The multi-instrumentalist will be joined by Melbourne trombonist and vocalist Paul Ingle as the headline acts for the three day festival, which will be held at venues around Longford from September 16 to 18. 

Festival director Don Ives said he expected Furniss would prove a major drawcard for punters and Tasmanian performers alike. 

“He comes from Sydney and he's been around the world with his instruments,” Mr Ives said. 

“He's a clarinet and saxophone player, he's top-notch and the chaps all get a chance to play with him.

“We hope (the festival) will bring lots of people into the area which it did last year and the year before.” 

The festival will also feature a healthy quota of Tasmanian acts, including Launceston Jazz Club life member Bruce Gourlay and Flinders Island a capella group The A Cappelicans, who will return after a successful festival showing last year. 

The A Capellicans musical director Kathleen Ives-Heap said the festival had its own unique personality. 

“We just love the atmosphere,” Ms Ives-Heap said. 

“We'll sing at probably every session they have over the weekend and then we have a main role to play in the gospel service they have, so we have a couple of numbers there.”

Ms Ives-Heap said the group would explore a number of subgenres over the course of the weekend with the aim of providing something for everyone. 

“We try and cater for all genres of jazz so we do a couple of jazz standards and some modern stuff and we actually cheat a bit and do a couple of songs with backing.

“We have a lot of fun and it's a really lovely community thing to do, there's a good sense of community in what we do and we're pretty chuffed because we're always welcomed really well when we go away and we feel a bit special.”

Weekend passes can be purchased for $50, while tickets to single events are also available.

For more information contact Don on 63911124.