Look at all these Jazz Festivals in the North!

Jazz audiences in the North are spoilt for choice when it comes to jazz festivals. There are multiple festivals in every season throughout the year, catering for just about every preference you can think of.

NORVOL Jazz, the network of voluntary jazz promoters in the North, have recently put together a brochure which brings information about 17 of these festivals into one place.

Listed in the month they happen rather than specific dates, this handy guide can help audiences (and bands) plan their festivals for years to come. The 17 festivals included are -

Burton Agnes Jazz Festival
Chapel Allerton Leeds Village Jazz Festival
Cleethorpes Jazz Festival
Darlington Jazz Festival
Gateshead international Jazz Festival
Ilkley Jazz Festival
J Night – Hull Jazz Festivals
Lancaster Jazz Festival
Liverpool international Jazz Festival
Manchester Jazz Festival
Marsden Jazz Festival
Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Festival
Richmond Jazz Festival
Scarborough Jazz Festival
Southport Jazz on Winters Weekend
Whitley Bay/Keith Durham Jazz Festival
Wigan Jazz Festival

To check out the whole leaflet, click the link - http://www.norvoljazz.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/NorVol-Jazz-Festivalsl-2016.pdf

NJ Advent Calendar - Spring Festivals (December 11th)

As the wind howls and days get ever colder, let's open door number 11 and look at all of the jazz festivals we can look forward to in spring...


Gateshead International Jazz Festival (early/mid April)

Starting off the festival season is Gateshead's annual weekend festival at the Sage. This festival is run by Ros Rigby and her team and is produced by Serious so expect big name acts from the UK and abroad. The line-up for 2016 has already been announced and will feature performances from Gregory Porter, Evan Parker and a special large scale performance by Phil Meadows' Engines Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia, amongst many others. Everything takes place under one roof too, which is pretty handy.

Darlington Jazz Festival (late April)

Running over a long weekend, this festival presents performances across Darlington. There's a strong focus on Northern artists and last year they had acts like Durham Alumni Big Band, Al Wood, Matt Roberts and Jamil Sheriff. There's a great tradition of jazz education and big band playing in this area and it's reflected in the festival programming.

Ribble Valley Jazz & Blues Festival (Bank Holiday weekend, May)

A 5 Day Jazz Festival with over 40 bands, 350 musicians, a blues stage, a soul stage, lots of free music in pubs, a picnic in the park and a Saturday Street Party - what better way to spend your bank holiday monday. Geoff Jackson and his team run this festival annually and are always looking for volunteers (see the website) to help out. 2016's programme includes headliners like Ben Crosland, Ray Gelato and Courtney Pine.

Keswick Jazz Festival (mid May)

Set in the picturesque Lake District, this festival is a celebration of traditional, New Orleans and Mainstream jazz. The programme showcases a wealth of UK talent and as well as many live performances, there are also talks and dance classes. Expect artists like Roy Williams, Enrico Tomasso, Keith Nichols and The Basin Street Brawlers.

NJ Advent Calendar - Winter Jazz Festivals (December 5th)

We all know that summer is a busy time for music festivals, but behind door number 5 are all of the jazz festivals in the North taking place in Autumn and Winter each year. Here in the North, we're very lucky to have 18 jazz festivals in the region across the year and don't worry, we'll be talking about those summery ones soon enough!


Marsden Jazz Festival (Early October)

Marsden Jazz Festival have not long finished their 2015 edition but work is already under way for next year which is their 25th Birthday. This festival, set in picturesque surroundings, draws over 10,000 visitors and their programme contains mainstream acts, international names, fringe events, contemporary improvised music and everything in between!

Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party (Early November)

This festival on the coast has been running for 5 years and runs over a weekend in Early November each year. Their focus is on swing and early jazz and they have a mixture of UK, European and American artists on the programme.

Jazz On A Winter's Weekend (Early February)

Run by Geoff Matthews in Southport, the festival celebrates its 12th birthday in 2016. Almost always a sell-out, the festival runs over a weekend and features a varied programme - there's always a strong international presence as well as up and coming artists and big bands.

Liverpool International Jazz Festival (late February/early March)

This is a relatively new festival which runs from the Capstone Theatre in Liverpool and is programmed by Neil Campbell. Started up in 2013, the festival has so far programmed a number of big name acts from the UK and Europe and there is always a few Northern Line acts in there too, from Jazz North's flagship scheme.

Great North Big Band Festival (early March)

Probably the most specific festival on our list, this one is a celebration of big bands. There is a competition in which big bands from music colleges, regional initiatives and  universities compete as well as performances and workshops over the course of the weekend.

Artephis announced as Jazz North Introduces latest group

Artephis, a Manchester based quintet, has been announced as the latest addition to the Jazz North Introduces scheme.

The band are students at the Royal Northern College of Music and formed a year ago. They have a repertoire made up of both original material and material from their influences - Christian Scott, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis and Pat Metheny.

Artephis will receive mentoring and help with the development of an EPK as well as performances at six high profile jazz festivals -

19th September - Lancaster Jazz Festival
10th October -  Marsden Jazz Festival
24th January - Southport Melodic Jazz
28th February - Liverpool International Jazz Festival
23rd September - Scarborough Jazz Festival

You can find out more about the Jazz North Introduces scheme on their website and you can check out some recordings of Artephis on their soundcloud page.

Jazz North Introduces - Applications Open for 2015

Jazz North is inviting applications from young musicians to take part in their Introduces scheme.

Jazz North Introduces is a scheme that provides young northern jazz artists with their first high-profile showcase performances and mentoring with leading UK jazz artists. Working in partnership with Northern jazz festivals, the 2015 winners will receive the opportunity to be showcased at 5 leading jazz festivals across the North.

Benefits for selected young jazz artists

• a high profile performance opportunity at 5 leading northern jazz festivals
• the gigs will be paid and expenses will be covered
• photo shoot for the band
• video showreel for the band created from interviews and one performance
• help with producing EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
• mentoring from leading UK jazz artists 

 Musicians interested in entering should have recordings of their group and 75% of the band should be under 25 and live in the North of England. For full information on the criteria and application process, see the Jazz North website.

Festival Preview: Gateshead International Jazz Festival

The 11th Gateshead International Jazz Festival will take place at the Sage between 10th and 12th April. The programme displays a wide variety of jazz both from the UK and abroad and there will be seminars and workshops running throughout the weekend, too. Full details of the programme are on the Sage website, but below are the NJN team's highlights...

Friday 10th April

11am - Take The Green Train (A seminar of sustainability in Music by Europe Jazz Network & Julia's Bicycle)
6.30pm - New York Brass Band
7.30pm - Under Milk Wood (50th Anniversary performance with pre-concert talk by Bobby Wellins & Clark Tracey at 6.30pm)

Saturday 11th April

2pm - PlayJazz! workshop with Iain Ballamy
7.45pm - Double Bill: Zoe Gilby's Pannonica & Alice Zawadski Quintet
10.45pm - Beats & Pieces

Sunday 12th April

3pm - What's The Score? Exploring free improvisation with Cath Roberts & Rachel Musson
6.30pm - Jambone and Beats & Pieces