Clitheroe ready for fifth jazz festival

Widely hailed as the “biggest and best yet”, this year’s festival boasts more than 35 bands and 325 musicians all tuning up to take part in the jazzy jamboree.

Just a few of the leading jazz names and internationally regarded acts taking part this year include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Dennis Rollins and the Velocity Trio, Snake Davis, Tipitina and the Dub Jazz Sound System. Also taking part are a host of local outfits, performing at a range of venues in and around Clitheroe, plus on Saturday in the streets of the town itself.

New additions this year include a jazz train, a poetry meets jazz session at The Swan and Royal, and more musical workshops – including two delivered by Snake Davis and Dennis Rollins – for aspiring musicians to participate in.

It all contributes to an event that now bears little resemblance to the inaugural event back in 2010. Ribble Valley Jazz Festival committee member Gary Ward said: “We realised in 2012 that in order to develop a festival with real quality, family appeal and longevity, we needed to raise up a level.

“Clitheroe is a beautiful town and a great place to spend a weekend soaking up the vibrant atmosphere that the jazz festival has to offer. We are proud of what we have achieved already and we are also very excited about what the future holds.”

Last year well over 5,000 visitors flocked to Clitheroe to take part in its jazz festival, now a firm fixture on the national jazz scene.

Don’t miss this week’s Clitheroe Advertiser & Times for a great preview of the big event!