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As the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival in Fredericton draws near, musicians and organizers alike are getting psyched - and nervous.

Paul MacNabb gets extra doses of both because he's a performer and an organizer. As a guitarist and singer with the George St. Blues Project, he'll perform Sept. 13 at the Mojo Tent in front of about 1,000 people. (8 p.m., if you can make it.)

"It's such a treat for us to play a big stage in front of a big crowd and in your hometown," he says. "The hometown shows can bring an element of nervousness to it - you're there in front of your friends and family. But that same thing makes it special as well."

MacNabb says jazz and blues took a hold of him once he realized his heroes growing up in the '60s and '70s - Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrix - were influenced by the black blues musicians from Chicago and Mississippi.

"I worked backwards," MacNabb says.

When asked for a list of his top 10 favourite tunes, MacNabb found himself circling back to Harvest types.

"My top 10 list is always a bit of a moving target," he says. "At this time of year, however, as a musician and a Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival organizer I can't help but think of Harvest performances (both past and coming up in two weeks) to formulate my list."

For more on the festival visit www.harvestjazzandblues.com/

- Telegraph-Journal