The name may be a bit of a tongue-twister, but organizers of Townsite Jazz Festival’s Ash Avenue Amble promise the concept behind the event on Saturday, April 7, is as simple as it gets.
“It’s like a jazz smorgasbord,” says festival director Paul Cummings. “There’s something for everybody.”
Five venues will play host to nine different artists over a three-hour period, all within one block of Powell River’s historic Townsite district. For a single $20 ticket, attendees will have the chance to wander from place to place, sampling all the sights and sounds along the way.
“You’ll have your choice of three different venues every hour,” says Cummings. “If people want to be in three places at once and catch 20 minutes of each set, there’s nothing stopping them from doing that. We want this to be super casual.”
By the time the afternoon is over, local bluesman Ron Campbell will have played at Townsite Brewing, singer-songwriter Devon Hanley at the Patricia Theatre and jazz quintet Take Five in Rodmay Hotel’s Rainbow Room.
"It'll be like New Orleans' famous Bourbon Street, where live music spills out of every doorway,” says Campbell.
The Amble will also feature large ensembles from Kwalikum Secondary School, Oak Bay High School and Vancouver Island University. Vancouver-based Bruce James Orchestra will be rehearsing on the stage of Dwight Hall, while Powell River’s own Walter Martella will spend the day collaborating with vocalists including Victoria songstress Melinda Whitaker.
“So many things can fit under the umbrella of jazz, especially at a jazz festival,” says Cummings. “Tapping into some local talent has really allowed us to spread our wings in that regard.”
During the event, the brewery block of Ash Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic and attendees will have the chance to get a close-up look at the festival’s logo painted across the middle of the street. Booths will be set up for tickets and information, along with a full schedule of performers.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive early and patronize the nearby restaurants before mustering outside Townsite Brewing for an aerial photo at 12:45 pm.
Ash Avenue Amble
WHEN: 1 pm, Saturday, April 7
WHERE: Townsite Brewing, Dwight Hall, Rainbow Room, McKinney’s Pub, Patricia Theatre
PRICE: $20 ticket covers entry to all concerts
INFO: townsitejazz.com/festival2018/amble
