The Katrina Bristow Band wowed audiences with an Ella Fitzgerald classic on the main stage at the Harbour Street Jazz & Blues Festival on Saturday.
The festival kicked off on Friday with local favourites Dee May and the Saints, legendary Swiss-English musician Paul Ubana Jones and blues musician Andy Parsons among the lineup.
The Wanaka-based band, made up of Katrina Bristow on vocals, Del Tubb on bass, Graeme Perkins on keys and Mark Orbell on drums, described themselves as as "a little swing and a little bit American songbook".
Oamaru local Faye Ormandy said the band were "absolutely excellent. Perfect".
Natalie Perzylo, of Christchurch, said they were "amazing" and she was impressed with the festival lineup.
She was attending the festival with friends Brent Harpur, of Oamaru, and Blair Anderson, of Christchurch.
"There is some deeply talented people playing in the programme ... including Stephanie McEwin and Paul Ubana Jones," he said.
"He is one of the 10 best guitarists in the world as far as I’m concerned."
The programme was a blend of musical styles from jazz, swing, soul and rhythm and blues to big-band sounds in venues throughout the Victorian Precinct and around Oamaru, including the Waitaki District Council’s newly installed East Bank project in lower Thames St.
Lyn Hammond, of Westport, and Alison McKechie, of Christchurch, were excited to play "bluesy songs" in the new East Bank area yesterday, a trial space developed by the Waitaki District Council to provide more outdoor space for entertainment and dining.
All the performances were free to the public, with the exception of the Old Hollywood Glamour Finale last night.
Festival chairwoman Jane Campbell said the weekend was "lovely" and went "really well".
She hoped attendance would match last year, which was about 4500.
