Jazzing things up with streets full of music
THE sounds of South America floated around Oamaru’s Victorian precinct at the Harbour St Jazz and Blues Festival yesterday morning, captivating those who tapped along.
Dunedinbased fourpiece Plastico were responsible for the lively tunes, a band that has performed regularly over the years.
Frontman and guitarist Luis Rodriguez, originally from Caracas, Venezuela, said the band always looked forward to playing at the weekendlong festival.
‘‘We love coming to Oamaru. The atmosphere is amazing and the people are very friendly. The festival is very well organised and they make us feel so comfortable and welcome.’’
Prior to the band’s outdoor performance in Harbour St yesterday, it also played to a packed house at the Grainstore Gallery on Saturday night.
While guest artists join Plastico from time to time, its core members are Mr Rodriguez, Matt Wooes (keyboard), Marco Vega (bass) and percussionists Joe Stefano and Ed Lobo.
Mr Rodriguez, who used to play in a rock band and produced electronic music, said Plastico’s influences were solely Latinbased.
‘‘I ended up playing Latin music that my parents used to listen to. I really love it, especially being so far away from home, so the connection is there. A lot of the songs we play are very famous and I have a strong connection with them.’’
More than two dozen acts performed at venues around the town or on Harbour St itself as part of the festival, while a talent quest was also staged at the event.
The festival wrapped up last evening with performances by The Foxy Tines and Queenstown Jazz Orchestra at the Loan and Merc.
Harbour St Jazz and Blues Festival committee member Lucianne White said the festival had grown each year.
‘‘This has been an exceptional year. The streets are filled with music and the streets are filled with people. It’s just amazing and we are thrilled to pieces.
‘‘I think this year we had a really strong team of people behind it that have worked really hard. I think we’ll just keep building on that.’’