Gallery Update
MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mos Jazz Festival - the first to be held in Mossel Bay - organised according to the same formula as Jazz on the Rocks on the West Coast, turned out well.
Held at De Bakke Beach, the festival started on Thursday, 22 March and ended on Sunday, 25 March. It was organised by Camissa Solutions, the same events and marketing company which organises Jazz on the Rocks, at Tieties Bay.
Probably the best way to gauge the success of the Mos Jazz Festival is to speak to the fest-goers themselves. All those interviewed by the Mossel Bay Home Ads News pronounced the event well organised and a resounding success.
The feedback was positive - from compliments on the weather, through to the safety of the venue and the quality of the performances.
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It is estimated there were 2 500 attendees, compared with the 1 000 attendees at the first concert held at Tieties Bay, so the Mos Jazz Fest had a good start.
Juliet Paulsen, a jazz buff from Cape Town who came to Mossel Bay especially for the fest, said: "I am a jazz follower. The whole weekend this place was packed to capacity. It was only on the Sunday when people were going home that it was quieter. I loved Judith Sephuma and Dr Victor - they were the highlights of the line-up, but I am also so impressed with the local jazz talent here in the Southern Cape. It's brilliant.
"I have been to Jazz on the Rocks at Tieties Bay for the last four years," so Paulsen is in a good position to comment. "This was also an opportunity for me to see Mossel Bay and I am blown away. I didn't realise it was so beautiful."
The adoring fans.
One remark was that there could have been more variety in the food on offer. "They need to get more organised with that." There were a few "caravans" offering snacks and the restaurant/bar at De Bakke.
Michelle Otto, from Kraaifontein in Cape Town, said: "I have one word for the festival - safety, safety, safety. My women friends and I walked around at night and felt totally safe. We stayed at the Santos train and there was a security presence around the festival.
"We could walk from the festival along the train tracks. For me, because of the convenience, this festival is less hassle than the one at Tieties Bay."
Another jazz fan said being able to dance on the sand was fun. Many said the beach venue was relaxing. "The Rockets were my favourite act. It was fantastic to let go and have a break from the children," Delmaine Singh said.
The sound desk.
Nadia Zekoe, a jazz buff from Worcester, enthused: "It was massive. There was a good turnout. The bands were good quality and the timing was good."
The weather was excellent - warm and balmy, with a slight drizzle on Saturday night. "The weather was fantastic. It was almost as if that light little drizzle was part of the show," an attendee enthused.
Read a previous article: Judith Sephuma rocks Mossel Bay
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