ignatious Jones. He also composed music for such notable productions as Mr Squiggle and the Bell Shakespeare Theatre Company.

In 1991 he played the lead role of Cookie in the musical, “Return To The Forbidden Planet”, which toured to Melbourne in 1992 and Brisbane in 1993. In 1992 he performed as an alien grub in the television series “Miraculous Mellops”, acted the part of a drunk in “Miss Julie” for the Sydney Theatre Company and accompanied Wendy Harmer on a national tour of “Please Send More Money”.

He also played a guest role in one of the final episodes of “Chances”, and in “A Country Practice”. In 1993 George performed the role of Jake, in “The Official Tribute To The Blues Brothers Show”. 1994 saw George appear as Guildenstern in “Hamlet” for Company B at Belvoir St, Crook Finger Jack in “The Threepenny Opera” for the STC; Bush Band Member in the film “On Our Selection” and started 1995 appearing as Lord Chamberlain in “Cinderella”.