Small city, big festival
By JACQUELINE LEBLANC
leblanc.jacqueline@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday September 17th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival organizers are singing the praises of volunteers, and our city's ability to successfully stage an international event.
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Music director Brent Staben said between 75,000 and 80,000 music lovers came out to the shows, which started last week and wrapped up Sunday. Only one show out of 40 wasn't sold out.
Staeben said the festival was an amazing success.
"We're just over the moon about it," he said Sunday. "It's a testament to what Fredericton can achieve. It's all volunteer run and the committee works very hard to raise its goals every year and create a bigger and better event, and we've been doing that for 17 years.
"And again, it's very satisfying to have what we think is an international festival here in this town."
He said performers gave them positive feedback for organization.
"When we have people like Dr. John coming in here and saying, 'You guys are doing it right. You're doing it just as good as it's done anywhere.' It's very satisfying for sure," Staeben said.
The festival wrapped up Sunday with thousands packing into Officers Square for the final show. Headliner Molly Johnson dropped by for a final performance.
Committee members would like to see an economic impact study done to see how much money the festival brings into the community.
The last one was done in the late 1990s, said David Seabrook, festival spokesman.
"We know that the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival has a huge economic impact," Seabrook said. "Maybe between $5-million-$7 million for the local economy.
"Everything from babysitters, to restaurants, to hotels, to sound technicians, you name it. It's been a few years since we've done a study. I think we're all interested in what that current impact is."
A new study would benefit the entire community, he said.
"It's very important when you're a festival at the scale that Harvest is now, and have the impact on the community, it takes resources in the entire community to pull it off. So I think it's important for the community to know what that is."
Staeben said the festival's success is due to the community's commitment.
"This festival speaks to the potential of the community," he said. "This community can do great things. It's an incredible event for the city."