MORE than 500 musicians will descend on Albury when the city hosts the Australian Jazz Convention for the first time at the end of this year.
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The Border hub was selected on Sunday to stage the 74th annual gathering after a contest with fellow regional cities – Ballarat, Bathurst and Queanbeyan.
The Victorian centre has held the December 26 to 31 event since 2015 and the vote for this year’s convention was part of its agenda.
Albury Council events team leader Ros Walls gave a 10-minute presentation to woo delegates and said transport links had proved crucial.
“Our airport and frequency of flights, railway connections as well as easy road links to Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide certainly helped secure the bid as did the positive commitment from our CBD venues to host over 150 bands for five days of camaraderie and fun for the musicians, families and friends,” Ms Walls said.
Events will be staged at eight venues – the Albury Club, Atura, Commercial Club, Albion Hotel, Zed Bar, Beer Deluxe, The Bended Elbow and Public House.
A day pass will allow patrons to transfer between performances.
A street parade along Dean Street, culminating in jamming at QEII Square, will mark the opening of the convention.
Australian Jazz Convention Executive Task Force president Chris Gildersleeve said organisers were looking forward to sharing their music.
“We know that moving to Albury will provide us with a wonderful backdrop to celebrate jazz in in all its forms,” Mr Gildersleeve said.
The Murray Conservatorium supported Albury’s bid, with its students to benefit from workshops and its equipment, such as its baby grand piano, to be used at venues.
Ms Walls estimates at least $500,000 will be injected into the Border economy through the convention.
“Having looked at the Ballarat event and seeing the fantastic vibe these guys and girls create in the city, I think Albury will really embrace the convention and have so much fun with it,” she said.
“Close your eyes and you could be in New Orleans.
“It’s incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
While Albury and Wodonga councils pursue the Two Cities, One Community approach, Ms Walls said in this case the compactness of the convention meant it would not be suited to being spread over both places.
Ms Walls expects Albury will bid for the 2020 convention, with the host city to be decided at this year’s event.
