Summer is here – whoever you ask – which means that event organisers are praying for good weather.

I don't envy anyone involved with an outdoor event these days. You just have no idea how it will turn out. Global warming, climate change or whatever, it seems that each summer's weather is more weird and unpredictable than the last.

But in a couple of weeks time, the beginning of February to be precise, it better start turning sunny, at least on weekends, because there's a packed schedule coming up. There are outdoor festivals on 2 February, 9 February, 15 February and 1 March, four events in five weeks, and then at the end of March it's Easter and the National Jazz Festival.

Starting at the end first, the newly revised and revived National Jazz Festival slipped out its concert programme just before Christmas. I think they're waiting for the full programme – with details of downtown bands and acts at The Village – to be launched next Friday before going big with the promotion.

But the Baycourt Concert Series is on sale already and that means are really good seats available now for some really excellent and well-priced concerts. After the launch I suspect there will be a bit of a rush on.

This year sees a sensible slimming down of the concert series and returns the festival's focus to the best of New Zealand jazz. And it's a very impressive line-up.

Sell out shows

Heading the bill is the remarkable Nathan Haines. Last year he was selling out shows at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, come Easter he'll be here in Tauranga for a concert costing only $50, cheaper I would imagine than tickets for those London gigs.

In fact all the main theatre concerts are priced at $50 which should make them more wallet-friendly and open up the chance for people to go to a few. Also on offer in the big room are a big band concert featuring the Army Band and the Tauranga Big Band, a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald from Christchurch chanteuse Jennine Bailey and an opening night celebration of the young guns following in Frank Sinatra's swinging footsteps: Sons Of Sinatra includes the music of Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr, Jamie Cullum and more and should kick of the festival in grand style.

Meanwhile, the Jazz Cafe series in the Exhibition Hall features the guitar and violin wizardry of Nigel Gavin and Richard Adams, an astonishing modern Japanese flautist, jazz piano from Kevin Field, and the Downhome Blues Revue.

But, back to February.

Summerfest hits the Mount on February 2, with a line-up including I Am Giant, Titanium, J Williams, Swamp Thing, Aaron Saxon, Matt Bodman, Eyes of May and a host of others. This was a sold-out blast last year and promises to be just as good this time around. Details at www.summerfestnz.com.

February 9 it's the Marchwood Blues Picnic, with another fine line-up of blues, this year featuring a reformed Beasley Street, superb guitarist Anton Tipi Elkington, Rotorua's Mike Garner, a newly revitalised Kokomo, Chris Gunn and Gunshy, and Black Velvet. For more see www.bluespicnic.com

Meanwhile Opshop, Missy Higgins and Che Fu are here on 15 February for the Summer Vineyard Tour at Mills Reef and on March 1 Fat Freddy's Drop, Anika Moa, Boh Runga and Hollie Smith, and The Adults are part of the Winery Tour at the Wharepai Domain.

But, if you can't wait that long for a burst of sunny outdoor music, you can just tootle over to Rotorua on January 27, where a couple of Tauranga acts are amongst the bands lining up for the Rhythm Rotorua Festival. R&B Maestros Brilleaux and retro rockabilly cats B-Side Band are both part of the festival which runs from 12.30 to 8.00pm. Also on the bill are popular Aussie favourites The Wizard And Oz, Kawerau's Harley Kruz, Rotorua country outfit The Geyserlanders, and a reunion for legendary ‘80s band Cairo. The festival takes place at the Arts Village on Hinuara Street and costs $25. Tickets will be available on the day. There is more info at www.bluesfeast.co.nz.

Or, if you prefer something indoors, The Eastern are at the Tauranga Art Gallery on Wednesday 30 January. More on that next week.