The TD PEI Jazz and Blues Festival kicked off Monday, but it started on a sour note for one musician whose drums were stolen Sunday night.

Charlottetown drummer Liam Kearney's drum kit was stolen from his car.

In total, it's worth about $9,000.

"It's not like I just had these drums fall in my lap. I had to work hard to get these drums. I'd like them back," said the Bad Habits band member.

Kearney said the drum kit was taken from his locked car Sunday evening while he and his girlfriend were at a movie.

Police were called and dusted the car for fingerprints.

"I'm just heartbroken for him. He's a regular gigging musician, so this is going to totally cripple him," said fellow musician Todd MacLean.

This theft comes at a bad time for the band. They have shows Wednesday and Thursday at the festival.

Kearney said his band will still perform.

Organizers say their security is better than ever.

"We have security on site. It's going to be, if anything, more secure this year because we're not using a tent. Everything's going to be indoors and locked up very nicely," said Doug Millington, chair of the festival.

Word of the theft has spread fast through social media and musicians and music stores across Canada are now on the look-out for Kearney's missing drum kit.

"The musical community has been quick to respond. I posted to Facebook. It's gone Maritimes-wide. Whoever has it is going to have a really hard time parting with it," said Kearney.

Kearney said other bands have offered the use of their drums for his festival gigs, but he'll likely use an old kit of his own — though he believes the sound won't be quite the same.