Anticipation for the dressing day for Warwick’s trees to get their winter coats installed has reached fever pitch. This is a day that the whole community looks forward to when 110 of the leafless trees in the CBD are transformed with wonderful and wacky artworks for the 10 day Jumpers and Jazz in July festival. This is no quick yarn bombing activity but rather a carefully measured and planned labour of love that involves hundreds of creative people and many months of organisation. Warwick Art Gallery director Karina Devine and her team commenced the planning for the 2016 festival eight months ago when the optional tree jumper theme was decided. “Our tree jumper artists like to know the theme

The Southern Downs offers diverse natural beauty and what better reason to explore its welcoming country towns than experience a wide selection of jazz, food, art and craft right through the Jumpers & Jazz season! Jazz on the Mountain (Bestbrook Mountain resort), ideal for a bunch of friends or family day out, will feature an afternoon with live acoustic jazz group The O’Brien Trio, and an authentic country experience with the opportunity to make your own hot damper and fresh butter washed down with genuine billy tea. Wine tasting is also an option. Kids will enjoy saying hello to the horses and other farm animals – and perhaps join in the wagon ride. Meanwhile, Killarney will turn on

This year’s jazz program for Warwick’s quirky winter festival, Jumpers and Jazz in July, has been released and it’s sure to get you groovin’. The giant jigsaw of jazz performers has been pieced together, mixing festival favourites with new names. Jumpers and Jazz in July festival advisory team chairperson Karina Devine is delighted with the variety of acts engaged for this year’s festival “We will see the return of The Freud Squad and The Blue Violets who have contributed to the vibe and energy our festival is famous for,” said Ms Devine, “we also have crowd favourites Dezzie D and the Stingrayz and The Well Swung Daddies returning and playing several gigs.” Together with these return acts,

Warwick’s 2016 Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival program is bursting with new events. And it wouldn’t be a jazz festival without more jazz! So this year, Jazz Jam, will bring after-work drinks to life at the Criterion Hotel with an unpredictable line-up of musicians, styles and sounds. Jazz Jam will also kick-start your weekend at The Bluebird Kitchen on a Saturday afternoon. These gigs will be spontaneous and will feature local and visiting artists such as Aperitif Jazz Ensemble and the Jazz Music Institute Brisbane. The Jazz Jam concept is an idea developed by this year’s volunteer jazz coordinator Judy Abernathy who is hopeful that it will be of the lasting memories of Jumpers and Jazz 20

Seasonal, regional produce is on the menu for many an event during this year’s Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival. The annual, Winter Dinner, will once again provide festival goers with an opportunity to taste and experience the Southern Downs with a regional feast in the historic Town Hall. The Queensland College of Wine Tourism and their head chef, Andrew Simpson, are set to deliver a celebration of the very best of our regional, seasonal foods complimented by local wines and beers. Diners will be entertained by the amazing talents of the Con Artists, an 18-piece Jazz ensemble from the Brisbane Conservatorium of Music. SOURCED Southern Downs Flavours will feature at this year’s Warwick Cred