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| Jazz bands attract visitors to historic hotels in Sydney Australia  A Band For Occasions provide Viva the band which has been resident band at the historic Settlers Arms Inn since 1996, performing on the first and third Sunday of each month between 12.30pm and 3.30pm. The band stage is located on a small outbuilding on a large expanse of lawn at the rear of the Settlers Arms main building There is bench type seating and tables seating for patrons to enjoy the wonderful and renowned food available there. Many families also bring their own liners and relax amongst the shady trees dotting the landscape. Viva the band provide entertainment in an informal cabaret style performing a repertoire of: jazz, latin, salsa, French and Spanish songs and stunning feature tunes. The romantic sounds of musette accordion/bass, Spanish guitar, congas, percussion plus two vocalists harmonizing beautiful songs waft through the village of St Albans valley drawing visitors and local residents to the Settlers Arms Inn.The village of St. Albans is situated on the banks of the Macdonald river branching off the much larger Hawkesbury river about 100 kilometres north west of Sydney. Considering the areas historical links with the early colony of New South Wales and the close proximity to Sydney, the village of St. Albans has been, until recently, relatively unknown. The valley has been for many years been referred to by the locals as the "Forgotten Valley" as it has been by-passed over time by all the major road and rail routes leading north from Sydney. The "town" of St Albans was officially gazetted in 1841, on land which had previously been a stockyard and wharf at the head of navigatable waters of the Macdonald River. The Settlers Arms Inn is an historic stone and timber hotel located in the St Albans Valley surrounded by mountains. The inn was built by convict labour in 1836 and became a major overnight stop for the Cobb & co coaches travelling from Sydney to Newcastle. The inn is classified by the national trust and is one of the oldest hotels in Australia. The Settlers Arms Inn, the village and valley make a rewarding and readily accessible destination for a day trip, a weekend stay, a stop over on the way to or from the Hunter Valley. Viva the band offers just one more reason to plan a delightful stop over at this truly “Australiana” setting write your comments about the article :: © 2005 Jazz News :: home page |