Georgie Fame headlines weekend of great music at Marsden Jazz Festival

Oct 12 2009 By Barry Gibson

THOUSANDS of revellers enjoyed a weekend of music in a Colne Valley village.

There were more than 60 live acts across 20 venues at this year’s Marsden Jazz Festival.

Huddersfield band Slick Stick Sambastic helped build the carnival atmosphere with a parade through the village on Saturday afternoon.

Musical director Maggie O’Keeffe had a great time. She said: "It was fabulous.

"The lovely weather really helped create the terrific atmosphere. There were lots of people on the streets and some of them followed us round the village."

The 15-strong group, who are based at the Huddersfield University, ended with a performance in Marsden Park.

Every venue in the village took part in the festival, including pubs, churches and social clubs.

The festival was headlined by the veteran Georgie Fame, whose songs Yeh Yeh, Getaway and The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde were number 1s in the 1960s. He played a sold-out show at Marsden Mechanics on Friday evening.

Other big-name acts at the Mechanics over the weekend included funk group The Haggis Horns and three-piece Blink.

Mechanics hall manager Janet Maude said: "I particularly like The Haggis Horns, they were really good. The festival is great because it brings people from all over the UK to Marsden."

There was also plenty of free music on offer as well.