2011 Festival Wrap

Well the sun has set on another successful festival with over 8,305 people attending the 20 events.

The Festival has stayed true to its Traditional Jazz Fans. Artsmildura works closely with the River City Jazz Club who founded the event 32 years ago to ensure that the core Festival audiences of Traditional Jazz fans were well catered for, as well as expanding the program to attract new audiences with a ‘Fringe’ component of progressive Jazz as well as an education program.

Under the management of artsmildura, audience numbers have increased from 4795 in 2007 to 8,305+ in 2011.

We look forward to seeing you all again in 2012

About the Festival

Jazz on the River
Jazz at the Wineries
Jazz on the Streets

The Mildura Jazz, Food and Wine Festival is a well established event that has attracted many locals and visitors to the Mildura district over the past thirty years. The Festival takes place as an annual Spring-time event, presenting four days of round the clock jazz entertainment in popular clubs, bars and cafes, restaurants, churches, as well as street side and riverside venues – with feature events utilising unique Murray River settings and all events showcasing regional food and wine.

The Festival combines Traditional Jazz and Swing with more contemporary and quirky sounds and caters to hardcore jazz enthusiasts and music lovers, not to mention those that just enjoy sitting back to the music, soaking in the ambiance of one of Mildura’s paddle steamers, riverside wineries and parks, taking in the gourmet food and locally produced wine. The Festival incorporates ticketed and free events and provides a non-stop program that caters to the tastes of all, attracting a growing number of visitors, as well as local audience members.

Past Events

2011

Jan Preston

The Mike Stewart Big Band featuring Luke Thompson
Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble
Dixie Street Jazz Band
Jazzoholics
SHIRAZZ
Barry Messner Trio

The Sam Leske Trio

Don Mayne Trio

Mildura Stage Band

DJ Alicat

2010

Featuring:

The Mike Stewart Big Band featuring Luke Thompson
Pugsley Buzzard
Pippa Wilson Swingtet
Gail Kingston and Hot Foot Jazz
Maryborough Traditional Jazz Ensemble
Mr Jazz
Hot Licks Trio

2009

2009 marked the 30th Anniversary of the Festival and the milestone event enjoyed a huge increase in attendance on recent years.

A highlight of the Festival was a special performance by the winner of the 2009 ARAIA for best jazz composition. Joe Chindamo. Joe performed on Friday 30 October at the Mildura Arts Centre where he presented an original work inspired by the Art Centres treasured painting the Bathing Nude Girl by Edgar Degas.

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary the Festival held an inaugural free street party on Saturday 31 October. Sponsored by Prime TV this free event will provided non stop jazz entertainment on two stages in the Mildura City Heart from 5pm to 10.30pm. This was a first for the Festival and with Bands such as E-Type Jazz, Gail Kingston and Hot Food Jazz, The Maryborough Traditional Jazz ensemble and Hot B Hines (to name just a few), combined with alfresco dinning, this event provided a fitting celebration for one of the longest running Jazz festivals in Australia.