More than 200 people converged on Wangaratta’s Apex Park on Sunday, armed with their diddley bows and ready for a shot at the Guinness World Record for most number of diddley bows played at once.

Now the waiting begins.

Seven stewards and two independent witnesses watched the event, captured on video, and will asses the video and count the numbers before lodging the attempt for the stamp of approval.

“It can take up to eight weeks but we’re confident,” organiser Emma Jones said, “because it is a new event hopefully it will be a bit smoother.”

Schools in the Wangaratta area joined the launch by making their bows – a single-stringed American instrument that influenced the development of the blues sound – and decorated them in a variety of bright and amazing designs.

Workshops on how to make and play the instrument were held at schools and community events, with more than 360 diddley bows made for the record attempt.

With the world record mark set at 250, festival organisers were confident Sunday’s event would qualify.  

“But it was never really about winning records,” she said.

“To hear them all playing together and seeing the smiles on faces, and concentrations, was really wonderful to see.

“… It was a perfect launch. It really captured the festival’s spirit, it captured what our festival is about.

“If our festival is like our launch then we are in for the best festival ever.”

The 26^th Wangaratta Jazz festival runs from October 30 to November 2 at several venues throughout the city.

There will be more than 300 musicians across 80 concerts on the main program and more than 16 concerts on the Riverside Precinct free stage across the four days and nights.

“The international line-up features some outstanding artists, notably the acclaimed trumpeter and composer Dave Douglas,” festival artistic director Adrian Jackson said.

Canned Heat will headline the festival’s blues acts.