The Port Chalmers Seafood Festival has hit a sour note with some local musicians after choosing entertainers from outside Dunedin for next month's event.
The decision has also surprised the Dunedin City Council events committee, which funds the festival.
The festival was introduced in 2011 as a celebration of Port Chalmers cuisine and culture and featured Dunedin musicians David Kilgour and Leo La Dell at the inaugural event.
However, the committee this year selected musicians Don McGlashan (from Auckland), Hannah Howes (Wellington), Jennine Bailey Jazz Ensemble (Christchurch), Tango La Luna (Christchurch) and The Eastern (Lyttelton).
The decision has dismayed some residents in Port Chalmers, which has a strong population of singers and musicians.
''I was half-expecting to get a phone call, as we didn't play at the last one,'' long-term Port Chalmers resident Bob Scott, who is in Dunedin bands The Bats and The Clean, said yesterday.
''I can understand Don McGlashan, but the next tier of artists should have included some locals.''
The mother of Dunedin singer-songwriter Nadia Read, Karin Read, also expressed disappointment yesterday.
''Where is the local music content? I am really disappointed with the curation, which leaves out our excellent music scene and could have been a high-profile paid gig for our local artists.''
The Dunedin City Council events assessment subcommittee last month increased funding from $20,000 in 2011 to $50,000 for the September 21 festival.
The subcommittee supports events of strategic significance which ''ensure maximum benefit is achieved for the city''.
''I'd be very surprised if they have gone for outside artists without consulting with the locals first,'' subcommittee chair John Bezett said yesterday.
''It's not a criteria that they have to support locals but I'd have thought, particularly in Port Chalmers where there are so many musicians, that they'd be trying to support local people. The whole idea is to boost the local economy and that includes the artists.''
Festival committee chairwoman Chanel Gardner said yesterday the decision was made to broaden the appeal of the event.
''We had Port Chalmers musicians last time and thought it would be a good idea to mix it up a bit this year.
''The public expect this year's festival to be as good as or even better than last time.
''We did have an extensive campaign to try to get more Port people to participate in the committee, as it was the committee that voted on the entertainment line-up,'' Miss Gardner said.
The 2011 festival was a sell-out, with 6000 people attending, and this year's event has increased to more than 30 seafood-themed stalls and displays by local wineries and breweries.
