Just a couple of hours’ drive from the big smoke, where the trees are tall and the locals inviting, the idyllic township of Marysville is ready to bring together locals and visitors alike for its third annual Marysville Jazz and Blues Weekend taking place from Friday 20 October – Sunday 22 October.
With winter out of the way, the award-winning festival – celebrating music, food, wine, and community – boasts an incredible line-up of over twenty-five local and internationally acclaimed artists, making it one of the biggest events on the local calendar and the perfect springtime escape for the broader community.
What was initially the idea of a local Marysville resident Peter Guest, the first Jazz and Blues Weekend event was established in 2015 with the help of the community. Since then the 2016 and 2017 events are organised by a small and dedicated hard working community committee assisted by local volunteers, which lead to the Murrindindi Shire and Victorian Government awarding the Marysville Jazz and Blues Weekend “Best Community Event Of The Year” in 2015 and 2016.
From its humble beginnings the Marysville Jazz and Blues Weekend, is now in its third year and is proud to present over twenty-five Jazz and Blues greats for the 2017 festival, including ARIA award-winner and Australian blues and roots legend Russell Morris who will open this year’s Festival on the Friday evening with music commencing from 7pm.
Joining Russell is festival favourite all-round Aussie blues heavyweight Geoff Achison & the Soul Diggers, who will have just returned from at US tour. The 2005 Australian Blues Music Festival and Male Artist of the Year and Cole Clark Guitar Ambassador to the world Lloyd Spiegel will return along with Mike Rudd and his every evolving and eclectic band Spectrum playing quirky material from the original Spectrum days, The Indelible Murtceps and Ariel.
Bringing the Jazz to Marysville will be The Tracey Roberts Quartet with their joyful, vibrant jazz-folk-funk, laced with dynamic and sophisticated lyrics, along with Anita Harris who has been described by Australian Jazz Scene as “One of those very rare vocal stylists who have a wide appeal to a range of age groups and jazz preferences in her audiences.”
Other highlights will be transcendent diva cabaret artiste, jazz singer Mama Alto, who draws upon legacies of vintage torch singers for sharing her sublime storytelling, Shirazz, Eva To Diva, Bo Jenkins and much more.
ABOUT MARYSVILLE
Situated in the foothills of the Yarra Valley and near to Melbourne’s closest Alpine Resort, is the beautiful township of Marysville. The town is just a 90min drive from Melbourne that takes visitors on a journey from Healesville through the majestic Black Spur. Marysville was originally established as a stopping point on the Yarra Track, the horse-drawn route to the Jordan goldfields in the Great Divide. After some time, cutters realised the potential of the region and so large timber mills were built, logging the giant trees. By 1920s, Marysville had become a tourist destination offering walking tracks to Steavenson Falls as well as scenic views of fern loaded gullies and tall trees. Many guesthouses became established at this time and Marysville became popular as a honeymoon destination.
Marysville Jazz and Blues Weekend 2017
Friday 20 – Sunday 22 October
Russell Morris
Geoff Achison & The Soul Diggers
Lloyd Spiegel
Mama Alto
Spectrum
The Tracey Roberts Quartet
PLUS
Australian Hammond Quartet
Anita Harris
Billy Dettmer
Blind Creek Rhythm & Blues
Blue Like That
Blue Tango
Bo Jenkins
Charlie Bedford
Dandenong Ranges Hot Orchestra
Eva To Diva
Hey Gringo
Jackson Four
Justin Thomas
Justin Yapp
Line Matter
McBlues
Patrick Evans
Retrofitted
Rob Papp
Shirazz
Simon Levick and more!
4 stages. 3 days.
Workshops. Concerts. A Street Parade of Performers. Food. Wine.
Right in the middle of spring, in the heart of Marysville.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
$125 – Three day Pass (unlimited access Friday – Sunday)
$100 – Two Day Pass (Unlimited access Saturday and Sunday)
*This ticket does not include Friday night
$75 – One Day Pass (Your choice of Saturday or Sunday only)
$50 – Friday Evening Pass (Friday night only, from 7pm)
Accommodation packages are available from Vibe Hotel Marysville, Saladin Lodge, Marysville Garden Cottages, Marysville Caravan and Holiday Park and Camp Marysville.
All tickets and accommodation packages available from www.marysvillejazzandblues.com