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Pentastic brings hot jazz back to the Okanagan

With only four weeks remaining until their opening ceremonies, the Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival Society is busy finalizing and refining all the details involved with putting on a annual festival.

With only four weeks remaining until their opening ceremonies, the Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival Society is busy finalizing and refining all the details involved with putting on a annual festival.

Some of the work over the past few weeks has been the rehabilitation of the  dance floor at the Shatford Centre, which will be added this year as the festival’s newest venue. On pulling up the carpet in the former school’s recital hall, an old and original maple floor was discovered. It has been stripped and varnished and the jazz festival organizers say it will be a great place to dance this year.

With 11 bands performing at five venues the society said they are certain that this will be another great party. All venues are non-smoking and all except for the Speakeasy (S.S. Sicamous) are wheelchair accessible and have dance floors. As always, a shuttle will be making regular runs between the venues to transport patrons from one location to another.

Lance Buller, Cornet Chop Suey, Tom Rigney & Flambeau as well as local favourites, the Cactus Jazz Band are on the roster, but there are also some new additions to this year’s lineup. One is Sister Swing, a female trio, echoing the sound of the girl groups of the 30s and 40s, and bringing it to the 21st Century, mixing the old style with a new sound.

The society is also looking for people to help with transport during the festival which provides shuttle services between venues and sponsoring motels; drivers with Class 4, 2 and 1 licences are especially in demand. To volunteer, e-mail webmaster@pentasticjazz.com.

This year’s festival takes place from Sept. 9 to 15. Ticket information is available online at pentasticjazz.com.