JAZZ IN THE YORKSHIRE PENNINES

Loyal supporters help Marsden Jazz Festival go with a swing The 27th Marsden Jazz Festival is being hailed as one of the best yet after loyal supporters donated over £12,000 to help make sure this year’s event could go ahead.

The festival’s committee launched an urgent appeal at the start of the summer after failing to find a major business to sponsor this year’s festival. Festival goers donated a total of £12,600 during the six-week appeal, with many choosing to take part in the Adopt a Gig scheme to support the free gigs and events at the festival. The success of the fundraising appeal meant that over 70 free gigs, children’s workshops, and the renowned Saturday street parade could all go ahead during the festival weekend from 12 to 14 October.

This year’s parade featured a moving musical sculpture called The Hurly Burly, street bands Peace Artistes and BLAST Furness, The Incredible Plastic Street Band and The Marsden Mob – starring local children playing handmade musical instruments. Other highlights included the festival’s 2018 commission of the Jonny Mansfield Elftet to recreate five different poems by Marsden-born poet Simon Armitage using music and spoken word.The unique gig took place in Marsden’s 19th century Mechanics Hall and is due to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 later this year.

Renowned improvisers Matthew Bourne and Keith Tippett also made the trip to Marsden for a stunning performance on two grand pianos inside St Bartholomew’s Church. And the winner of ‘Live Experience of the Year’ at last year’s Jazz FM Awards, the Orphy Robinson Septet, brought the festival to a memorable close on the Sunday afternoon.

Artistic Director Barney Stevenson said: “It was another brilliant year for the festival but we couldn’t have managed it without the generous support of festival goers. “We were really overwhelmed by the response to our fundraising appeal which shows just how much the festival has come to mean to the thousands of people who make the trip to Marsden every year.

“We’re proud to have local school and community bands playing alongside internationally acclaimed artists, and hope the festival will go from strength to strength in the years to come.” The festival is already on the lookout for local business to support Marsden Jazz Festival 2019, either by sponsoring one of its headliner gigs for £2S0 or one of its outdoor or headliner stages from £1,000. Any business owners interesting in becoming part of the festival are being encouraged to email office@marsdenjazzfestival.com for more details.