Kiama Council is forging ahead with the Kiama Sounds of Jazz & Blues live music weekend in March and is calling on businesses and the community to support the stopgap event.

After the Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival organisers pressed pause on their event for 2026, Council is organising a community‑led live music weekend in its place.

The Kiama Sounds of Jazz & Blues live music weekend will feature live performances across multiple venues, spanning jazz, blues, and a variety of other music styles.

Kiama Council tourism and economic development manager Sally Bursell said the initiative would help local venues and businesses keep live music thriving across the region during the traditional festival weekend.

An Expression of Interest is now open for local businesses and venues interested in hosting performances with the deadline to nominate this Sunday (18 January).

Bursell said after Mayor Cameron McDonald announced late last year that Council would step into the breach, they have received plenty of interest from local businesses.

They held a meeting with business owners before Christmas to map out a plan.

“Everyone was sort of on the same page and willing to pull together however they could,” she said.

“We asked them what did they think Council's role could be to support them.

“We spoke about a few things - how it would be good to have as many businesses involved as possible and how the challenges can be marketing and connecting the businesses.

“So we thought that Council's biggest contribution could be those things - looking at how we can communicate what's going on and where, and also looking at using funds to physically connect the businesses through a rotating bus or something along those lines.

“We've got the EOI out to try and get as many businesses that are willing to do something in that sort of capacity - live music within their businesses.

“We've been really encouraged to see the business support and also the community support and response.

“Essentially it's a venue led and paid for exercise and Council’s just supporting through the marketing and pulling everyone together while the Jazz & Blues Festival is on pause for this year.

Bursell said Council staff were connecting artists with venues and have reached out to Kiama Business Network to see if they can assist as well.

The fact that the Jazz & Blues Festival is on every meant that many tourists had pre-booked accommodation and some venues had lined up live music acts.

Council will help coordinate who is participating, preferred performance times and programming opportunities, informing a draft weekend schedule and promotional activity.

Cr McDonald hoped the live music weekend would preserve the spirit of the long‑running festival while giving venues the flexibility to curate their own line‑ups.

“One of the things I value most about Kiama is the way our community steps forward when something important to them is at risk of being lost.

“With the Jazz & Blues Festival taking a break in 2026, it’s been encouraging to see local venues and creatives come together with their own ideas to keep live music part of our town’s identity.

“Council’s role here is simple: To support, coordinate and create the space for community-led initiatives to happen.

“This Live Music Weekend in early March is a good example of that approach. It’s about backing local effort, strengthening collaboration and letting the community lead the way.

“We want to ensure the weekend continues to bring vibrancy, culture and visitors to our towns and villages.”

After the long-running Folk By The Sea festival was wound up and the Changing Tides independent music event was cancelled in November, the local events calendar has taken a heavy hit.

Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival organisers are planning to return for a 40th anniversary festival in 2027.