There’s really only one way to experience jazz music…live! And Britain’s best and longest running festival gives everyone the opportunity to see top class jazz up close and personal for free.
For more than two decades the Wigan International Jazz Festival has brought the very best music and musicians from all over the globe to the borough. But it’s done a lot more than that because it’s also brought the music to the people thanks to the popular fringe festival.
Away from the headline acts such as Shakatak, Dennis Rollins and Thilo Wolf there’s a subtle sub-cultural experience brimming with raw talent and aimed at turning more people onto the delights of jazz.
Wigan International Jazz Festival Director, Ian Darrington, says,
“We have always had a fringe festival and over the years we have shaped and transformed it through the comments and suggestions of the community. It’s fair to say that we wanted to make sure that the people of Wigan had an opportunity to enjoy jazz music free in a live session, particularly those who may have never listened to it previously.”
This year the festival has secured a number of top class venues right in the heart of Wigan where people can walk in and see and hear great jazz from rising stars and old masters alike. There will be underground sounds from the ideally situated subterranean Boulevard on Wallgate then sounds from right at the centre of the action at the Chicago Rock Café on bustling King Street.
“Jazz grew out of intimate settings like basement clubs and city bars,” says Boulevard Manager Colin Holcroft. “It wasn’t meant for stadiums or really large venues so these two venues such as this and Chicago Rock Café are ideal.”
Ben Embley over at Chicago Rock Café agrees and thinks that this is an ideal opportunity to introduce jazz to the people of Wigan,
“These concerts are ideal for people who have always thought they might like jazz but have never been sure enough to go to a gig.”
The acts include the likes of the young, ‘nu jazz’ sounds of the Alex Dee and Lucas Dodd Quartets; circuit regulars such as Liverpool’s Cushfoot, Pinto Beans and the Magic Hat Ensemble; living legends like the Darius Brubeck (yes, Brubeck!) Quartet through to home grown talent in the form of Golborne teenage trumpet titan Jonathan Murray.
Jonathan, who is now studying at the Manhattan School of Music, has had a roller coaster year since his first festival performance last year, topped by a once-in-a-lifetime gig at New York’s Carnegie Hall. But Jonathan says he’s just as excited about his first headline gig in Wigan.
Ian Darrington adds,
“Over the years we’ve turned lots of people in Wigan onto jazz music. Often people who would have never listened to it before are now avid fans. The fringe festival is the perfect place to start your musical journey and the real beauty is that it’s top class musicians all for free. I’d urge everyone to support the fringe and make the most of it. You really do have nothing to lose.”
Festival brochures and tickets are available on request from Wigan’s Tourist Information Centre, opposite the train station, Wallgate, Wigan, or call 01942 825677. For regular updates visit the official festival website: www.wiganjazz.net
