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Wortley Welcomes the Blues & Jazz

By Cory Crossman
August 14, 2017 at 11:57 AM

Old South Community Organzation (OSCO) presents the 7th annual Wortley Village Jazz and Blues Festival this Sunday August 20 from 2 - 6pm. The festival takes place on Wortley Road between Askin/Craig and Elmwood

WVJBF was founded and organized by two Wortley Village business owners, Rod Lorimer and Marty Verweel. In the spring of 2016, Rod and Marty passed the torch to the OSCO, a key community sponsor of previous festivals.

This year’s festival once again features eight live jazz and blues bands, all local musicians, and a fresh line-up from last year’s program. Some groups have performed at previous editions of the festival, but two groups are making their festival debut: Between The Keys, a group of recent Western music grads, and The John Griffiths Quartet, which features some band members who live close to or in Old South (Brian Ball and Jayne Hysen). As in past years, WVJBF likes to feature neighbourhood musicians. Guitarists Jesse Nestor (Doug Varty) & Jim Nestor (Double Clutch Blues Band), bassist Steve Clark and guitarist Oliver Whitehead (Sonja Gustafson Quartet) and pianist David Priest all live in the Wortley Village area.
There are two stages between Askin & Bruce, and two stages between Bruce and Elmwood. Performer bios can be found online.

Unlike many larger summer festivals in London who receive grants at the municipal, provincial and federal level, WVJBF is funded through sponsorships from restaurants and small businesses in Wortley Village and by the London Musician Association through the Music Performance Trust Fund. Donations are also collected from festival crowds.

OSCO is a non-profit, member-run volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and improving the quality of life in the Old South community and in the city of London. This year OSCO will donate festival proceeds to established community programs that OSCO supports such as
• neighbourhood environmental initiatives (solar panels, bike rings and EV charging stations)
• breakfast programs, playground equipment & tree planting at neighbourhood schools
• Landon Library & YMCA
• scholarships at South Collegiate

Tuckeys Stage: Blues
Doug Varty 2:20 - 3:00 & 3:20 - 4:00
Paul Langille & Tom Lockwood 4:30 - 5:10 & 5:30 - 6:10

Church Condos Stage: Jazz
Between The Keys 2:00 – 2:40 & 3:00 – 3:40
Sonia Gustafson Quartet 4:10 – 4:50 & 5:10 – 5:50

Gusto Stage: Jazz
John Griffiths Quartet 2:20 – 3:00 & 3:20 – 4:00
David Priest Trio 4:30 – 5:10 & 5:30 – 6:10

Worley Roadhouse Stage: Blues
Double Clutch Blues Band 2:00 - 2:40 & 3:00 - 3:40
Chris Murphy Band 4:10 - 4:50 & 5:10 - 5:50

FESTIVAL BY THE NUMBERS

All Ages?: Yes

Licensed Event?: Yes (patios)

Local Acts: 8

Total Acts: 8

Volunteers: 20

Staff: 4 contract

Cause: Old South Community Organization