Merimbula is set to swing once again with the annual jazz festival kicking off this Friday, June 6. One of Australia’s longest-running festivals, this year Merimbula Jazz Festival celebrates its 34th year.
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The traditional festival parade on Saturday, June 7, will get the town pumping from 10.30am with a musical procession through the business district.
With over 700 musicians, from 146 bands, registered, plus their partners and visiting jazz lovers, the event will be hitting the right notes for accommodation providers, clubs, restaurateurs and retailers around town.
Merimbula Chamber of Commerce president, Natalie Godward said the festival “creates such a good atmosphere” and chamber members are anticipating “a lift” as they had in previous years.
There are eight official festival venues, buskers and in-house live music at many cafes and restaurants around Merimbula, all showcasing the many genres of jazz music including the ever-popular big bands.
Club Sapphire is once again hosting the Jazz Art competition and displaying jazz-themed paintings, and the RSL Club will feature a display from the Down South Jazz Club and don’t miss the jazz tea cosy knitting competition entries on show at Booktique and Pins’n’Needles.
Jazz Quest will once again take place at the Lakeview Hotel on Saturday, June 7 from 10pm, followed by a late-night jam session. The competition, which is becoming one of the most popular events on the festival program, is open to musicians 25 years of age and under.
Quest organiser, Paul Dion said Jazz Quest is an open competition this year with no residency requirement for entrants.
On Monday, June 8, the Pambula Merimbula Golf Club hosts the Jazz Hatters Party with non-stop music and prizes for the best jazz hat. This free event is open to the public.
Tickets to the festival range from a three day pass at $75 to one day passes, $40 and evening passes $25. Musicians’ partners can buy a pass for $40 and school children to year 12 enter free.
Head to festival headquarters at Twyford Hall, for ticket sales, programs and badges, open 9am - 5pm Thursday, June 5, 9am until late Friday, June 6 and 9am - 5pm Saturday, June 7. For more information visit www.merimbulajazz.org.au, phone Aileen/Kevin on 02 6495 9853 or the jazz phone 0459 790 707.