The Jazz Village in the Historic Village offered a day full of live music and entertainment inspired by the flair of New Orleans.

Boutique shops were joined by market stalls, with food trucks and drink options, spread throughout the venue.

Crowds moved between outdoor stages and an indoor concert space on Good Friday.

Festival organiser Marc Anderson said the green at the Historic Village could hold up to 2000 people.

Jan Preston and Mike Pullman onstage at The Village Square Stage. Photo / Zoe Blake.

Speaking to the Bay of Plenty Times on Friday, Trisha Noad from Te Puna said she loved seeing the village come alive, especially with the old-style jazz and New Orleans feel.

A couple, who were regulars at the Jazz Festival, also returned after a “sensational” time in previous years.

“We are spoiled in Tauranga for jazz,” they told the Bay of Plenty Times.

Festival‑goers exploring the Jazz Village on Good Friday. Photo / Zoe Blake

Benjamin J. Shepherd Quartet featuring Terra Deva closed out the main stage at 4pm.

Shepherd promised a lively set, full of “shredding”, groove and moments to get the crowd dancing.

The quartet included several well-known Kiwi musicians.

Guitarist Nick Granville was among the line-up, along with keyboardist Rory Johns and drummer Adam Tobeck.

“A very high level of musicianship, we just like to have fun, and really, it’s just a lot of high energy and just a lot of joy in the music that we like to play together.”

This year marked Shepherd’s return to the Jazz Festival, who last performed in Tauranga nearly 20 years ago as a teenager competing in the National Youth Jazz Competition.

He had spent the last several years in Los Angeles as a full‑time touring and recording musician.

The weekend’s performance was his first major appearance as a bandleader since coming home.

For Shepherd, jazz was a way of expressing stories through music.

“It’s a way of expression, telling a story through the language of music, taking the audience on a journey...it’s definitely something that I feel very in touch with, just all different layers of humanity.”

The show was also the New Zealand debut of Terra Deva, Shepherd’s wife, a vocalist, songwriter, and platinum-selling artist originally from the United States.

“Aotearoa is my home now. And I am so excited and honoured to perform here for the first time,” Deva said.

“The world needs more joy right now, and that’s what we plan on bringing. We’re gonna have a blast.”

Drosan’s Pablo Cordoba and Nick Clark take the stage for a farewell performance. Photo / Zoe Blake.

Earlier in the day, the duo, Drosan, played their farewell performance.

Nick Clark grew up in Texas but was born in Tauranga, while Pablo Cordoba has spent a decade in New Zealand.

Together, their performance blended modern jazz and improvisation with Argentine roots.

Tauranga City Council community hubs, arts, heritage and event head Gareth Wallis said the long-standing Easter tradition brought real value to the city.

“Bringing people together to celebrate the arts through music.”

With more than 150 musicians and 120 performances, the festival unfolds across the Easter long weekend.

Taking over spaces throughout Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, there’s something for everyone.

Free Events

Uptown Downtown

Saturday and Sunday

Held across Tauranga CBD and Mount Maunganui.

It includes two main outdoor stages: The Barrel Room Stage in Wharf St and the Red Square Stage, outside CBK.

Additional outdoor performance spots are at Masonic Park, outside Macau, Lonestar/Oscar and Otto and The Cornerstone/Rusty’s.

Live music CBD venues include Zozos, 1920, Satori, Manhattan and The Book Club.

Mount Maunganui live performances will run at Sailor, Brew, The Cruise Deck and Mount Social Club.

Vintage Car Parade

Saturday, 2pm at The Strand, Tauranga CBD. Display from 2.30pm-3.30pm

Jazz at The Mount

Monday, 12pm-2pm at Porotakataka Park.

See the full list of Jazz Festival events at jazz.org.nz.