December 5th is International Volunteer Day

December 5, 2008

On behalf of the Volunteer Committee, Board and Staff, we would like to thank all of the dedicated Harvest volunteers on this International Volunteer Day!

Our almost 1000 volunteers are the heartbeat of the Festival, and we so appreciate all of your hard work! Without you, we would not have such a successful and respected music event, and we value your continued commitment!

Thanks so much and we look forward to continuing to work together to put on another great Festival in 2009!

Yours in music,
Alycia Morehouse and Nicole LeBlanc
Co-Chairs, Volunteers

Notice of the AGM

November 5, 2008

The Annual General Meeting of the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival will take place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 7PM. All volunteers are members of the corporation and invited to attend.

Please contact the office if you wish to view the 2007 financial statements or 2007 AGM minutes prior to the 26th of November.

Blues Legend Eddie Shaw to Appear in Fredericton

October 6, 2008

Blues Legend Eddie Shaw to appear in Fredericton! Proudly presented by the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, join us for a night of amazing blues on October 17th at the James Joyce Pub featuring Chicago blues band, Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang with Fredericton's own, Thom Swift.

Read more...

Another Year, Another Bountiful Harvest

September 16, 2008

It's such a thrill to see what becomes of our beautiful city as 80,000 people make their way to downtown Fredericton during my favourite time of year. For some, it's been a year full of meetings, e-mails, phone calls, laughs and tears, struggles and joys, as the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival came together for 2008. For most, it was 5 days and nights full of extraordinary music, wonderful energy and unbeatable community spirit as the best festival in Atlantic Canada hosted legends and legends-in-the-making at 125 shows on 22 stages.

Eric Bibb's CD hasn't left my CD player yet, and a friend called seeing the Derek Trucks band "a religious experience". Bloc Party and Buddy Guy each had the crowds right in their pockets, and Ana Popovic and Grace Potter made me want to learn to play the guitar so I could rock like these women! What a week!

As Chair, I am absolutely in awe of how our community joins together- volunteers and patrons, sponsors and partners, musicians and technicians- to create the magic that is the festival. Every single action of every single individual all come together to make an event that is unlike any other. To all of you, and on behalf of the festival's board of directors, I extend sincere thanks.

This was a huge festival, and growing something this big will not happen without the occasional bump along the way. Unexpectedly high demand on two shows caused slow downs at the gates. But this I know for sure- we will not see the same problem next year as festival volunteers and staff are comitted to learning as we grow and will collectively work hard to make sure there is improvement year after year.

So for now, we'll take a short breather and then get to work right away so that we can do it all over again next year. See you in 2009!

Cheers!

Patti Graham
2008 Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival Chair