Arrowtown gets jazzed up

The historic town of Arrowtown is set for a jazzy ol’ time on Sunday 24 October as the ASB Queenstown JazzFest takes to the road for a progressive party of truly epic proportions.

Over eight hours (12noon-8pm) Arrowtown’s town centre will host four magnificent free concerts at four different venues, serving up a cocktail of jazz styles to residents, visitors and Labour Weekend ‘cribbies’.

The Arrowtown Day of Jazz promises to be a Sunday afternoon to remember and a highlight of the 32nd annual ASB Queenstown JazzFest, taking place from 21-25 October.

Music kicks off at 12pm on Buckingham Green with New Zealand jazz legend Calder Prescott and his Quartet. From there the party rolls across the road to the New Orleans, where Australian saxophonist James Annesley and his Quartet will pick up the tempo from 2pm with their unique style of contemporary jazz.

Keeping the tap in foot tapping, Jeff Bradley and the Delta Swing play their easy swing jazz at Arrowtown’s The Tap from 4pm, before bluesman King Leo wraps up the day’s entertainment with a high octane ‘knees-up’ at the Willows Tavern from 8pm.

Queenstown JazzFest Trust Chairman Luke Baldock said there was no better way to mark the long Labour weekend.

“With the spotlight on Arrowtown, Sunday’s ‘Day of Jazz’ promises to be a fantastic outing,” he said. “If the weather’s anything like last year, there’ll be no better place to relax in the spring sunshine and enjoy a progressive afternoon of jazz.”

Sunday will also see jazz in the vines with the Daniel Gassin Trio playing at Gibbston Valley Wines and Nigel Gavin and Richard Adams playing at the Winehouse and Kitchen. Both shows commence at 3pm.

All events are free to attend, however reservations are recommended for those wanting to dine at the WiIlows Tavern, with limited seating available and a special menu on offer.

On Saturday 23, Arrowtown will also play host to jazz acts the Daniel Gassin Trio at the Willows Tavern from 12pm, Mojo Webb at New Orleans from 4pm and Mike Frost and the Icemen at the Willows Tavern from 8pm.

The ASB Queenstown JazzFest is Queenstown’s major springtime event. It brings music to the masses in a 5-day live music celebration from 21 to 25 October. The 32nd annual festival has a sensational line-up of more than 50 bands and 150 Kiwi and international performers.

Full details of all ticketed concerts and free gigs are available in the ASB Queenstown JazzFest programme, which is available at ASB branches in Queenstown and Remarkables Park. For online information on musicians go to www.asbjazzfest.co.nz

Ticket purchase information:
Tickets are available now for all ASB Queenstown JazzFest events at Queenstown’s i-Site on the corner of Shotover and Camp Street in Queenstown and at Queenstown Events Centre at Joe O’Connell Drive, Frankton. To book tickets by phone, call TicketDirect on 03 450 9005 or 0800 4 TICKET.