No jazz festival until 2014

Photo / File.

The Whakatāne International Jazz and Blues Festival proposed for early-February 2013 has been deferred. Whakatāne District Council Community and Economic Development General Manager Julian Reweti says the Council is involved in discussions with the promoter, Billy TK Junior, about the possibility of running the festival over Anniversary Weekend 2014.

“Following a meeting of local organisations with an interest in the proposal, a decision has been taken to postpone the inaugural festival until all of the necessary organisational issues are resolved,” he says.

“There’s great enthusiasm for the concept, but our view is that early-February next year is not an achievable timeframe to bring together all of the elements required for a festival of this scale. We believe the annual three-day Anniversary Weekend in late-January is the natural home for such a marquee event and putting the timing back a year gives us the chance to ensure that a range of complementary activities can be arranged to take full advantage of the festival’s pulling power.”

Mr Reweti says the Council will confirm further details once an agreement has been reached with the promoter.

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