Musicians Greg Joseph, Lee Holman, Doug Faulkner and Nick Johnson prepare for action. Picture: PAUL JONES
After a dramatic couple of weeks for Kiama in the wake of violent storms that hit the area, the annual three-day Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival returns to lift spirits.
Starting tomorrow night and continuing through to Sunday, more than 30 artists will perform at 50 free gigs at a range of venues across Kiama Municipality.
Event publicity officer Eevi Stein said Sunday's All Day Jazz and Blues Concert in Hindmarsh Park would be a festival highlight, but the diverse program had something to please every jazz and blues fan.
MORE: Kiama Jazz and Blues Festival dodges tornadoes
The Kiama Jazz Club took the festival to a new level last year for the 25th anniversary which included guest performer Christa Hughes and the Honky Tonk Shonks.
This year organisers are trying to replicate the "something different" element with special guests VulgarGrad, who have been described as "Australia's vodka-fuelled oompah swing ska punk balladeers" and are said to be "heavily influenced by traditional songs of the Russian criminal class and Russian punk songs from the Perestroika era in the 1980s".
Ms Stein said some of the jazz club's committee members had been affected by the recent bad weather, but had suffered minor inconvenience compared with those who were in the path of the tornado that ripped through parts of Kiama.
"In some ways the festival is nicely timed this year," Ms Stein said.
"No-one could have predicted what happened but it's nice the festival is here and is something a bit joyful to take people's minds off the extreme weather we had and damage it caused.
"Hopefully the festival puts everyone in a positive frame of mind and cheers us all up."
Check the full program at kiamajazz.com for Ray Beadle, George Washingmachine, Triple Karma, Tommy M and the Mastersounds and more.