Carnival time at National Jazz Festival for Easter

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Carnival time at National Jazz Festival for Easter

The 48th National Jazz Festival has just announced the line up of top New Zealand bands and international guests for the iconic Downtown Tauranga Carnival and TV3 Jazz Village as part of the Festival in Tauranga at Easter.

The Downtown Tauranga Carnival takes place in the central city on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April with four stages showcasing the diverse assortment of jazz with free entry. On Sunday 4 and Monday 5 April, the TV3 Jazz Village at the Historic Village features more than 20 bands on four stages as well as strolling bands, food and art stalls and activities for the children and entry is $10 for adults and free for children under 14 and TECT cardholders.

“We want the National Jazz Festival to be for everyone,” says Festival Director Arne Herrmann. “The Downtown Tauranga Carnival and the TV3 Jazz Village will be fun events for the wider community, with the Carnival being an upbeat street affair, and the Jazz Village catering for a more relaxed family day out with some great jazz music.”

The TV3 Jazz Village, Tauranga’s own version of New Orleans’ French Quarter, was a crowd favourite in 2009 with thousands of visitors joining in the fun and Mr Herrmann says this year will be even better with more bands and more activities.

Lining up at the village will be top New Zealand musicians Kokomo, Torch Songs, Shaken Not Stirred and the Darcy Perry Band. International guest performers include Yggdrasil (Faroe Islands), Phil Tweed and Mark Lockett from Australia and Mike Cooper (UK). And you can star too – bring along your instrument and join in on the Hothouse Jamming Stage with the Hamilton Blues Club on Saturday and the Bay of Plenty Blues Club on Sunday.

Tickets for the TV3 Jazz Village are $10 adults and free for children under 14 and TECT card-holders. Tickets can be pre-booked and there will be two entrances into the village from 17th Avenue.

The Downtown Tauranga Carnival runs from noon to 5pm each day with four stages – Classic Hits Stage at The Strand, Strand 2, Red Square and a special Indigenous Stage at Aspen Reserve. Among the artists on the Classic Hits and Strand 2 stages are local Tauranga favourites, the Self Righteous Brothers Blues Ensemble (Derek Jacombs and Nigel Masters from Kokomo), NZ jazz drummer Frank Gibson with The Young Lions, , Mike Garner, Brilleaux, Reputations and Liquid Colours from Auckland.

The Indigenous Stage features award winning Maori Jazz musician Whirimako Black, Tait Kora Band, Leon Wharekura Band, Three’s Company and Tim Cooper Whanau and Friends, while Red Square has a Blues Buffet on Saturday and The Impressions on Sunday.

The Downtown Tauranga Carnival and TV3 Jazz Village are just two of the highlights of the 48th National Jazz Festival held in Tauranga from 1-5 April and as one of the oldest jazz festivals in the world, the National Jazz Festival is an iconic event on the music calendar in New Zealand.

A new daily guide to the 48th National Jazz Festival, including the programmes for the Downtown Tauranga Carnival and TV3 Jazz Village, is now available. The full programme line up for the 48th National Jazz Festival is available at www.jazz.org.nz. Book tickets at Ticket Direct by phoning 0800 4TICKET (484 253) or at www.ticketdirect.co.nz

ENDS