The Christchurch Big Band Festival is a five day music festival held every Labour weekend in Christchurch.
• It brings fresh musical vibrancy to the streets and venues of Ōtautahi, Christchurch in spring, attracting thousands of listeners to exciting toe-tapping entertainment all around the city.
• Running since 2006, the CBBF is run by the community for the community and is the only Big Band Festival in New Zealand.
• Accessibility is a kaupapa of the festival with mostly free performances.
• Bands from all over New Zealand gather in Christchurch to play Big Band style jazz providing performance opportunities for around 500 musicians in 20 – 25 groups across 60 scheduled performances.
As well as all the performances, there are workshops for youth and all ages. Run by Rodger Fox and his special guests.
Junior Jazz Jam, an event for Primary school aged jazz bands runs on the Thurdaay afternoon.
There is an early childhood interactive jazz education show on Thursday morning with ECE experts and a live jazz band.
There’s a parade led by Ambush Brass that anyone is welcome to join in with, and jazz jam nights.
See details, registration at https://www.chchbigbandfest.com/. Specific event details will be updated from May on.
Registrations close April 30th for big bands, but workshops and ticketed events will be live until the event unless sold out prior.