Friday 7th April sees the opening night of the 2006 Isle of Wight International Jazz (Divas) Festival and the Jazz Office in Pier Street is a hive of activity as Festival directors Phil & Geri orchestrate the massive logistical exercise of bringing some 250 top musicians from all over the world to perform at over 80 gigs across Ventnor this coming weekend.
There’s something for everyone this year and ticket sales are very healthy indeed, with people taking advantage of the great value combi stroller ticket which allows you to pick and choose from the diverse lineup of acts.
We hear that there are still some strollers available priced at £50 for the whole weekend (£40 concessions for the over 60s), or £30 for Saturday & £25 for Sunday.
As we reported back in January there is a brand new attraction taking place, the Jazz Bazaar Marquee up on Salisbury Gardens (10am- 5pm, Saturday & Sunday.) It will house the official Jazz Festival merchandise stand and feature an eclectic blend of local artists and designers displaying their work alongside a selection of small local businesses selling unique items of jewellery, ceramics, antiques and objets d’art. You can catch great Italian coffee from the Expresso Company and listen to local DJ’s spinning all kinds of jazz whilst you peruse the stone paintings of Cowes artist Lil Nutter (above) or the dramatic seascapes of Thomas Oliver. Enjoy a Chiltern Farmhouse ice cream or a glass of local cider from Perks of Ventnor as you check out the brilliant work of the Ventnor Artists collective and the stunning photography of Patrick White. Whether you’re looking for a souvenir of your visit to the festival or a one off gift for friends, the Jazz Bazaar will offer a truly bohemian shopping experience as well as a chilled out clifftop venue for soaking up that festival vibe!
There are still a few tickets available for the Friday night opening concert at the Winter Gardens. This great double bill features the Vortex Foundation Big Band, a widely acclaimed 12 piece line up of the very best female jazz musicians in the UK, and Ellingtonia, Stan and Clark Tracey’s tribute to jazz legend Duke Ellington. Call the Jazz Office on 856206 to check availability.
Apparently, Wightlink ferries have been extremely generous in providing free travel for the musicians, not just for the weekend but for all the gigs throughout the year. And the County Press have provided free advertising for the Festival. Good on ya!
