The Atkinson Announces Southport Jazz Festival Events
THE annual Southport Jazz Festival
returns this May where it once again takes over the Town. It is an
important date in Southport's event calendar as it showcases a range of
different jazz styles across the town in various venues from pubs, clubs,
hotels, churches and more.
This year it runs from Friday, 8 May to Sunday, 10 May 2015, and 'The Atkinson'
is providing
4 headlining gigs across the weekend from well known names of the genre
including James Morton Quartet Ft - Pee Wee Ellis, Digby Fairweather and Craig
Milverton... Also upcoming stars of the genre, who are on the cusp of great
things, like
the fabulous:- Riot Jazz Brass Band and the diverse Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley Group; all making names for themselves at festivals and events across the UK.
► Kicking the fun off on Friday, 8 May
2015, at 8pm, will be something truly special, James
Morton Quartet Ft: Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown fame).
James Morton is one of the most exciting saxophonists in the UK today and The
Ambassador of Music for Bristol. Pee Wee has been a major influence for James'
music and development over the last 15 years. This project influenced by the
funkier side of jazz reminiscent of the 1960's blue note era will bring grooves,
blues and gospel inflected melodies and soloing along with the unmistakable
Hammond organ style with shuffles and funky back beats.
Pee Wee of James Brown fame is one of the funkiest players alive and is arguably
responsible for creating the genre of music known as funk. Expect some series
grove, soul and lyrical playing with this sparky sax led outfit.
Get ready for classic funk and soul hits and collaboration not to be missed.
Tickets:- £12
► Riot Jazz Brass Band on Saturday, 9 May
2015, at 8pm is exciting and something not seen
at Southport Jazz Festival before. They bring the feel of summer early and have
you dancing the night away with their original sound. Riot Jazz Brass Band is a
9 piece brass band made up of trumpets, trombones, a sousaphone, drums and an
MC. They play a uniquely twisted mix of funk, soul, hip-hop and aggressive jazz.
The band has featured at festivals around the world over the past 5 years.
Recent performances include West Holts Stage at Glastonbury, The Big Red Tent at
Womad, Soundwave Festival (Croatia), Kendal Calling, London Jazz Festival,
Manchester Jazz Festival as well as being invited to play on Channel 4's Sunday
Brunch and at Ted X talks in Salford.
The Riot Jazz Brass Band navigate a minefield of original peace lovin' aggro
jazz, hip hop samples, funked-up favourites and re-interpreted dubstep,
drum'n'bass and dance floor bangers that never fail to send limbs flying!
The band recently released their debut album:- 'Sousamaphone' and their
first 7" single (Corn on the Cob), which are both available on First Word
Records. The album has been played widely on radio stations around the world.
Tickets:- £10 standing / £12 seated.
► The event will then slow things down a bit and change the mood on Sunday, 10 May
2015, at 3pm, as it
welcome's 'Jazz in the Afternoon' with Digby Fairweather and Craig
Milverton.
Trumpet legend Digby Fairweather and poll winning pianist Craig Milverton are
currently celebrating 20 years of musical partnership in Digby Fairweather's
Half Dozen which has won the British Jazz Award for 'Top Small Group' for nine
out of the last ten years and is re-nominated for the award in 2015.
Their 2006 album 2 Part Conversations was hailed as an 'outstanding
contribution to jazz-duo discography' in The Times and their appearance
at Southport will be a rare celebration of intimate music-making amid a nonstop
UK tour celebrating the Half-Dozen's twentieth anniversary on the road!
This afternoon event of music, part of the Southport Jazz Festival takes place
in the beautiful surroundings of The Atkinson Galleries. Enjoy fabulous virtuoso
musicians and an afternoon tea. Tickets:- £17 (including afternoon tea)
► The Joshua Cavanagh Brierley Group are at the very start of their career,
forward thinking and highly energetic they perform original compositions that
cover a wide range of styles and dynamics.
From extremely complex arrangements to minimal, popish melodically driven
compositions, the Nonet draws on a broad spectrum of influences and is
unfettered in its creativity. The group is bursting with exciting individuals,
inspiring one another to push themselves further in each performance.
The Joshu Cavanagh-Brierley Group performs at 7.30pm and brings our 2015
programme to a close. Tickets:- £6.
For more information about the full Southport Jazz Festival weekend line up and about where everything is taking place in the Town; please check VisitSouthport.com. For tickets you can also call the box office on:- 01704 533333. Tickets for 'The Atkinson's Southport Jazz Festival' events can be booked online at theatkinson.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on:- 01704 533333. They are also available over the counter during:- 'The Atkinson' opening hours. Please be advised that there is a £2 booking fee for telephone and online sales. From 1 April 2015 booking fees will increase to £2.50 per transaction.
