Everyone to Ilkley!

Just in case you haven't already heard, the Ilkley Jazz Festival is in full flow and there's a whole host of concerts to attend throughout this weekend. Now in its 4th year, the festival has been growing steadily thanks to the hard work of Beverley Beirne and Mark Beirne Smith. So, what catches your eye for this weekend?

Friday 18th - Back Chat Brass will delight the crowds in the town centre from 4pm, before saxophonist Stuart MacDonald performs at Monkmans at 6pm (2 course meal included in the £22 ticket price). Rounding the night off is headliner Ian Shaw, bringing his Theory of Joy project to Ilkley. One of the world's finest singers, this is certain to be a packed house!

Saturday 19th - Early risers can get involved in the jazz workshop running in the Winter Gardens at 10am and first to perform a gig slot is the Jamil Sheriff Trio at 1pm. Following them is trumpeter Jamie Brownfield and his quartet at 2.30pm. James Mainwaring brings his newest band, Ikigai, to the festival at 4pm and then the woman of the hour, Beverley Beirne, sings Carmichael at 6.30pm. Finishing off the day's festivities at the Winter Gardens at 8pm is John Crawford's Times and Tides and for all of those still raring to go, head across to the Black Hat for the late night jam session.

Sunday 20th - Closing the festival are two great ensembles - first off the Hot Club Du Nord Jazz Brunch at 12.30pm at the Black Hat and then over to the bandstand for the Dales Jam ensemble at 3.30pm.

Something for everyone! Check out the Ilkley Jazz Festival website for more info and well done to the team for another great festival.

Jazz At The Mill Announces Autumn Programme

Jazz audiences in and around Bradford take note - Jazz at the Mill at Black Dyke Mills returns for another season of weekly jazz starting September 11th.

Run by the great team team of Kathy and John Dyson, Jazz at the Mill will host jazz every Monday (please note the change of day; it's on a MONDAY now) featuring some of the finest musicians the North has to offer.

Entry costs just £5 and tea, coffee, homemade soup and cake are available. If you fancy something a little stronger, it's BYOB. All events run from 7.30 until 10pm.

Below is the full schedule of gigs from now until the end of October. For more information, keep an eye on the very useful Live Jazz in Bradford facebook page.

Sept 11th - Nicki Allan Project feat. Rod Mason 
Sept 18th - Wendy Kirkland Quartet
Sept 25th - The Jazz Dawgs feat. Adrian Ingrams
Oct 2nd   - Kate Peters Quartet
Oct 9th    - Jeff Hewer Quartet
Oct 16th  - Inside Outside Quartet
Oct 23rd  - Beverley Beirne Quartet
Oct 30th  - Soul2Jazz

Ilkley Jazz Festival 2017

                                             Ian Shaw (Photo  Credit: Gerhard Richter)


Ilkley Jazz Festival will get underway again this August for the 4th time, run by the very hard-working Beverley Beirne and Mark Beirne-Smith. This year, it will take place between 16th and 20th August and is looking to be bigger and better than ever.

Renowned vocalist Ian Shaw will headline, with a special performance at the Winter Gardens on August 18th performing material from his latest album, Theory of Joy. Shaw is internationally regarded as one of the leading jazz voices and is also recognised for his humanitarian work supporting refugees.

Fans of vocal jazz won't just have Ian to keep them satisfied; Zoe Gilby opens the festival on 16th August Beverley Beirne sings Carmichael on 19th August and Julie Edwards performs on 17th.

There's a whole host of other performances including pop-up sets from Backchat Brass, the wonderfully inventive Treppenwitz at Friends of Ham, a new quartet led by James Mainwaring and the Jamie Brownfield Quintet plus lots more.

To find out more about the schedule as well as the educational events on offer, visit the Ilkley Jazz Festival website.

Full line-up announced for Ilkley Jazz Festival 2016

The full line up for the 2016 Ilkley Jazz Festival has been announced this week. The festival takes place between the 16th and 21st August at venues around Ilkley. The headline acts include vocalist Tina May and the Quentin Collins Brandon Allen Quartet.

Below are the complete listings for the festival. The festival's website provides more information on the events and details on how to book tickets for each event.

 16th August – Nicola Farnon – Monkmans 7.30pm - £32.50 inc. 3 course meal Bookings on 01943 817485

18th August – Firebird quartet – Craiglands 7.30pm - Free19th August – Emma Frisk – Monkmans 6.30pm - £22.50 inc. 2 course meal Bookings on 01943 817485  

19th August – Tina May – Winter Gardens 7.45pm - £18 Bookings on 01943 602 319 or in person at the VIC

20th August  - Jazz Workshop – Christchurch 11am - Free
 

20th August  - Garry Potter – Christchurch 2pm - £5 (or £30 day ticket)   

20th August  - Graeme Wilson 4tet – Christchurch 3.30pm - £5 (or £30)

20th August  - Beverley Beirne – Christchurch 6pm  - £12.50 (or £30)
 
20th August  - QCBA 4tet  – Christchurch 8pm -  £15 (or £30 day ticket)
 
20th August  - Late Night Jazz Jam – Black Hat 11pm – Free  
21st August – QCBA masterclass – Black Hat 10am – Free  
21st August – Matt Holborn 4tet – Black Hat 12.15pm – Free

Ilkley Jazz Festival needs your votes...

A new jazz festival is in the works for people in the North this summer with the first Ilkley Jazz Festival. The 3 day event will run from 21st-23rd August in various venues in Ilkley and is being directed and organised by Beverley Beirne and Mark Beirne-Smith.

Two headline acts have already been announced (Jacqui Dankworth and The Duncan Lamont Songbook) with more to be announced and there will also be a series of free events and workshops taking place across the weekend.

In order to gain support for this new festival, Beverley and Mark have applied for funding from Aviva in a campaign which supports community events.

In order to receive funding from Aviva, Ilkley Jazz Festival must be voted in the top 200 of  650 submissions. You can sign up to the site to receive 10 votes (which you can use to support 10 projects or use them all for one project). Voting closes on May 31st.

More information on the Aviva Community fund.

More Information on Ilkley Jazz Festival.

Yorkshire's Beverley Beirne heads for the Pheasantry

                                 Photo credit: Stephanie Deleg

Ilkley-based jazz singer Beverley Beirne has been receiving lots of attention of late, amongst other things for her performances with tenor saxophonist Duncan Lamont. On March 3rd, she will perform at the Pheasantry in London and ahead of that date, Sebastian Scotney interviewed her about her life and music for LondonJazzNews.

Read Beverley's interview on LondonJazzNews

Read review of Beverley's 2014 Pheasantry performance