A Spotlight On Harbour Street Jazz & Blues Festival

Ōamaru’s Harbour Street Jazz & Blues Festival has become a centrepiece on the Waitaki District events calendar. So mark it in your diary, Friday 22 – Sunday 24 March, and we will see you there!

For over 30 years the Penguin Entertainers Club in Ōamaru has been providing a venue for musicians to call their own. All about the music, it is a destination that played a key role in the inspiration behind the now iconic Harbour Street Jazz & Blues Festival. ‘We are incredibly lucky to have the club, and subsequently so many wonderful musicians in Ōamaru,’ explains festival committee member Jane Campbell. ‘The idea behind the festival originally was to showcase this talent and bring together a wider audience. And it has grown from there.’

Having established itself as a ‘little world-famous’ destination for music lovers of all kinds, it was a natural platform from which to grow. ‘As well as local musicians we have a number of artists who come from across New Zealand; there is some amazing talent in our country,’ enthuses Jane. ‘Over the years we have built a steady following of both musicians and attendees and for the weekend the town is filled with music.’ While some bands return year-on-year, the organisers put feelers out there and encourage new performers to reach out to ensure there is always something different on offer.

eld over Otago Anniversary weekend, Ōamaru comes alive over the three-day festival. ‘It is a celebration of soulful melodies, timeless rhythms and the vibrant culture of jazz and blues,’ describes Tourism Waitaki. And there is something for everyone, with over 40 bands playing – many for free. ‘We have a handful of paid gigs every year,’ continues Jane, ‘but the aim is to have as many people as possible introduced or reintroduced to blues and jazz.’ And with thousands through the gate every year, they are well on their way to achieving that.

With events centred around Harbour Street, the atmosphere is captivating and the town perfectly sized to allow those in attendance to walk around, experiencing all that Ōamaru has to offer, while listening to one band after another.

‘As well as the free events and paid gigs, we have an annual Talent Showcase where you can watch up- and-coming artists perform their original songs, workshops, and a garden party at Rockvale Gardens in Weston [slightly out of Ōamaru],’ continues Jane.

Run by a team of passionate and dedicated committee members, this is an event not to be missed. ‘What the festival brings to the town is amazing,’ concludes Jane. ‘We have about a month of down time between executing one festival and planning the next one … it really is fabulous.’

For more information and updates visit facebook.com/HarbourStreetJazzBluesFestival .