Article from the Stawell Times reporting on The Halls gap Jazz Festival

At present the 136 bands take part in the festival, organisers have had to turn away bands as they simply didn't have room for them in the program and at venues, it is hoped by starting earlier an additional one or two venues may be established providing more room for bands.

Mrs McDonald said the festival had always been popular with musicians with some returning year after year and attracting larger crowds as time progressed.

One such band is `Swing It'. The eight piece neo swing band began performing at the festival in a small venue, now a few years on the band is so popular festival organisers are struggling to find a venue big enough to fit everyone wanting to see the band in.

`Swing It' and Gail Kingston and the `Hot Foot Seven' both performed on the Golf Club Marquee, one of the festival's largest venues. The marquee seated 750 people, these performers attracted around 900 with people standing and spilling over into fenced off lawn areas of the venue.