Wine, dine and get jazzed up

The headlining act at Shepherd and Dudley Chartered Accountants North Queensland Wine and Jazz Festival in March will be John Morrison and his Swing City Quintet with Jacki Cooper.

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WHOEVER thought to call their jazz band Shirazz, knew that the sexy jazz beat and red wine were made for each other.

The annual North Queensland Wine and Jazz Festival will have a wonderful line-up, including band Shirazz next month on Saturday, March 3 and Sunday, March 4.

Mackay Big Band and event organiser Malcolm Hull said this year's festival will be sponsored by Shepherd and Dudley Chartered Accountants.

He said the festival would tick all the musical boxes.

Hull said a great line-up of local and inter-state artists of high calibre, performing many types of jazz, a comfortable venue, with great food and wine on offer, and the chance to tap away the hours with good friends, it promises to be bigger and better than last year.

The headlining act will be John Morrison and his Swing City Quintet with Jacki Cooper.

John Morrison was voted Australia's best big band drummer in 2010 and Jacki Cooper was voted best jazz vocals at the Musicoz awards.

Other bands performing are Hot Mambo, Jump Jive and Wail, Shirazz, and Top Shelf. These bands hail from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Cairns.

The musical line-up will also include local artists, such as the Mackay Big Band.

The type of music to be showcased is traditional jazz, swing music, rock' n' roll and rockabilly, rhythm and blues, and big band tunes.

"There will be something there for everybody," Hull said.

"We are hoping to get around 300 people at the festival.

"There will be a cross section of bands and musical styles.

"Hot Mambo who will be performing, will also have Latin dancers."

Mr Hull, who is a member of the Mackay Big Band, said the festival was great for budding musicians as well.

"It is always great for musicians to watch how other musicians perform and play.

"Along with the music there will be wine tasting at the festival," Mr Hull said.

The festival kicks off at 1pm on March 3, until late, with a reef and beef buffet dinner, and then starts again about 8.30am with the highly popular jazz breakfast.

This will definitely be a weekend to remember.

You don't have to be a great lover of jazz, you just need to love fine music.

Phone or visit Souths to secure your tickets.