Not many festivals can boast reaching their 34th year, but Brecon Jazz can!
It’s been an incredible ride from the Jazz festival’s first couple of years in the early 1980’s. There have been a few interesting times along the way, but the 34th year is ready to be a big weekend. The Festival is going back to its roots and focusing on what makes the festival so special..the people of Brecon. Yes, YOU!
This year’s theme has been In Brecon, by Brecon, for Brecon and this is why the festival is returning to its roots by closing the town centre to traffic for the whole weekend. This way, families will have lots to do. So if you mix together some great Jazz events, fringe and the street scene over the weekend, you have something for everyone.
There’s been great support from the town with Specsavers in Brecon supporting the Dave Brubeck event, Brecon Brewing sponsoring the main stage in the Bulwark and lots of valuable help and support from The Wellington Hotel, The Castle Hotel, Mitchell Meredith, Brecon Town Council. So it’s a real Brecon family affair.
The festival opens this Friday 11th August at 8pm, with a ‘Slice of Jazz Big Band’ at the Castle Hotel. The lead TENOR SAX PLAYER is Martha Skilton, who is a renowned and in demand jazz musician, part of the team at BLACK MOUNTAINS jazz. Lynne Gornall from the Brecon Jazz Festival team said, “Martha played in the lineup at Brecon Jazz Festival last year and also at Brecon Jazz Club. We’re delighted she’ll be in full sax ‘voice’ for our opening concert”. It’s all about showcasing great female jazz talent throughout the Festival, and starting on the Friday, as the free live stage opens with the SAXALETTES – four women, four great sax players at the Bulwark, Friday 11th August at 2pm.
So even though most of the Jazz concerts are virtually all sold out, there is still lots to do in the town over the weekend and excellent music to be heard on the free live stage.
So, with the weather looking good, the vintage fayre being delivered Friday morning,
live, free music in the streets, kids’ activities and fun stuff, a Jazz exhibition in the library and Guildhall and the legendary Brecon Farmers Market. Why would you want to be anywhere else?
All these events are put on by a small team and local partners working to recreate the ‘Festival Feeling’ In Brecon, by Brecon, for Brecon. For Help or Information email: info@breconjazz2017.co.uk
