Wollongong's newest music venue is being applauded for supporting a diverse range of artists from drag queens to DJs, art exhibitions and now offering free family-friendly jazz concerts on Sundays.
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The Shy Postie, on lower Crown Street, opened in March as a coffee shop by day with cocktails by night, and operated by friends Blake Smith, Tsubasa Sherwin-Ozawa and Michael Bunten.
"They're changing the scene, they're really making a mark on the live music scene in Wollongong," said Eric Dunan, jazz musician and Director of Bands at the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music.
"It's one of the venues right on the street where people are walking by, windows are open and they can see the stage, they can see the music happening."
Mr Dunan believed there still weren't too many venues around the region open to diverse genres and as welcoming to new musicians of any style, though noted it was slowly changing.
The expert trumpeter is leading a jazz group at the Postie each Sunday in May from 2pm to 5pm, which is a free and suited to families.
"It is a paid gig for the [booked] musicians so it's not just a free jam," Mr Dunan said. "In order for us to get that continued support though, it does fall on the community's shoulders to get out and support live music."
Mr Dunan will be selecting a mix of local and Sydney seasoned musicians each week, while also encouraging budding musicians in the audience to stand up and have a jam.
"I had a 10-year-old piano player ... he got up and played some jazz and it sounded great," he said. "We've also had some really great seasoned players as well - we had a trombone player come from Sydney who just randomly showed up."
The band leader hopes enough support will see free Sunday jazz continue beyond May, with the sessions seen as "a happy place" to applaud and share great sounds.
Co-owner of The Shy Posite, Mr Smith, had previously told the Mercury the idea for the venue was to create a " community hub" which would provide a voice "for the culture that's hidden within our city, and in turn want to see Wollongong as an exciting travel destination and city of vibrance".
The Shy Postie is in the former Samba Brazil Bar & Grill site at the lower end of Crown, next to South Coast BMW and open Tuesday to Sunday.
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