Get set for great Jazz and Blues
March 07, 2007
Section: Community
SOME of the country"s biggest names will help Kiama celebrate two decades of Jazz and Blues festivals this weekend, including James Morrison, Ash Grunwald, The Idea of North, Don Hopkins and Adrian Cunningham.
Kiama Jazz Club president Ron Peters said that this year organisers sought to bring back some of the best and favourite artists from previous festivals.
A brassy blast will launch the 20th festival on Friday, with jazz legend James Morrison and his sextet playing at Shellharbour Workers" Club.
The band will be joined by singer Emma Pask and supported by Wollongong Conserv-atorium Jazz Orchestra.
Morrison and Pask have appeared at previous Kiama Jazz and Blues festivals to standing ovations and sell-out performances.
Kiama residents and visitors can catch special return buses to Shelley"s for the show.
Also on Friday night, blues musician Ash Grunwald will play at Kiama Leagues Club.
The multi-award winning singer and guitarist was a huge hit at the 2005 festival and has grown tremendously in popularity as a performer since.
Mr Peters said: "His style of stomping, grinding, Delta-based blues will make the evening with this young Victorian an unforgettable experience."
The night"s support act will be the Jacky Howellers. This local blues duo, consisting of Rod Mitchell and Dan Sullivan, play an intimate, relaxed style of blues.
Acclaimed a cappella quartet The Idea of North will perform on Saturday night at Kiama Leagues Club.
James Morrison has described the ensemble as "the best contemporary a cappella quartet in Australia".
Mr Peters said The Idea of North had "an incredible sound" and had often been credited with having reinvented a cappella and taken it to new heights.
He said one event that would be completely different from previous festivals was the dance cabaret on Saturday night at the Showground Pavilion.
For this, Don Hopkins" Good Rockin" Band will perform a tribute to New Orleans musician Fats Domino.
Hopkins said his eight-piece band promised "a hot, sweaty night to boogie yourself senseless".
There will be other shows at Reef Bros Cafe at noon on Saturday and festival veteran Adrian Cunningham will perform several times.
For tickets or more information about the Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival program, visit www.kiama.net/kiamajazz or contact Kiama Visitors Centre on 4232 3322.