Music Third edition of event kicks off at 3 p.m. today at Vito's restaurant in Rothesay

B5

ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

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ROTHESAY - The stage is set, the tent is up and organizers are hoping the weather remains clear for the third edition of the KV Jazz/Blues Fest.

The event gets underway at 3 p.m. today at Vito's restaurant on Hampton Road in Rothesay.

Pierre Rioux, co-producer of the event, says it looks like the event will sell out.

"The advance ticket sales have been great and we usually have a big walk-up crowd," Rioux said.

The event has grown steadily each year from 600 people in 2006 to 800 last year.

In addition to co-producing the event, Rioux - who is also a Quispamsis town councillor - will be the master of ceremonies and play drums in the opening act Jazztet.

Other acts taking the stage during the festival - set to wrap up around midnight - include Dianelys Hernandez, Jennifer Power, the Instigators, Pat Flanagan and South Side, and the Downtown Blues Band, the group billed as the Maritimes' No. 1 blues party band.

This year's edition of the KV Jazz/Blues Fest will have some new features, including a dance floor and door prizes to be given away throughout the day.

Tickets for the event can be purchased at any Vito's location in Rothesay and Saint John or at the festival for $15. A ticket allows people to come and go throughout the day.

However, Dave Hoyt, who handles promotion for the event, said once people arrive, they don't leave.

"A lot of people came down for a couple hours in the first two years and ended up staying all night," Hoyt said.

The festival begins at 3 p.m. and Rioux said the first three acts are jazz-centric with rock and blues to follow.