Fast Facts

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

Devonport Jazz is an annual jazz festival held on the last weekend in July.
The program always aims to include a great mix of jazz music from trad jazz to modern jazz, latin to funk fusion and an increasing blues component. Musicians come from all over the mainland and Southern and Northern Tasmania.
As well as being a showcase for some of the best interstate and local jazz musicians, the festival incorporates education, food, dance, visual art and film.
Devonport Jazz is in its nineth year and was established to generate excitement throughout Devonport over winter.
Over the past seven years more than eight hundred musicians have performed to an audience of over 20000 people. There have been 134 concerts held at 25 venues with the majority of these being private sector businesses. Many events sell out weeks before the festival starts.
Devonport Jazz 2009 involved 22 venues, 460 performers and 37 concerts. In 2002 there were 10 concerts at 8 venues involving 70 artists.
The festival promotes live performance and encourages patronage of local venues and business through association with Devonport Jazz.

WHO IS INVOLVED?

While Devonport Jazz is an initiative of the Devonport City Council, the festival relies on many partnerships within the local community.
An increasing number of bars, cafes and restaurants have recognised the benefits of hosting concerts and special events. Many venues are now requesting to host more than one concert over the weekend due to increased patronage and sales in previous festivals.
Business partners are important contributors to Devonport Jazz. Sponsorship funding from the business sector has increased considerably in the last few years.
Businesses contribute in many ways. As well as giving sponsorship dollars or hosting a concert, businesses display artwork, staff wear badges and the events signature gold scarves, jazz is played on PA systems and shop fronts are decorated to promote Devonport Jazz.
The Jazz Taskforce is a dedicated band of volunteers that assist in the smooth running of the weekend. This group includes musicians, teachers, retirees, business owners and professionals who are generous with their time and skills.
Devonport Polytechnic certificate three tourism students have made Devonport Jazz part of their course and approach local businesses to encourage them to get into the jazz spirit and decorate their shop windows with balloon trees, posters and programs. This is a great learning opportunity for the students as it helps them to develop skills in confidence and presentation.

DEVONPORT CITY COUNCIL EVENTS UNIT:

Elsa Kat - Event Manager
Maree Brodzinski - Community Programs
  Diane Williams - Event Administration
  Mick Stone - Logistics Coordinator
  Teresa Beck-Swindale - Casual Event Assisant

CURRENT STAKEHOLDERS:

Abe’s Audio
ABC Northern Tasmania
  Café Inn-dulgence
CMAX Cinema
Country Women's Association
Dannebrog Café Bar and Grill
Devonport Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Devonport City Promotions
Devonport Entertainment and Convention Centre
Devonport High School
Devonport High School P&F Association
Devonport Regional Gallery
Devonport RSL Club
dkaudio
Drysdale Restaurant
East Devonport Recreation & Function Centre
Edgewater Hotel
Fourways Shopping District
Quality Hotel Gateway
Ghost Rock Vineyard
Gowan's Toyota
  HighTide Waterfront Restaurant
  Melaleuca Auxiliary
  Mersey Yacht Club
Molly Malone’s Irish Pub
  Nova Design & Print Centre
NW Jazz Action Society
Powersound
Qantaslink
Red Hot Music
  Richmond Concepts and Print
Smith's Travel
St John's Anglican Church
The Advocate
The Central
The Sound Company
Torquay Ferry
Tourism Students, Tasmanian Polytechnic Devonport
WIN TV
7AD
Local Churches, Schools and Community Organisations
... and the many businesses who create window displays, play jazz background music, display artwork and get into the spirit of the weekend

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sean Fennessy, Margaret Muir, Barbara Boutcher and Phil Nesham

2010 Tasmanian Polytechnic Students

Tourism students, Tasmanian Polytechnic Devonport