For the first time, the annual IoW International Jazz Festival is scheduled to take place in the Easter Holidays on the weekend of 11 – 13 April.
Organisers are keen to attract a younger new jazz audience to mix with those who are already firm fans of the Festival. The Jazz Festival 2008 offers a wide array of jazz sounds for all tastes and once again sets established names from both sides of the Atlantic and Europe alongside the emerging young talents of today’s jazz generation.
The Festival will take place at the Island’s self proclaimed Capital of Jazz in the Deep South – that is the largely unspoilt Victorian resort town of Ventnor. Families visiting the Festival for the first time will find plenty to keep them occupied with the multitude of venues, freshly caught fish at many of the esplanade hostelries, the variety of jazz sounds emanating from the tented jazz village and of course the beach where everyone can “cool off” if Ventnor’s famed microclimate provides the early Spring sunshine. There are also “special family deals” available from the website.
But what of the performers and the music? In April 2008, on the headline stage there is Maceo Parker & His Band, featuring Dennis Rollins, as part of a UK tour. For the emerging talents showcase comes the F-ire Collective supported by the Royal Academy of Music to The Boathouse and this year Trinity College of Music jazz degree students will play on a full stage in the Jazz-Fringe marquee hosted by Quay Arts. Also the famous Messin Around Club Night with DJ Perry Louis and the Jazzcotech Dancers should appeal to young and old who want to dance the night away.
A tented Jazz Village will sit high on the clifftops of Ventnor with one of the best headland views in England. It will play host to many of the Acts who are part of the main programme, as well as being the place to go for main festival ticket sales and wristband swap desks!
Sunday night sees the grand finale with a Big Band Swing Orchestra all-star line up including an 18 piece line up led by Pete Long of Ronnie Scott’s Big Band with Liane Carroll and Ian Shaw out front mixing in some Ella Fitzgerald meets Ray Charles magic with their own unique styles.
For visitors who enjoy some international cuisine, the tented Jazz Village offers a range of suitably “jazzy” food. In there will be the Deep South Diner and JazzBar, the new Acoustic Jazz Chill Indian marquee, the Casablanca Bar and various food outlets in the Moroccan tents.
Wherever you decide to stay and however you decide to travel, organisers advise everyone to buy tickets early to avoid disappointment. Also the organisers have made it easier on the purse for families during the holiday period with reduced prices for 13 – 15 year old strollers and all under 12 strollers are FREE.
Choose from major ticketed events, the Day Pass, or the 3-day ‘Festival stroller’ – £prices start at £15.00 (adult).
