Wigan International Jazz Festival has joined the jet set thanks to supersonic support from Manchester Airport.

The north's finest music festival has once again teamed up the region's largest and most popular airport to make sure that this year's jazz extravaganza gets off to a flying start. The airport has been one of the festival's main sponsors since 1992 and this week announced it would again be backing the Wigan event.

Manchester Airport Arts Sponsorship Manager Sue Jones said: "The airport has a tradition of supporting arts events in the region and we are pleased to be teaming up with the Wigan International Jazz Festival once again.

"Since we began our involvement with the festival over 10 years ago and we have been proud to watch it growing year by year. There can be no doubt it is now one of the country's most important festival of its kind."

Sue added: "The festival is also a truly international affair and attracts many people from different countries to our region, so we do have a lot in common."

The Wigan International Jazz Festival runs from Friday July 9 until Sunday July 18 and tickets are already selling fast. Topping the bill this year will be living legend Dave Brubeck closely followed by the likes of jazz organ virtuoso Jimmy Smith, sax star Phil Woods and vocal sensation Karrin Allyson, right through to the very best in British talent and even some rising stars from Wigan.

There has been strong interest from jazz fans from overseas with tickets proving popular with our near neighbours in the Republic of Ireland. Tickets are selling well throughout Scandinavia and Holland as well as further a field in places such as South Africa and the USA which have well-established links with the festival. There have even been sales on the far side of the world in Australia.

Wigan International Jazz Festival Director Ian Darrington said: "Thanks go to everyone at Manchester Airport for their continued support. They have undoubtedly helped the festival become the success it is today.

"We are of course very excited about this year's line up and considering they've only been on sale for a short time, ticket sales are going well both with our friends abroad and closer to home.

• Tickets for the 19^th Wigan International Jazz Festival are on sale now and are available from Wigan Tourist Information Centre on 01942 825677.
• For more information and for a full jazz festival line-up you visit www.wiganjazz.net or www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk

Notes to Editors

• The Wigan International Jazz Festival 2004 is sponsored by Wigan Local Education Authority, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust, Wigan Pier, Manchester Airport, Greenberg Glass, Executive Chauffeurs, Buy and Fly!, Jazz Review, British Waterways, Wigan Jazz Club, The Arts Council and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
• Wigan International Jazz Festival Director Ian Darrington is available for interview. Please contact him on 07785 982524.
• For more information contact Jazz Festival Press Officer Chris Dunbar on 01942 747648.
• All artists appear by arrangement with Ernie Garside Productions.
• Jazz Festival picture by William Ellis.