Stromness will reverberate to the sound of jazz this weekend, as the annual jazz festival kicks off tonight.

Organised by owner of the Stromness Hotel, Douglas Smith, the annual festival has become a firm fixture in the county’s calendar since its debut in 1997.

This year’s line up includes Bill Salmond’s Louisiana Ragtime Band, The Orkney School Swing Band and The Diplomats of Jazz.

Douglas told The Orcadian how the festival started and what it is all about.

“I started when I took over the hotel years ago. It gives our season a kick-start in April as far as the hotel is concerned, and we bring a collection of bands up from Edinburgh.

“We started to put on a bus from Edinburgh, and we have no problem filling a bus with between 40 and 50 people mostly from Edinburgh and the central belt.

“The take-up is very quick and very good for business. A lot of people who come up are maybe coming for the first time. The hotel is full already. The sessions are free and it is quite good because it gives all the local people a chance to come in and sample the music.”

Douglas explained that although some of the acts are now regulars at the festival, he still encourages new bands to come.

“The Bill Salmond Band comes up every year and we usually get other bands. We don’t always have the same bands every year.”

Four piece traditional jazz band, the Diplomats of Jazz went down a storm last year, and are are back due to popular demand.

Veterans of the Edinburgh jazz scene, the band have been playing Edinburgh and further afield since 1988. Diplomats’ leader Jim Petrie has been involved in the city’s jazz scene since the 1950s.

The Orkney jazz festival also plays a part in promoting local talent.

Douglas said: “We also feature very prominently the Orkney School Swing Band. They have grown in stature since the festival. It’s great, and it’s been wonderful to watch.

“They came in as youngsters and they left last year as adults. There’s always new kids coming in as well.”

He added: “The quality of the swing band is wonderful. Hats off to David Griffiths for bringing them up and training them. They are so professional.”

Douglas is grateful to Jim Petrie of the Diplomats of Jazz, and Jean Crichton for their efforts in staging the festival.

“The last couple of years, some of the boys have been getting up early and playing in the Stromness Parish Church on Sunday morning. This is organised by Jean Crichton who does a great job,” he said.

“We also try to put a sort of New Orleans twist to the food we serve in the hotel.”

The entertainment begins at 9pm in the hotel. with The Diplomats of Jazz and Bill Salmond’s Louisiana Ragtime Band will perform until midnight, and on Saturday, The Orkney School Swing Band will perform a lunchtime session between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.

On Sunday, April 25, the hotel puts on a jazz brunch with the Orkney School Swing Band, at 12.30pm, and at 5.30pm there will be a jazz festival evening praise service in the St Magnus Church in Birsay.

Douglas said: “On the Sunday we have a sort of gospel service in the St Magnus Church in Birsay. We raise funds for the church from this as well. Each year we’ve topped the previous year’s collection.”

A final performance from all of the musicians can be seen at 9pm on the Sunday evening in the hotel where an Orcadian buffet three course meal will be available from 8pm.

A bus will run from the Stromness Hotel to the service in Birsay at 4pm, and will return at 7pm. Tickets are available from the hotel, priced £4.50.

The Sunday evening three course buffet costs £15 per person.