AS the Port Fairy Jazz Festival prepares for its second year, the early success of the event has much to do with the efforts of John Huf.
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The now extinct Grampians Jazz Festival was a forerunner for the Port Fairy festival, with Mr Huf heavily involved in both events.
He was the coordinator of the Grampians festival for four years when the event was in its infancy more than two decades ago.
He used that expertise to help the smooth launch of the Port Fairy Jazz Festival last year.
He is back on board as secretary for 2018, and is excited about how the festival is progressing.
“We have been absolutely blown away by the feedback we have received about the festival, it is almost embarrassingly good,” Mr Huf said.
“We have brought in some new concepts this year, we want to make sure we keep it fresh and interesting.”
While Mr Huf has been busy with the logistics of the festival, he has also been practising playing his sousaphone and electric upright bass.
Across the weekend, he will play in three bands, Hot B Hines, 1947 and Aussie Wombats.
Mr Huf’s role in the festival has been praised by fellow committee member and musician Bernie Oppermann.
“The festival is going great guns and a lot of that has to do with John’s superb organisation,” Mr Oppermann said.
“Port Fairy is such a wonderful place and we have great venues.
“The people of Port Fairy are so supportive, we have a lot of volunteers from the town who want to see the festival be successful.”
Mr Oppermann plays trumpet, piano, accordion and violin. He will play with the bands Merri Creek, Trax and Caffeine at the festival.