Background Convention Committee July 19, 2005. The first official Jazz Club ‘fundraiser’ was held in late Spring 2004 at the then Lismore RSL Club (behind Heritage Park) and featured a few local bands and a jam session or two. Over the next 6 months, regular gigs were being held at number of venues around Lismore and the Northern Rivers to raise the much-needed funds for the staging of the Convention. Lismore City Hall, The Frog and Peach Restaurant at Wyrallah, Ballina Seagulls Club, Lismore Heights Bowls Club and the Winsome Hotel in North Lismore all hosted jazz events. Lots of regular and pick-up bands, large and small. A huge debt is owed to those singers and musicians who gave generously of their time to play for more or less ‘beer money’ during those halcyon days. By April 2005 we had found our regular ‘Sunday Arvo Jazz’ home at the charming Lismore City Bowls Club. The street parade blasts its way down Molesworth Street During 2005 and 2006 LJC also held special cabaret nights in the Fountain Room at Lismore City Hall. These were ticketed events billed as the Jazz Supper Club with a fully licensed bar and patrons encouraged to bring their own finger food. The Supper Club featured artists such as the legendary Bob Barnard, the George Washingmachine String Band, and ensembles fronted by Elizabeth Lord, Sharny Russell and Marilane de Mello. l: Lachie Thompson and Bob Barnard impressing at the Jazz Supper Club. Outside of the normal programme, LJC continued to stage fundraising events through 2007 and 2008 – restaurant nights, golf days and river cruises – all to maintain a healthy bank balance so as to be able to attract the best jazz and continue to pay performers professional rates. In 2008 Lismore again welcomed 400 musicians and delegates when the city played host for the 63rd Australian Jazz Convention. Lismore City Council (Events Unit) hosted and funded the Convention while LJC organised all promotional and the session programming across 6 venues. Another fantastic week of jazz and partying. New Year's Eve jam session at City Hall – a great end to the 63rd Convention. The Club attracts many artists from around Australia and overseas and it was an honour to welcome Lulo Reinhardt Quintet playing to a packed house at Lismore City Hall. As we sashay on through the new decade LJC will continue to stage a good mix of local and big-city performers across an eclectic mix of jazz styles, and in a friendly, relaxed venue. LJC is a non-profit organisation –
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