For this year only – the upcoming 59th Port of Tauranga National Jazz Festival's two-day Downtown Carnival on June 25-26 is returning to its roots.

Instead of being staged outdoors, the Downtown Carnival is back inside the bars and restaurants along The Strand, Wharf Street and Red Square – a throw-back to the way it used to be.

Festival organiser Marc Anderson says this year's festival in June – delayed from Easter due to the pandemic – offers an exciting alternative to what anyone has experienced at the Jazz Festival Tauranga in recent years.

'We're moving the action into bars, cafes and hospitality venues around the city, bringing a new dynamic to the Downtown Carnival.

'Thanks to the willingness of musicians and venues to make themselves available for Matariki weekend, we have a fantastic selection of events lined up, with 85 performances on offer during the two-day carnival.”

The Afrolites will jazz it up at at the upcoming 59th Port of Tauranga National Jazz Festival's two-day Downtown Carnival on June 25-26. Photo: Supplied.

This year carnival music – in venues around the CBD – will swirl onto footpaths and pull people from the cool air into warm, lively, mood-filled scenes of jazz!

'You'll experience an intimate music scene indoors, reminiscent of the much-loved European Jazz Festivals. There will be music for everyone to enjoy from jazz, swing, blues and funk at a massive number of venues.”

For carnival-goers the fun begins 11am Saturday, June 25, when the Vintage Car Parade heads down The Strand. Live indoors music begins 12pm. Those wanting to stay on after the Downtown Carnival finishes at 6pm can make a night of it by dining in downtown bars and restaurants.

On Sunday, June 26, the carnival begins with The Little Big Markets' jazz festival market from 10am-2pm in Masonic Park, The Strand. Sunday's live indoors music in CBD venues plays from 12pm-6pm.

Japanese-born Kiwi jazz artist Miho Wada, who will perform at the Downtown Carnival both days with her band Miho's Jazz Orchestra, says having bars right next to each other playing jazz and blues along the street will be like a day in New Orleans.

'I studied traditional jazz there – this festival is quite similar. This time, being in winter, it might feel a bit different but it's still going to showcase that warm feeling that jazz music brings.”

Kokomo frontman Derek Jacombs – who helped rebuild the festival from tough times in the late-1990s – thinks the music being in venues back then made it more personal. 'Bars and crowds got up close and intimate with the musicians, we were all in it together,” says Derek.

'There's nothing quite like the feel of an up-close show – we love playing like that. Your audience is not on the other side of some barrier, they're right there with you and it's a communal experience you share. Bring on Matariki!”

Tauranga Jazz Society president Jeff Baker says this year's festival will show the real depth of great musicianship in Aotearoa during New Zealand's first Matariki public holiday weekend. 'We're delighted to showcase the best of NZ talent and, as last year proved, the acts are of an international standard.”