Jazzing up Waiheke Island for Easter

Nathan Haines. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

The Waiheke Island International Jazz Festival is back this Easter with a dixieland gypsy band from Denmark as the headliners.

Cheeky quartet the Dixieland Gipsy Band play a foot-stomping and feelgood brand of music and mix it with a few good laughs up on stage. Joining them on the bill is New York singer Shaynee Rainbolt, Indonesian guitarist Jonas Julio, who will perform a one-off concert with New Zealand's Nairobi Trio, and local acts include Nathan Haines, Sola Rosa, Graham Wardrop, The Grand Central Band, The Jews Brothers, Caitlin Smith and up-and-comers The Jimmy Garden Quartet. This year's festival, the first since 2006, will be held in four locations - The Dunes in Onetangi, Rangihoua Estate in Rocky Bay, Waiheke Island Resort in Palm Beach, and The Bay in Matiatia - from April 22 to April 24, with Jazzabout buses transporting concert-goers from venue to venue.

The festival starts on Good Friday with the Jazz 'n' Sizzle bash at The Bay and ends with a Grand Finale Concert featuring an all-star cast also at the Bay at 6pm.

Tickets and more information from eventfinder.co.nz or waihekejazzfestival.co.nz. The last day for earlybird tickets is today.

- TimeOut