Opening the festival is a six-hour celebration featuring a great selection of acts performing outdoors on the Village Green, in the heart of Queenstown! Grab your lunch, relax in the sun, sit beside the river and enjoy a fantastic afternoon of top quality live music.

Zinco, a local, edgy jazz collective kick things off performing a twist on jazz standards with Latin rhythms and a modern groove.

Free Event 

Next up.... Direct from Brisbane, burning blues standards at their absolute best! Mike Frost's guitar bites like a bull terrier. He shoots for an honest sound reliant only upon authentic tones and commanding fretwork.

Free Event 

NZ’s favourite jazz ensemble will sure to entertain with their own electric blend of European-style jazz! They tour regularly throughout the world, appearing at major festivals in New Zealand, the UK, Europe, Australia and Asia. Now in their 25th year together, Nairobi Trio are more passionate about their music than ever. They have released a total of eight albums.

Free Event 

An exciting line-up with fresh grooves and harmonic innovations. For more than 35 years Geoff's performed in New Zealand and internationally, a master of the trumpet and one of the most prolific and cutting edge jazz musicians currently on the New Zealand scene. He plays for TV shows, film sessions, and personal club dates. His festival performances are legendary with a variety of talented side-men and combos offering many different directions in sound. His playing has a hallmark of distinction - soulful, passionate and refreshing.

Free Event 

A guitar virtuoso with a unique voice and style of his own mixing the warm vintage sounds of Hendrix, Page, Beck and Blackmore and fusing them with the modern techniques of Gilbert, Satriani and Petrucci with a good measure of blues feeling and harmonic jazz sophistication.

Free Event  

To conclude our six-hour celebration of top quality live music on Queenstown's Village Green is a selection of Wellington’s finest jazz musicians playing swinging jazz and upbeat funk.

Free Event

Relax into the evening in the comfortable surrounds of the Millennium Hotel lounge bar and enjoy an entertaining showcase of swinging standards led by Auckland’s trumpet diva, Edwina Thorne. This incarnation of the Edwina Thorne Trio features Dunedin based jazz pianist, Bill Martin and Robbie Craigie, a classically trained pianist and percussionist who shows his full virtuosity when playing jazz drums.

Free Event

Pearly & Rachel are a local vocal piano duo creating music that is lively and soulful.

The new 1789 Wine & Jazz Lounge, drawing inspiration for its name from the date of the French revolution, boasts a Prohibition ambience and style, featuring live jazz and blues, and cocktails inspired by the 50’s and 60’s era. A snug fireplace and soft mood lighting add a distinctive allure to the space, while wine connoisseurs will be in seventh heaven over the selection on offer. 

Free Event

Burning blues standards at their absolute best. Frost's guitar bites like a bull terrier. He shoots for an honest sound reliant only upon authentic tones and commanding fretwork.

Pig & Whistle is the perfect gig venue! Queenstown's original English pub in the heart of town offers 17 different tap beers from New Zealand & around the world. You'll find Old English pub atmosphere with great service and delicious pub meals.

Free Event 

A guitar virtuoso with a unique voice and style of his own. Kara Gordon is called all sorts of things at his gigs, a Maori gypsy, the white Hendrix, a musical genius, part-man - part guitar, a mystic playing electric blues straight from his soul.

Free Event 

An authentic one man band performing 'good time music with old time style'. Lil' Chuck, the One Man Skiffle Machine (otherwise known as Christchurch musician David Thorpe) does a great job of simultaneously playing guitar and harmonica as well as a rhythm section comprising a high-hat and bass drum. 

Free Event 

Dunedin based father/son acoustic blues duo with Leo and Oscar LaDell.

A favourite with the locals, The Sherwood is a 'community hotel' and Queenstown's newest event venue, hosting an expansive range of artists, and a bar which hosts an ever-changing selection of independent craft beers, fine natural wine, and rare spirits.

Free Event - Bookings Advised 

NZ’s favourite jazz ensemble Nairobi Trio will sure to entertain with their own electric blend of European-style jazz. Joining the trio is special guest Graham Wardrop, one of NZ’s finest finger style guitarists who will enthrall with his mastery.

Blue Kanu uses colour, light and texture to give an authentic environment and create a stunning atmosphere. Blue Kanu beautifully blends Pacifica and Asian cooking styles together, resulting in healthy, fresh and exotic cultural soul food not seen in our region before.

Free Event - Bookings Advised 

An exciting line-up with fresh grooves and harmonic innovations at Queenstown's only dedicated jazz venue!

Free Event 

Phil Broadhurst is considered one of New Zealand’s foremost jazz pianists and composer. Luca Ciarla has performed in over 50 countries around in the world, and describes his sounds as "Mediterranean jazz, coming from the mediterranean seas... with a gypsy flavour"

Jason Thornton, internationally renowned saxophonist, has gathered some of his favourite musicians to create a powerhouse blues offering. This is not for the faint of heart. Foot stomping boogie that will make you want to party all night.

Free Event 

Jazz metal with some classic rock meets jazz improvisation!

Featuring the music of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Steely Dan and Band of Gypsies. Music will be stretched apart and extemporised upon.

Free Event 

Inspiring standards and original compositions that draw on characteristics of contemporary American and European jazz traditions.

Blue Kanu uses colour, light and texture to give an authentic environment and create a stunning atmosphere. Blue Kanu beautifully blends Pacifica and Asian cooking styles together, resulting in healthy, fresh and exotic cultural soul food not seen in our region before.

Free Event  

Jazz 'n' Beats

Closing out the first day of the festival is one of NZ’s most exciting new bands gaining popularity with their unique instrumental sound and dynamic combination of electronic/hip-hop compositions. In the first of three World Bar appearances, Yoku-Zuna will perform live renditions of Radiohead's extensive catalogue.

Free Event