Berry will come alive again with live blues and jazz performances across multiple venues on Thursday March 19 and Sunday March 22, as local venues collaborate to create a village-wide atmosphere for the next instalment of the A Day Well Spent live music series.
A Day Well Spent forms part of Extend the Weekend, a destination campaign supported by the NSW Government’s UPTOWN Grant Program designed to encourage visitors and locals to stay longer, spread visitation across more days and reduce the town’s reliance on peak holiday periods.
Precinct Coordinator Kate Dezarnaulds said the opening weekend in February had exceeded expectations and created a buzz throughout the town.
“The first weekend exceeded our expectations,” Ms Dezarnaulds said. “People were genuinely surprised by the calibre of musicians performing across the town and the response from audiences was fantastic. There was a real buzz around Berry and venues are already asking how they can be involved.
“We’re even hearing stories of people travelling interstate to see particular bands, including visitors from Melbourne who had never been to Berry before. The aim is to create a new rhythm of live music in Berry that works for locals and visitors alike.”
Local venues reported crowds well above expectations during the opening weekend. Bridie Brooker from The Great Southern Hotel said the turnout had caught staff by surprise.
“We genuinely didn’t expect it to be that busy and had actually sent a couple of staff home early, but the place filled up and we had to call them back in. There were lines out the door at one point and a fantastic buzz around town.”
Musicians are paid for their performances through the UPTOWN grant, helping venues collaborate to create a shared live music experience across the town, with some already choosing to co-contribute after seeing the positive response from audiences. Artists who performed during the opening weekend also welcomed the chance to play beyond the traditional Friday and Saturday peak, saying the Thursday and Sunday gigs were particularly valuable in expanding opportunities to perform and earn income.
The upcoming weekend will feature a powerful lineup led by internationally recognised blues guitarist and vocalist Frank Sultana Blues Band, winner of the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis and widely regarded as one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary blues artists, alongside South Coast favourites Tall Shaun and The Resolution, known for their high-energy blend of blues and soul.
The program also features regional blues ensemble Jr & The Jewel Tones, Wollongong guitarist Tyler Hauptberger, and a contemporary jazz lineup including Blue Mallee, Ella’s Holiday, Freyja Garbett, Harry Cooper & Leon Holstegge and acclaimed Sydney guitarist Jeremy Sawkins.
Sultana, who previously lived in nearby Kiama, said performing on the South Coast always held special meaning.
“I lived in Kiama for a few years, so it’s great to be back playing on the South Coast,” Sultana said. “Events like this help build a real live music culture in regional towns, which is something musicians really value.”
The upcoming dates of A Day Well Spent are:
March 19 & 22 – Jazz and Blues
May 21 & 24 – Indie
June 18 & 21 – Funk and Soul
