Violinist and dancer Cathy Irons says it is accepted within the touring arts community that Alexandra can be a tough place to sell tickets, but the town holds a special place in her heart.

Cathy is midway through a “If this is Wednesday, this must be Wyndham” paced tour of the South Island, as part of jazz quartet Douce Ambiance, which will play at Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery on Saturday evening.

Museum manager Paula Stephenson said on Wednesday ticket sales were surprisingly low for such high-calibre performers. Paula heard Cathy last year when she toured as part of the Nikau Harp Trio.

“She brought tears to my eyes,” Paula said.

“It literally sang to my soul.”

The museum does not make a profit on the event, she said, but it was important to support tours putting Alexandra on their schedule.

“If we don’t support professional outside groups, they just won’t come to Alexandra.”

Cathy said the tour is not a commercial venture, with some funding from Creative Communities and hosts providing accommodation along the way, but depends on ticket sales to break even. 

“I come down every year,” she said.

“One of the residents really kindly accommodates us.”

That resident is involved with the Central Otago Regional Orchestra, with whom Cathy has played as a soloist before, and will do again this year, and was the one who first suggested Cathy play in Alexandra.

That is how the tour dates get decided, Cathy said.

“We go to wherever people are keen to host us. Some of the venues have been churches. It’s usually someone in the community that recommends a venue.”

The jazz tour, held over nine consecutive nights, will have flowed through Blenheim, Kaikoura, Geraldine, Dunedin, Wyndham, Riverton and Te Anau, before easing into Alexandra on Saturday.

The tour ends on Sunday in Queenstown. 

The remainder of the quartet are Dan Robertson on piano; Dougal Canard on bass; and, possibly the best last name for a jazz percussionist, Doug Brush on drums.

However, do not expect the musicians to stick to just one instrument or talent.

Asked about ticket sales, Cathy said she hoped they would pick up before the event, and she had always had wonderful audiences in Alexandra, and the Central Stories was an ideal venue.

“There is an acknowledgement that Alexandra is quite a tough place to sell tickets, but I keep coming back.

“I love touring,” she said.

“An intimate atmosphere is nicer than a wide open space.

“It’s the communities and people that keep bringing us back.”