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Brass sections and bubbly will be free
flowing on the evening of Friday 11th July, when the splendid Georgian
Haigh Hall in Wigan hosts the Boogaloo Ball II – the official launch
event of the 23rd Wigan International Jazz Festival.
The prestigious black tie ball, sponsored by Lancashire Life Magazine,
is expected to be the headline event in the 2008 Wigan social calendar
and a fitting start to the Wigan Festival, which over two decades on, is
still going strong and now one of the UK’s largest and most respected
jazz festivals.
Ian Darrington – Wigan Festival Director said: “23 years – wow! We have
come along way since that first weekend event back in 1985. We opened
that event with nothing but nerves and here we are 23 years later kick
starting a 9-day festival with a champagne ball.”
Guests to the Ball will be greeted in front of the Grade II listed hall
and former home of the Earls of Crawford and Balcarres by the Ceremonial
Guard of the Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry Territorial Army
Reserve Unit based in Wigan.
Inside the Douglas Lounge, champagne will be served up with the charming
and acoustic live jazz guitar of Darren Dutson - Bromley.
A dinner including Tyrolean Mushrooms, Pear Sorbet, Roast Loin of Pork
and Summer Fruit Fool, prepared by the award – winning kitchens of Haigh
will be provided in the Grand Ballroom.
The main entertainment for the evening comes by way of the Joe Wildy
Showband. The band is very well known across the region and will be
playing swing hits from ‘Dean to Frank’. The band members are Joe Wildy
on lead vocals. Louise Lorraine – guest vocals. Ian Darrington –
trumpet. Mervyn Warrington – Alto Sax. Geoff Lynsey – Tenor Sax and Roy
Vickers – Baritone Sax and Flute.
As well as being the launch event, Ian Darrington is also keen to point
out that the Boogaloo Ball raises funds for local good causes. “This
year, all proceeds will be split between two funds - one being the
development fund of the Wigan International Jazz Festival and the other
the Mayor of Wigan’s Annual Charity Appeal,” says Ian. “The first ball
in 2006 raised almost £5000 for Wigan based charities.”
Tickets for the Boogaloo Ball II are now on sale from Wigan Tourist
Information Centre priced at £49. Telephone 01942 825677.
The festival programme continues after the Ball, with artists that
include Elkie Brooks (Saturday 12th July). Matthew Ford and the Guy
Barker Amadeus Project (Sunday 13th July). Synthesis – The big band of
Brigham Young University (Monday 14th July). Multi instrumentalist -
James Morrison and the Wigan Jazz Club Big Band (Tuesday 15th July).
World-renown bass player Avishai Cohen (Wednesday 16th July). Dennis
Rollins, Empirical and the Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra (Thursday 17th
July). Liane Carol and Ian Shaw (Friday 18th July). Plus many other
performances and artists as part of the Dinner Jazz and free Fringe
programmes.
Festival brochures are available on request from Wigan’s Tourist
Information Centre. For regular updates visit the official festival
website:
www.wiganjazz.net
-ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS: For further information on this press release please
contact Keith L Bergman (Wigan Tourism Unit), on 01942 486951 (mobile:
07958 461421) or at
k.bergman@wlct.org Alternatively contact Phil Green, Public
Relations Officer for Wigan Council on 01942 827369.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES: The WIJF are happy to arrange photo opportunities
prior to and during the festival period (July 11th – 19th). We are
currently negotiating opportunities for a number of artists appearing at
this year’s festival to make themselves available for media interviews
in advance of the festival. There will be a limited number of free media
familiarisation places available during the festival and at a
pre-festival media day on June 16th. Festival Press Passes are also
available. Contact Keith L Bergman.
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 23rd 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 Homes; Lancashire Life Magazine. John Smith’s Ltd; 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
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