The Newcastle Jazz Festival was held at the Town Hall at Newcastle NSW on the 30th, 31st August and 1st September. The line up of bands and artists were:

Lee Gunness, Paul Griffith Orchestra and Quintet, Cary Bennett and Swingout, Hendo’s Early Roots, Dan & Howler Strictly Swingin’, Trevor Furner Unsafe Sax, Daryl Aberhart Trio, Ben Jones Quartet, Sally Street Trio, Geoff Bull’s Olympia Jazz Band, Al Davey’s Monstars, Dr.Don’s, Double Dose, Boots’n’ all Jazz Band, Diannia Heather Tribute to Bessie Smith, Jugalug String Band, Bob Malone (USA), Stephan Schafer Quartet, Viva the band (cabaret), Jeremy Borthwick Quartet, Howlers Cotton Club, New Orleans Ramblers, Short ‘n. Horny, Bob Barnard Quartet, Sweeny (Irish), State Summit, Monique Lysiak, Dave Longo Quartet, Gosford High School Band.

The organizers of the Gold Coast Jazz and Blues Festival and the Dubbo Jazz festival cruised around the venues to listen to the different acts that performed over the three day Festival, looking for a special act for their own festivals. They selected a Sydney band, Viva the band as the most popular act among the 30 bands and artists at the event and immediately booked the band. The Gold Coast festival organizers will fly the band up from Sydney to perform for one day on the 16th January 2009. the organizers of the Dubbo Jazz festival and the Kiama Jazz festival also booked the band for their Festivals in 2009.

It is interesting to note that Viva the band did not perform any “jazz” standards at the festival. The multi-talented band has a line up of: Two vocalists, Musette accordion/ Bass, Flute, Spanish guitar, congas, percussion and drums. The vocalists harmonize some French, Spanish, Russian and salsa songs. The band also produce a distinct continental or “hot club” sound and Brazilian “salsa” . They delight their audiences wherever they perform with a diverse repertoire of International music including: French, Spanish, Russian, Gypsy jazz, Swing, Latin, Salsa, Cuban, Argentine, stunning classic show tunes and cabaret songs

Viva the band has worked Internationally and extensively through Australia. The band members have performed throughout Sth. Vietnam, Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Guam and Japan. Viva the band represented Australia with television and live performances at the Tainan International Chihsi Arts Festival in Taiwan in 2004. and the Kenting Song Festival in 2005. info at www.musicians.net.au