Once again, an all-star international line-up is a special feature of the 23rd Bude Jazz Festival taking place this year from Saturday 28th August until Friday 3rd September.  

As well as a great number of national and international favourites, the festival actively seeks to promote younger talent playing in the traditional jazz style.

This year the organisers are particularly pleased to welcome the Second Line Jazz Band from Sweden to the festival, a band renowned for their musical and youthful style.

Also from the near continent are Jazz Connection. This will be their second visit, and they will be especially popular in the Dance Marquee, where they will play their take on Louis Prima.  

Also booked especially for dancing is the Irish Jive band, Roaring Forties, who make their first appearance at the festival this year. Expect two storming sessions from them.

The charismatic and hugely entertaining pianist and vocalist Jeff Barnhart from the USA performs again in various guises, not least with his wife, Anne Barnhart, in the superb duo Ivory and Gold.

Another Festival favourite from America is trombonist Jim Fryer who joins Jeff Barnhart in their highly successful International Jazz Band, amongst other things.  

Following the great success of the last two years, the organisers will again be running the Dance Marquee which will feature jive, swing and more traditional bands purely for dancing.

Returning this year will be festival favourites Hot Banana, John Shillito’s Select Six, and new youthful acts, Jumping Out Jazz Band and Sunshine Swing amongst many, many more.

Premiere British and international talent will feature throughout the festival week with world renowned reed players Alan Barnes and John Hallam, Keith Nichols, Britain’s internationally acclaimed star of classic jazz, who once again leads his special trio, The Earthbound Spirits,  and new venture, Jazz Away from Home. Top guitarist/banjoist Thomas “Spats” Langham and Martin Wheatley both feature with their own bands this year.

New talent is important, and the festival actively promotes new, young musicians. Amy Roberts, 20, features in her own New Orleans jazz band. Ben ****s returns to the Festival, and Graham Hughes with Brass Volcanoes, who took the festival by storm last year, will present some original compositions. The two teenage Wheatley Brothers, 19 and 17 join their father in a hugely popular string trio, and James Evans promotes his new band, Rocket.

 

Alongside the international stars and new bands, Bude sees the return of many long-established favourites including singers Joy Parke, Judy Eames and Debbie Arthurs, top British musicians Norman Field, George Huxley, Gordon Whitworth, Nick Ward, and Paul Munnery, and New Orleans favourites such as Brian Carrick’s Algiers Stompers.

A network of 12 indoor venues of various shapes and sizes ensures that the festival is not at risk from the elements. However, the weather is usually kind and, as usual, the popular street parades will take place on the opening day, Saturday 28th August, and Bank Holiday Monday, 30th August.

Bude Jazz Festival’s programme for “stroller” sessions runs every lunchtime, afternoon and evening from 12 noon on Saturday 28th August to 11.00 pm on Friday 3rd September.  Full Week Stroller tickets (£115) are available and they give festival-goers the opportunity to see every musician appearing at the Festival.

Also available are Bank Holiday Weekend stroller tickets (£60) covering 28th, 29th and 30th August, Part Week stroller tickets (£70) covering 31st  August – 3rd  September inclusive and Single Day stroller tickets (£23). Phone the usual ticket line on 01288 356360.  

One Festival event requires tickets other than strollers. This is the Charity Jazz Night organised by the Bude Rotary Club on Friday 3rd September. Priced at £9, tickets for this event are also available from the ticket line.