All that jazz and lots of blues at festival

Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes will bring their updated version of swing to this weekend's Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival.

This weekend's Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival boasts one of the strongest line-ups in the event's 30-year history, organiser Shirley May says.

Headline act is New Orleans trombone player Robert Harris, putting in his second appearance at the festival.

He will be joined by eight bands from across the Tasman, including the Melbourne-based James Southwell Band with some of Australia's top musicians, and a host of Kiwi acts old and new.

Kiwi blues veteran Midge Marsden, backed by guitarist Chet O'Connell, will make his first appearance at the three-day festival.

Tauranga Big Band will please fans of the big band sound, while Sal Valentine and the Babyshakes will bring their highly dance-able, modern twist on 1950s swing.

All up, more than 40 bands will play up to three times each at seven venues in Paihia, Russell and Haruru Falls.

The action starts at 6pm tonight and continues until Sunday night.

Bands will perform on the streets around Paihia in the mornings, before the music heads indoors at noon.

Mrs May said reaching 30 years was a major achievement for any event. She has organised the past 22.

Regular favourites include Blue Monkey Racket, Brilleaux and Lex Pistols, a group of swing-playing Auckland lawyers who have performed at every festival to date.

Northland acts taking part include Basin City Big Band, Jireh May and Mike Nettmann, Joe Carbery Trio, Late Night Meat Sandwich, Soulshine, Taylah Barker and Two Kay.

Entry badges cost $50 from the venues; day passes are $30. See www.jazz-blues.co.nz for more information.