Jazz festival back in the spring
It is going to take more than coronavirus to stop the Manawatu¯ Jazz and Blues Festival.
The largest jazz festival in New Zealand has been taking the stage in Palmerston North for more than 50 years, and this year is no exception.
The festival was originally scheduled for Queen’s Birthday Weekend, but the plug was pulled due to alert level 2 restrictions, after much deliberation and unsuccessful attempts at downsizing
Now the nation is alert level 1, with no limits on audience and crowd sizes, the festival had been revived and renamed the Manawatu¯ Jazz & Blues Festival Decanted.
Artistic director Rodger Fox said the festival would be based at The Globe, and provide aweekend of jazz and blues from October 28 to November 1. ‘‘We know how disappointed people were that our Queen’s Birthday festival couldn’t go ahead, but now we’re offering a spring attraction of quality jazz and blues for them to enjoy.’’
It will involve hundreds of performers, with hopes of packing out cafes and bars with visitors to the city. The festival would profile jazz, blues, big band, Kevin Downing’s guitar experience and artists with their own jazz specialty.
It would showcase New Zealand and regional artists, such as Andrew London, Blues Buffet with Erna Ferry, and the Swamp City Big Band in the big band bash.
More artists will be announced as the event approaches. A feature would be the ‘‘cafe scene’’ where, for the price of an Earl Grey or a trim flat white, patrons could experience live music.
The Star Shine competition will feature big bands and combos from secondary schools throughout New Zealand, attending master classes and competing for awards.
Fox said support from Palmerston North City Council kept ticket prices affordable at $15.