By JESSE GRAHAM
MUSIC lovers are expected to descend on Marysville in October, with more than 100 performers aiming to turn the second annual Jazz and Blues Festival into a not-to-miss event.
From Friday 14 to Sunday 16 October, musicians will perform in venues and in the streets around Marysville for the Jazz and Blues Festival, after an opening evening at the Vibe Hotel.
Festival director Peter Guest said the aim of the festival was to give people a “whole weekend experience”, drawing visitors from Melbourne and Marysville’s surrounds to see everything the town had to offer.
“What we tried to create is, in town, an opportunity for people to experience the township and the recovery since the bushfires, and just to soak up the atmosphere,” he said.
“We have buskers in the street, a lot of free entertainment, and paid artists – people can wander up and down the street, enjoy a cup of coffee, and there’ll be artists in most of the cafes or down the street.”
He said that one, two and three-day passes were available, which gave the holder unrestricted access to ticketed events on the days of their choice – or the whole weekend.
Ticketed performances will be held at the Vibe Hotel, the Crossways Historic Country Inn and the Marysville Community Centre, while free events will be held in Settlers Park and in cafes in town.
At noon on Saturday 15 October, a New Orleans-style street parade will be held in Murchison Street to commemorate the festival.
Musicians Bev and Leigh Fraser, who will be performing at the festival, said that free workshops would be held with some artists at Little Fishes Studio – though bookings were essential.
Mr Guest said he hoped the festival would bring 1000 people to the town, and would establish the festival as an annual drawcard.
The official festival launch will be held from 7pm on Saturday 9 July at the Narbethong Hall, where Bev and Leigh Fraser will perform. The programme will be launched, and a screening of the Blues Brothers will be held.
Entry is $15 per person if reserved ahead of time or $20 on the night. Call 0477 123 506 to book.
Passes to the festival are $50 for one day, $75 for two days or $95 for all three days.
To book, visit www.marysvillejazzandblues.com.
