Colombo Jazz and Blues Festival : Reviewed 

Sunday saw the successful execution of the first Colombo Jazz and Blues Festival organized by Mainstage Events. 

All the acts were outstanding and each brought something different to the stage. The South African acts really stood out - The Untouchables, Duduzile Makhoba, Ananda Jiya, Musa Mashiane and Sannie Fox who managed to bring both a truly African tone to the music and got the crowd moving. 

Of course legends of the genre Jimmy Thomas, Roger Innis and Michael Roach and Sri Lankan artists such as Jerome Speldewinde and the Music Matters Trio were also brilliant in their own right. With the breeze coming in from the ocean and the open blue sky above, the Galle Face Hotel provided the event with an amazing venue which created a laidback, relaxed atmosphere in which to enjoy the music. The event got off to a slow start in terms of atmosphere because most of the crowd had not arrived yet and the lawn in front of the stage where the picnic seating had been set up was mostly empty. However towards 5pm, the entire ground was packed with people moving and swaying to the music. 

Other aspects of the festival such as the Colombo Design Market and the food stalls were present with the Colombo Design Market being represented by brands like Rum  Punch, Parkville and Monai among others. There was also an area screening short films although not many people seemed to be aware of it, which is a point to be looked at for next year. 

The food stalls however were heavily populated with people enjoying cheese platters and glasses of wine and food from the Sunset Barbeque while watching the acts. It was a truly enjoyable event which left many excited for next year’s Jazz and Blues Festival. 

Annika 

It’s an incredible experience .Every single act here has been amazing. I’m looking forward to the sunset barbeque and the rest of the show. 

Malin Sudgren 

It has been amazing so far. Globally speaking, the venue is one of the best with the sea right in front of you. The location is perfect and the music is very good. I’m very happy to see something like this in Sri Lanka. 

Naserah 

It is a beautiful setiing with the sea and the band. It couldn’t be more idyllic. Colombo should continue to do things like this. 

Charmaine Mendis 

It was a well organized event with a beautiful, relaxed atmosphere and more events like this should be organized. Well done to Gehan and the rest of the team as always. 

Jith Seneviratne 

Very good. The African rhythm and beat is very music evident in the music. 

Saskia Fernando 

It’s a fantastic setup and something we should see more of. 

Charles 

A well put together event. One flaw was that they should’ve had beer at the bar as well. 

Durka 

Brilliant. Sri Lanka is a tourism destination and this is the lifestyle we have to sell along with our aappas and koththu. We have to develop the panache that people can sell. 

Ahalya 

When people come to Colombo, there is nothing that we can show them to do but this is something that we can promote. It is also a great family outing. 

Dinesh Wijesinghe, Organiser 

It went off really well as planned. It turned out to be the success that we anticipated. 

By Upeksha Hettiarachchi
Photographs by Kushan Pathiraja