Jazz fans will be treated to the excitement of a new location for the final day of this year's 55th annual Jazz Festival.
Jazz fans will be treated to the excitement of a new location for the final day of this year's 55th annual Jazz Festival.
For years Tauranga's Historic Village has played host to the festival's final day of performances but this year the Jazz Village will be replaced by the TECT Waterfront Gala.
Taking place on Easter Monday, it would be a great day of live music, food and market stalls, against the stunning backdrop of the Tauranga Harbour.
Organiser Janie Hyde said the gala would take place with the new tidal stairs to be opened just in time for the event.
"This will be the first event held in the area, people can enjoy the stairs as well as the event. It will be a big band bonanza."
The festival would be resting the Jazz Village this year while upgrades were carried out at the Historic Village but had plans to reinstate the popular event in future.
The Tauranga Big Band would perform with the Queen City Big Band from Auckland, she said.
They were hoping 5000 people would turn up to the new gala.
The festival which will take place on Easter weekend (April 13-17) was launched tonight at Baycourt with a host of special guests.
National Jazz Festival director Becks Chambers said she was delighted to announce the line up for the 55th festival.
"We have a scintillating selection of music mastery with our Baycourt Concert Series - including performances from Alchemy, the one-and-only Rodger Fox Funkbone Experience, stunning jazz vocalist Nichaud Fitzgibbon, and acoustic guitar sensation Paul Ubana Jones."
There would also be a Downtown Carnival with jazz, blues and funk music on The Strand, a Family Fun Zone and street performances, she said.
"The Hurricane Party offers two nights to get your groove on, featuring Swamp Thing, The Hipstamatics and The Cactus Channel.
"What's more, history buffs must get to Baycourt to check out our exhibition acknowledging 40 years of the National Youth Jazz Competition - you'll be amazed to see who has graced our stages over the years."
Vice President Tauranga Jazz Society Liam Ryan and Amanda Ryan at the launch of the 55th National Jazz Festival. Photo/George Novak
What's on offer this year:
Baycourt Concert Series, which includes Alchemy, The Rodger Fox Funkbone Experience features American guests Dewayne Pate and Matt Harris, Nichaud Fitzgibbon and acoustic guitar sensation Paul Ubana Jones
Downtown Carnival - two days of jazz, blues and funk on The Strand
Hurricane Party on the Waterfront - two nights to get your groove on - featuring Blues Roots from Swamp Thing, The Hipstamatics and Melbourne's The Cactus Channel
The TECT Waterfront Gala on Easter Monday featuring a big band bonanza with music from the Tauranga Big Band and the Queen City Big Band, food and market stalls from The Little Big Markets
40th National Youth Jazz Competition, where young jazz performers from secondary schools all over New Zealand compete for trophies
History Buffs must get to Baycourt to check out our exhibition acknowledging 40 years of the National Youth Jazz Competition - you'll be amazed to see who has graced our stages over the years!
