- Devonport City Council - https://www.devonport.tas.gov.au -

A reunion planned for Yesterday’s Gentlemen at Devonport Jazz

Bringing his band, Yesterday’s Gentlemen, to the Forth Pub on Friday night for the Devonport Jazz Festival will be something of a homecoming for singer-guitarist David Edmondson.

Now based in Hobart, Edmondson was born in England but spent some of his formative years on a family farm at Wilmot and his father also owned a butchery at Forth.

“I did a lot of growing up there and was actually there for a fundraiser for a dear friend at the Kindred Hall a few months ago which was the first time I had been back for about four years,” Edmondson said.

“I have a few friends from high school coming on Friday night so it will be a bit of a high school reunion.”

Yesterday’s Gentlemen will perform two gigs for Devonport Jazz backing up from Friday night with a second show at the Pub Rock Diner, in the Devonport Mall, from midday on Saturday.

The quartet features Edmondson on guitar and vocals, Oliver Plapp (bass), Steve Young (keyboards and harmonica) and drummer Damien Oliver-Black.

While they often play as a trio, Edmondson said Oliver-Black’s presence added to the stage show.

The group has established a popular following in Hobart and Launceston but are not as well-known on the Coast, which is one reason Edmondson is keen to come to the festival.

Edmondson described the sound as a fusion of Jump-Jive with 1940s Blues’ elements and a touch of jazz thrown in.

“It is partly crazy,” he joked.

“(But) The volumes are lower, and it is more tender.”

While they do some jazz standards, Yesterday’s Gentlemen’s repertoire is heavily slanted towards originals, with Edmondson enjoying writing much of the material.

Tickets for Friday night can be purchased at the pub. A show-only tickets costs $15 while a two-course dinner and show is available for $55.

Saturday’s performance costs $10 a head which includes a beer, house wine or soft drink. Lunch is available. Tickets can be purchased from the venue.

To be held from 25-28 July, this year’s Devonport Festival will be headlined by the great multi-instrumentalist James Morrison and is brimming with acts from Tasmania and the mainland, which will please both jazz lovers and the general public.

Other exciting elements of the Festival include a jazz tribute to the music of INXS, the RAN Navy Band, the ABC Radio live broadcast, a schools’ tour and Pure Jazz Sessions.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through participating venues or the paranaple arts centre. Or for the full festival experience a Festival Pass for just $199 which gives access to more than 20 events.

Devonport Jazz will also host a range of free events including the popular Musos in the Mall, sponsored by 7AD, will feature the RAN Band’s jazz group with dancing from the team from SwingMania. It will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday 27 July.

Les Coqs Incroyables, Wendy Moles & Nick Hart, and Arman & Co will also be performing at free events across the weekend.

Full event details can be found at www.devonportjazz.com.au [1]

CAPTION: David Edmondson (left), Steve Young (centre) and Oliver Plapp, will perform two shows at Devonport Jazz.

 

ENDS

Media Contact

Nigel Tapp |Media & Communications Officer Devonport City Council

03 6424 0562 | 0427 132 972 |[email protected]