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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.
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NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Chris Dunbar, Media and Public Relations Manager, on 01942
486937 or at
c.dunbar@wlct.org. Alternatively contact Phil Green, Public
Relations Officer for Wigan Council on 01942 827369.
The Wigan International Jazz Festival is organised by Wigan Leisure and
Culture Trust, Wigan Council and Wigan Jazz Club. The festival is now in
its 22nd year. For further information contact Festival Director Ian
Darrington on 07785 982524 or at
ian.darrington@blueyonder.co.uk
Sponsors: The Wigan International Jazz Festival’s principle sponsor is
Manchester Airport. Other sponsors and supporters of the festival are:
Stewart Milne Holmes; Arts and Business North West; John Smith’s Ltd;
Grand Arcade Shopping Centre; Arts Council England; AGMA; JJB Stadium;
and Leisuretec.
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust: Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust is a
charitable trust working on behalf of Wigan Council to manage and
support leisure and cultural facilities, initiatives and events for over
300,000 residents in the Wigan Borough. See
www.wlct.org.
Getting Wigan Active: Getting Wigan Active is Wigan Leisure and Culture
Trust’s vision to help people across the Wigan Borough to become more
physically, mentally and creatively active. It also aims to increase
community activity and to encourage good citizenship.
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Festival Director Ian Darrington,
with Colin Holcroft, Manager of The Boulevard in Wigan town centre |