The Royal High Jinx leaping through Melbourne's Block Arcade in full costume

Melbourne · Making fine tunes since 2015

Gypsy jazz, Balkan beats & glorious high jinx.

Violin, mandolin, guitar, keys and four voices: Melbourne's most colourful festival band. They call us the Balkan ABBA.

See us live Have a listen

New album · No. 4

Over The Top

Out Friday 13 November 2026

Ten brand new songs written over several years and across several countries: steep Greek staircases, hoedowns, carnival parades and our fur family all make an appearance. Some are true. Some are mostly true. Some should probably remain unexplained.

Tell me when it's out Follow on Spotify

Tour

Upcoming shows

Want to host a house concert, festival set or private party? Get in touch.

Listen

Three albums of catchy songs & infectious tunes

Murder Motel, Gone Gone Gone and Wheel of Poor Choices, with album number four on the way. Stream them anywhere, or buy CDs and downloads straight from us on Bandcamp. That's the one that helps the band the most.

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See what all the fuss is about

Who are these people?

Balkan ABBA?

Melbourne's enchanting contemporary world music group, The Royal High Jinx, has taken the Australian festival scene by storm, infusing stages with originality, virtuosity and theatrical flair. Their music draws from European traditions, adorned with gypsy jazz, Latin, Balkan & swing rhythms, and a touch of folk cabaret circus.

They've captivated European audiences on their "Gone Gone Gone" Germany tour and have played hundreds of shows in Australia and internationally. With three dynamic albums under their belt, they've been described as the "Balkan ABBA" for their catchy songs, infectious tunes and glamorous show.

As nominees for the AFMA People's Choice Award in 2023 and 2024, they are thrilled to celebrate with you, whether you're a fun-loving festival-goer or a fan of intimate house concerts. Immerse yourself in a world of excitement as Melbourne's most vibrant band joins you for a fun-filled night of singing, dancing and happiness.

Need copy for a program or press release? Copy-paste the above, and grab photos from the press kit.

Sarah Busuttil Palmer

Violin · Vocals · Chainsaw

Brings down the house with dazzling violin technique, angelic singing, amazing outfits and wild stage antics.

Silas Palmer

Keys · Drums · Keybass · Vocals

Sometimes performs the mesmerising feat of playing keyboards and drums at the same time.

Jen Hawley

Guitars · Ukulele · Vocals

Will wow you with exquisite gypsy guitar playing, velvet vocals and shiny uke shredding.

Terry Cole

Mandolin · Vocals · Balls · Stilts

Picks the mando with machine-like precision, sings like an angel, and performs devilishly tricky feats of juggling and circus.

For festivals & events

Dance workshops

In this interactive, practical session, Terry leads you step by step through dances from around the world, while Jen, Sarah and Silas provide a spicy live soundtrack of traditional world music songs and tunes that will bring rhythm to even the guiltiest of feet. (Yes, that's a George Michael reference.)

Beginner or seasoned dancer, Terry's unique and hilarious teaching style guarantees a great time while you learn several fun and unusual dances from all over the world. Bring your dancing shoes to a Royal High Jinx Dance Party!

Book a workshop

The band dancing through the Block Arcade

Kind words

What people are saying

“You can't help but be happy when you see these guys. Full of life, fabulous musicians, great costuming, stagecraft and chemistry. They deliver it all!”