Festival a tonic for winter blues and local businesses

The perfect tonic for chasing the winter blues away arrives this weekend in the form of the Bay of Islands Jazz and Blues Festival.

The festival represents a welcome economic boost, drawing a music-loving crowd to local accommodation providers, restaurants, and retail outlets during cooler months when business – even in the ‘winterless North’ – can be on the quiet side.

From Friday 8 to Sunday 10 August, festival-goers have the pick of 34 gigs across six venues in Paihia and Russell.

World-class performers flying in for the festival include Steve Arvey (USA), Chihiro Yamazaki + Route 14 Band (JPN), Dale Robbins Band (AUS), and Dave McMillan (AUS). Jazz and blues fans will also be treated to a range of live performances by New Zealand artists, as well as young, emerging musicians and high school bands.

A shuttle bus service will help festival-goers get between venues, thanks to $2743 in funding from Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board. Festival punters can also purchase limitless ferry passes over the weekend.

Tickets can be booked through the event’s official website. Daily tickets, as well as three-day festival passes, are available.

The six venues involved in the festival are:

• Kingsgate Hotel Autolodge, Paihia
• Scenic Hotel, Paihia
• Paihia Sports Bar
• Twin Pines, Haruru
• Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Russell
• Nauti Penguin, Russell.