Free jazz music will be brought to the masses at a range of exciting events during this year’s ASB Queenstown JazzFest (21-25 October).
Whether it’s Jazz on the Wharf, Remarkable Jazz, a Heavenly Jazz church service or Jazz in the Vines, there’s something for everyone at Queenstown’s major springtime event, as complimentary jazz plays from every corner of the community.
And the freedom to listen doesn’t stop there, with an abundance of free opportunities for the public to get involved at the 32nd annual festival. Among them is daily entertainment at the More FM Jazz Village on Queenstown’s Village Green, three Community Spotlight Stage events, at Queenstown’s Earnslaw Park, Frankton’s Remarkables Park and Arrowtown’s Buckingham Green, and nightly jam sessions with 2Five9 at Skybar.
Queenstown JazzFest Trust chairman Luke Baldock said music lovers only needed to pick up the festival’s pocket-sized programme for their passport to Labour Weekend celebrations.
“Not many things in life come for free, which is why Queenstown residents and visitors are lucky to have such a diverse, community-focused extravaganza at their finger-tips come Labour Weekends,” he said.
“With so many gigs on about town during JazzFest, once the curtains have been drawn at the ASB Jazzclub there’s guaranteed to be a number of hot spots to discover.”
Even more free events are set to take place around Queenstown both day and night during the festival, hosted by SKYCITY Queenstown Casino (R 20), Pog Mahones, Chicos, Pier 19, Pub on Wharf, Rees St Deli, Surreal and Winnies.
“The smaller scale, intimate gigs and jam sessions are a great chance for music lovers to get amongst it and mingle with the muso’s themselves as performances keep Queenstown place humming till the early hours,” said Mr Baldock.
Nightly performances (Fri 22 to Sun 24) with 2Five9 at Skybar from 10pm bring together a group of innovative musicians all with more than 25 years’ experience in music, and chances are they’ll be joined by others for some great jam sessions.
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 in the ASB Queenstown JazzFest programme, available at ASB branches in Queenstown and Remarkables Park. For online information go to www.asbjazzfest.co.nz.
