Sunshine, smooth sounds and picnic blankets set the scene for a relaxed and entertaining afternoon as around 800 people gathered for O’Hagan Home Loans and Insurances Jazz in the Park last Saturday.

Brought back by popular demand after a year off, the much-loved event was hosted by Arts Whakatāne at the picturesque Whakatāne Rose Garden.

Arts Whakatāne chairperson Sue Whale said the programme opened at 3pm with young Eastern Bay musician Rohan Evans performing a selection of original songs, setting the tone for a diverse and vibrant line-up.

Emcee Trish Marsden kept the energy flowing throughout the afternoon with her trademark warmth and humour.

Crowd favourites the EBOPers Jazz Band, conducted by Maurice Reid, teamed up with the ever-popular Tequila Mockingbird vocal trio – Debs Ranapia, Adele Dixon and Sarah Holmes-Reid – delivering toe-tapping classics that had the audience swaying along.

Performance artist Lance Fuller then took to the stage with a visually striking dance piece, titled Ordinary to Extraordinary (O2E), Phase 2.

Whale said the work followed his much-talked-about 2025 Amphitheatre Variety Concert performance and again showcased Eastern Bay performers, many with little prior dance experience, transformed into confident stage stars through Fuller’s choreography and theatrical flair.

Auckland Americana and country blues band The DeSotos followed, bringing a powerful, roots-driven blend of rock-infused country and blues that added a grittier edge to the evening.

The final act, Croque Madame, lifted the tempo even higher.

Featuring guitarists Phillip Beatson and Doug Robertson, double bass player Dave Schaevitz and Belgian vocalist Evy Vermeire, the band’s fast-fingered string work and buoyant rhythms had concertgoers up on their feet, dancing into the warm summer evening.

“This was the music the people had been waiting for.”

Though organisers had hoped for an even larger crowd, Whale acknowledged that a packed summer events calendar meant audiences had plenty of options.

The event’s return was made possible thanks to the continued support of principal sponsor O’Hagan’s Home Loans and Insurances, powered by Apex.

Additional sponsors included Resonate Health, Creative Communities, Fonterra Doing Good in the Community, the Whakatāne-Ōhope Community Board, Trust Horizon, 1XX, The Beacon and the Aotearoa Gaming Fund.