The Itchy Feet Pep Band performed at the 2004 Monbulk Jazz Festival.By Tania Martin
MONBULK’S main street will not jive to rhythm and blues this November as its annual jazz festival has been cancelled.
Community groups and shopkeepers have described the cancellation as a “shame”.
The festival’s committee secretary, Joe Chieppo, said the Monbulk Jazz Festival was cancelled due to a lack of funding.
Mr Chieppo said the festival cost more than $30,000 to run each year, and so far there had only been several small donations, including $3,000 from the Shire of Yarra Ranges, $1,000 from Telstra, and some donations from local retailers.
“It is a pity the festival is not going ahead this year, but we didn’t really have the support that we needed to go ahead with it,” he said.
Mr Chieppo said last year’s festival ran at a loss and lacked support, with the committee ending up covering most costs.
Last year more than 50 jazz bands from across Victoria featured at the festival and more than 3,000 people attended.
Monbulk Secondary College music coordinator Roz Bishop said the school band had participated in the festival for the last four years and that she was disappointed the festival was not going ahead this year.
She said the festival gave students the opportunity to play to different audiences.
Geoff Smith of the Itchy Feet Pep Band said his band had performed at the festival for the last two years.
“Every time we have played at the festival the audience has enjoyed our performances and we enjoyed playing there,” he said.
Chandler Ward councillor Alan Fincher said that while it was a shame the festival would not be going ahead this year, there was no guarantee such events could go on indefinitely.
He said it was “fantastic” that those involved in the festival had taken the time to organise the event for the town.
“It’s a shame that it’s not going ahead this year, but sometimes you need to try new things and other activities that may replace events like the jazz festival. Sometimes when one door closes another opens,” he said.
