Marsden is gearing up to host crowds of visitors this week.
The village is preparing to welcome visitors to the 22nd annual Marsden Jazz Festival.
And this year, with over 70 events being held across over 20 venues in just 48 hours, Marsden Jazz Festival is offering the largest programme of any jazz festival in the North of England.
Some 8,000 people are expected to flock to the Colne Valley for the festival, which kicks off on Friday, October 11, with headline appearances from the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and the John Etheridge Trio North with Dave O’Higgins.
Saturday’s headline programme includes celebrated US alto sax player David Binney appearing with Mick Coady’s Synergy; Get the Blessing who share a rhythm section with trip-hop legends Portishead; brilliant jazz vocalist Tina May in a quartet including pianist Nikki Iles and nine-piece afrobeat outfit the Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra.
Sunday’s headline programme ends with virtuoso Italian guitarist Antonio Forcione and his trio.
The festival also features a world premiere of “The Bourne Synthesiser Show” – a solo show on analogue synthesisers commissioned by Marsden Jazz Festival from Matthew Bourne.
The cutting-edge jazz will continue with an entirely improvised acoustic set from guitarist Chris Sharkey’s group Batteries and rising star Laura Jurd, whose trumpet-led quintet features the extraordinary vocals of Lauren Kinsella.
Festival spokesman Barney Stevenson said: “The festival features many events for the whole family to enjoy, notably a performance of The Smartest Giant in Town, a jazz suite by Chris Bridges based on the much-loved story by children’s author Julia Donaldson.
“There are workshops where you can join in and make your own music and a whole programme of school and music centre band performances.
“Marsden Jazz Festival is unique in offering most of its programme free of charge – amongst the gigs in pubs, clubs and outdoor spaces, are appearances from high quality groups such as Stevie Williams and the Most Wanted Band, the Philip Clouts Quartet, Rod Mason’s Elements and the Svarc Trio”.
Marsden Menuscript, organised by bosses at Marsden Jazz Festival, also took place in the run up to the event last Sunday, with a musical parade marching through the streets.
The full festival programme is available at www.marsdenjazzfestival.com.
The Festival is supported by the Arts Council England, Kirklees Council, with additional funding from the PRS Foundation, Jazz North and Culture Ireland.
