Marlborough’s international jazz festival, due to be launched by 70-year-old veteran pop star Georgie Fame outside the Castle and Ball on Friday, July 19, is well on its way to another smash hit.
While the economic downturn has hurt some major entertainment events, the festival bookings so far are on level pegging with the equivalent stage last year, both online and at the booking booth now planted in the High Street.
“We’re where we were last year when the festival was held a week later,” organiser Nick Fogg (pictured) told Marlborough News Online. “So it’s looking pretty promising. Mind you, with the international bill we have on offer you might expect people to be showing a great deal of interest.”
Highlight events include the return of Clare Teal, who is appearing with the BBC Radio Leeds Big Band in the Priory Gardens marquee, the appearance of the great flamenco guitarist Eduardo Niebla and Georgie Fame appearing as a guest star with the Alan Skidmore Quartet.
“I am always cautiously optimistic,” added Nick. “I would never use the word pleased in this context. Most people are having disaster. We’re level pegging at this stage with a bit to go. So we’re quite happy.”
And with the promise of good weather too ought to make a big difference after a wet summer so far.
“My favourite nun in Kent, Sister Maria, is obviously on the case,” said Nick with a grin.
Some 3,000 festival programmes – they are £3.50 each – are now ready for distribution, though you can pick up a free flyer leaflet at High Street box office.
“Every summer since 1986 an impressive array of musical talent from across the globe has performed lived in glorious surroundings of this historic market town,” says festival chairman Graham Rivers in his welcome to visitors.
“This year, the musical range represented is as impressive as it is extensive, covering traditional jazz to gospel, Latin rhythms to big band swing, blues, rock’n’roll and Afro to fusion.
“Combing that with an equally broad spectrum of venues – like the Priory Garden, the Fire Station and the local Rope Works – and you have all the ingredients which make this festival so unlike any other in the UK.”
He pays tribute to the 150 volunteers who help to keep the festival running smoothly and to his own organising committee, which includes Guy Loosmore, this year’s Mayor of Marlborough.
And he adds: “The festival would not be of the scale and quality which it is without the generous support of our sponsors. We all owe them a great debt of gratitude and we encourage you to reciprocate their support when you are looking for any of the broad range of goods and services which they can provide.”
Lead sponsors again this year are Marlborough-based Brewin Dolphin, the investment management and financial planning company.
For info and tickets phone 01672 515 095 and/or see www.marlboroughjazz.com.