← 2026 ARTIST LINE UP →
BASIN CITY BIG BAND
Hailing from Northland, this talented school band showcases the next generation of New Zealand musicians with an energetic mix of jazz, contemporary and popular music. Their enthusiasm, skill and passion for live performance have earned them a reputation as one of the region's exciting young ensembles, delighting audiences wherever they perform.
CONTINUUM
You will not want to miss this world class yet homegrown band! Continuum will take you on not just a musical journey but an experience that you will be talking about long after the festival is over.
DEJA BLUE
Hawke’s Bay favourites Deja Blue deliver a vibrant mix of blues, soul, rock and rhythm & blues, combining outstanding musicianship with an infectious energy that keeps audiences entertained from the first song to the last.
FATT MAX
Festival favourite Fatt Max will make you laugh and also treat you to some killer tunes.
HERBIE & THE HEARTBREAKERS
Festival favourites return with their signature high-energy performance, guaranteed to have audiences dancing, singing along and coming back for more.
KAITAIA COLLEGE JAZZ BAND
Kaitaia College Jazz band. Will thrill you with amazing young talent from Northland.
LEX PISTOLS
Celebrating 40 years of entertaining festival audiences, The Lex Pistols return with their trademark high-energy blend of New Orleans and traditional jazz, performed by an outstanding lineup of talented musicians.
MAHURANGI JAZZ COMBO
Mahurangi Jazz Combo brings together talented local musicians to perform a lively mix of jazz standards, swing classics and contemporary favourites, delivering an entertaining performance full of style, energy and improvisation.
MUSIKA COLLECTIVE
Musika Collective is a vibrant Auckland-based youth ensemble led by acclaimed Samoan musician Dr. Opeloge Ah Sam, blending jazz, Pacific and contemporary influences while showcasing the incredible talent of New Zealand’s next generation of performers.
QUARTZ
Quartz returns to the festival this year with a unique blend of blues, funk and soul. Their energetic showmanship brings an exciting dynamic to their performances and are not to be missed.
SWEET AS BAND
Sweet As Band are crowd favourites, delivering a fun, high-energy show packed with all your favourite tunes that will have audiences singing along and dancing from start to finish.
THE DIRTY TONES
The Dirty Tones are an Auckland blues-rock powerhouse, renowned for their gritty originals, high-energy performances and authentic sound that blends classic blues influences with modern rock attitude.
TREVOR BRAUNIUS TRIO
The Trevor Braunias Trio delivers a sophisticated blend of jazz standards, blues and swing, showcasing outstanding musicianship, expressive improvisation and a timeless sound that appeals to jazz lovers of all ages.
TAURAROA AREA SCHOOL JAZZ
Tauraroa Area School Jazz showcases the outstanding talent of Northland’s young musicians, delivering an energetic and polished performance of jazz classics and contemporary favourites with confidence, passion and plenty of swing.
THE LEGACY BAND NZ
The Legacy Band is a dynamic New Zealand ensemble renowned for its polished musicianship, rich harmonies and crowd-pleasing performances, delivering a memorable mix of jazz, blues and timeless classics.
WBB
The Warkworth Big Band brings the unmistakable sound of the big band era to life with a vibrant mix of swing, jazz classics and modern favourites, performed by one of New Zealand’s premier community jazz ensembles.
BB & THE BULLETS
BB & The Bullets are a dynamic blues-rock trio from Whanganui, New Zealand, featuring Brian Baker on guitar/vocals, Stu Duncan on bass/vocals, and Brad McMillan on drums. Their powerful live sound blends soulful blues, rock energy and gritty musicianship, earning them growing attention with their debut album High Tide.
DALE ROBBINS
Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.
EDWINA THORNE ARTJAZZ
Blending jazz standards, blues, Latin and global influences with organic instrumentation, this dynamic ensemble explores contemporary fusion while celebrating jazz classics from the 1950s to today
FIRENZE
This talented five-piece band features female vocals, keys, saxophone, bass and drums, performing timeless jazz standards alongside fresh, funky interpretations of contemporary favourites.
JAM SANDWICH
Festival favourites since 2011, Jam Sandwich brings together talented Bay of Islands musicians and emerging young artists, delivering a vibrant mix of jazz, blues and original arrangements while celebrating the next generation of New Zealand talent.
KAREN CLARKE BLUES WOMAN
Karen Clarke Blues Woman is a powerhouse of Aotearoa’s indie blues scene, bringing together raw, bluesy vocals, driving rhythm guitar and songs packed with grit and heart. Her original music moves through blues, R&B, alt-country, folk and jazz, exploring themes of empowerment, belonging and life’s hard-earned lessons.
LOST IN TRANSIT
Fronted by acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Tony Martin, this band delivers authentic swamp, roots and blues with soulful vocals, masterful slide guitar and harmonica, showcasing songs shaped by more than four decades of musical passion.
MINNIE MARKS
Australian blues powerhouse Minnie Marks is an award-winning singer-songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist whose electrifying one-woman show combines ferocious guitar work, soulful vocals and foot-powered rhythms to create an unforgettable live experience.
NAIROBI TRIO
Seriously experienced passionate musicians, the Nairobi Trio are New Zealand's favorite jazz entertainers. Having toured throughout the world appearing at major festivals in the UK, Europe, Australasia and Asia. They have released a total of eight albums. Nairobi trio is the perfect Festival act.
SHIMIAN
Shimian delivers heartfelt blues-rock, soulful ballads and inspired originals, combining powerful vocals, exceptional guitar work and a dynamic rhythm section to create fresh, energetic interpretations of much-loved songs.
CHIHIRO + ROUTE 14 BAND
Chihiro Yamazaki (tp) started a band with Satoshi Yamashita (dr), Koji Yamamoto (Ba), Hana Takami (Key) in summer 2010. Their unique sound which is called "Singing Instruments" based on Instrumental Pop came from many different back grounds such as jazz, fusion, classical and rock.
DAVE MCMILLAN
Australian singer-songwriter Dave McMillan has been entertaining audiences for more than 30 years with his rich, soulful vocals, exceptional guitar playing, and engaging stage presence.
ELIJAH ZANE
With a deep love for New Zealand and its music scene, Elijah plans to continue bringing the Austin Blues vibe to festivals and events, collaborating with local artists and keeping the Blues spirit alive. He’s also setting his sights on more U.S. and international Blues festivals, working to preserve and promote the genre on a global scale.
FRIEGHT
Freight is a five-piece Auckland blues band delivering an authentic, high-energy blues experience with powerful vocals, standout harmonica, saxophone, guitar and slide solos, and a driving rhythm section inspired by legends such as Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield and Howlin' Wolf.
JON & HANNAH
Blending Jon’s masterful fingerstyle guitar and jazz harmonies with Hannah’s captivating, velvety vocals, this duo delivers an intimate performance inspired by jazz greats including Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass and Sarah Vaughan.
KEB HART & THE CoOPERTIVES
Returning for their second festival appearance, Keb Hart & The CoOperative deliver a dynamic blend of blues, Americana and alt-folk, showcasing songs from Keb Hart’s latest album Once I Was with a powerhouse lineup of seasoned musicians.
MAGIC & 3AM
Hamilton's Magic & 3AM are a high-energy five-piece blues band renowned for their infectious stage presence, raw musicianship and party atmosphere, delivering a powerful live show that keeps audiences dancing from start to finish.
MT COLLEGE STREET BAND
Mt College Street Band showcases the incredible talent of New Zealand’s young musicians, delivering an energetic and polished performance featuring jazz classics, contemporary favourites and infectious enthusiasm.
OUT OF OFFICE
Out of Office are four Auckland-based white-collar professionals who frequently sneak out of after-work drinks to improvise and jam out to a wide repertoire of jazz, funk and soul classics.
SONOROUS
Fuelled by their immense passion for music, Sonorous delivers an authentic bluesy rock sound that resonates with audiences of all ages. This band from Taupō is set to light up the stage with their electrifying performances and authentic sounds, making them a must-see act at the festival.
THAT'S LIFE
That’s Life is an Auckland-based ensemble bringing timeless jazz, swing and easy-listening favourites to the stage with polished musicianship, smooth vocals and an engaging performance that celebrates the golden era of music.
THELONIOUS PUNK
Northland's Thelonious Punk delivers an exciting blend of modern jazz, original compositions and fresh interpretations, combining exceptional musicianship with adventurous improvisation and contemporary flair.