Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival full lineup announced

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival returns for a 7th consecutive year – the UK's ONLY independent, boutique, 3-day green field jazz festival.

Friday Evening

6:30 – 7.45pm – Octopus – This eight piece band of seasoned professionals will play us in with classic swing. Fabulous arrangements of big band classics.

8:15 – 9.45 – Cherry-Lee Mewis –  Blues powerhouse meets hillbilly boogie from this five foot, power-house, singer songwriter and her smokin' hot band. Recent highlights for Cherry include being 'Artist in Session' on Paul Jones' BBC Radio 2 show, a headline slot at Hebden Festival and two nominations for Best Original Song at the British Blues Award.

Late Night Sessions Courtesy of the Beverley Arts Trust

10.00 – 10.45pm – Harri Watts Band- An eclectic mix of jazz, folk and fusion featuring some blistering electric violin. Expect some infectious rhythms and lots of toe tapping plus some great Yorkshire humour.

11.00 – 12.00 midnight – Cadenas Vivaz- Six piece latin, soul party band who will ensure that the first night of the Festival ends with a heady blend of salsa, soul, rock and roll and anything else they can think of on the night. Watch out for some familiar songs given a very special treatment.

Saturday

1:00 – 2:25pm – The Lemon Monkeys (Matt Smith and Carlos Olmos) – London based jazz guitar duo performing a mix of soul, funk, jazz and blues

2.45 – 4:15pm – The Potter Ensemble-  A new ensemble of a jazz quartet of bass, piano, drums, sax and a string quartet of violins, viola and cello. Playing a variety of contemporary jazz, Duke Ellington, standards and original compositions, under the stewardship of bass player and jazz educator Paul Baxter.

4:35 – 6:05pm – Gwyneth Herbert – One of the most creative and striking performers currently working on the UK scene, Gwyneth’s soulful, seductive voice is something quite special, bringing sophistication to the singer/songwriter material, and a wonderful “edge” to the occasional Jazz number
'One of the country's most exciting talents' Sunday Times 'Remarkably gifted performer' Guardian 'Majestic-voiced' Jazz UK

6:30 – 8.00pm – A celebration of Kenny Ball, performed by his Jazzmen and son Keith Ball – “At Burton Agnes we were saddened to learn of the death of jazz legend Kenny Ball. Kenny was to play on 6th July at the Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival with his Jazzmen. The show will go on; Kenny’s Jazzmen will perform celebrating his life and work, with vocalist Keith Ball, Kenny’s son, stepping into his father’s shoes as the frontman.”

Kenny Ball died on 7th March 2013 as a jazz legend. He had more UK top 30 hits than any other jazz artist, no fewer than 20 albums on sale, a Billboard Gold Microphone Award, and an honorary citizenship to the city of New Orleans.
Kenny achieved worldwide fame during the 'Trad Jazz Boom' of the 60s. Beginning with 'Samantha' in 1960, and most notably with 'Midnight in Moscow' that reached number 2 in the UK and US charts and sold more than one million copies.
Kenny played for over 50 years all around the world.
Kenny's son, singer Keith Ball, will step into his father's shoes as front man together with the Jazzmen to put on a musical, swinging show, aptly celebrating the great life of Kenny Ball.

 8:20 – 10:00pm – Simon McBride – Predicted to be the next Irish blues guitar hero in the footsteps of Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, former Young Guitarist of the Year Simon McBride has undeniable guitar artistry combined with a fine voice and a real knack for creating memorable hooks and great melodies.

'Hugely accomplished' Mojo
'Blues rock par excellence' Classic rock
'McBride is now among the best blues-rock players anywhere in the world.' Guitarist Magazine

Late Night Sessions Courtesy of the Beverley Arts Trust

10.00 – 10.45pm – Lucy Marshall- 17 year old, self-taught pianist, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Worlaby, Lincolnshire. Having no particular genre, she has covered a range of music, as well as writing her own, to suit all tastes.

11.00 – 12.00 midnight – The Alligators- Appearing at the Festival for the fourth year running the Alligators will round off Saturday night with their high octane brand of no holds barred old school rhythm and blues. 

Sunday

12:00 – 1:30pm – Rob Law Quartet with Thom Whitworth – Rob Law is an accomplished piano player who has earned himself a reputation as one of the country's most exciting young artists. Guitarist Thom Whitworth has played with top players and won Young Jazz Musician of the Year. He is regarded by many as the new Pat McCarthy. Most jazz bands use either piano or guitar, and most piano and guitarists dislike playing with each other because they clash, so this combination is both exciting and unusual.

1:45 – 3.15pm – Trudy Kerr quartet- Hailed as ‘one of the country's most polished singers’ by The Times. Trudy's musical career break came when Ronnie Scott offered her a week at his club in 1995; she's performed regularly at the famous Soho jazzerie ever since.
Trudy has toured extensively at festivals and jazz clubs around the world and the UK. She has collaborated with many great musicians including Mulgrew Miller, Georgie Fame, Acker Bilk and Jamie Cullum. She also finds time to co-present BBC Across the South's Jazz Hour.
Trudy will perform music from her new album, The Rhythm of Lifea collaboration with her husband Geoff Gascoyne featuring exciting original material, songs from the ‘Great American Songbook’, and some lesser known gems.

3.30 – 4.45pm – 24 Pesos- 24 Pesos have a unique and energetic take on the Blues that has put them at the forefront of the new Blues scene in the UK. They were voted as 'The UK's most exciting and original Blues band' by Maverick Magazine. 24Pesos play original music, with deep understanding of the Blues history, virtuoso instrumentation, a joyous groove, real songs and enough energy to bring the house down every night. 

'One of the most exciting young bands in the UK' Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2

'Contemporary blues laced with greasy funk, never a dull moment' Freddy Celis, Rootstime
'Fast, furious and a whole lot of fun' Blues Matters Magazine

5.00 – 6.00pm – Ben Beattie's Jazz Essentials plus Simon Cunliffe-Lister – The driving force behind this band is saxophonist and pianist Ben Beattie. His compositions have been compared to the Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek. Jazz Essentials bring together a interesting mix of atmospheric jazz, blue grooves and soulful ballads. Although they take influences from many areas and eras of the jazz genre, they carry a unique sound that is sympathetic with earlier and contemporary areas of music. They offer a sincere and genuine approach to their music-making by injecting a youthful vigour that creates a resounding and individual personality.  Festival organiser and saxophonist Simon Cunliffe-Lister will play out the weekend with Ben and his band.

Kenny Ball, Simon McBride and more set for Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival

Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival returns for a 7th consecutive year – the ONLY 3 day fully independent and boutique green field festival held in the UK.

Set inside the great halls, the beautiful grounds of and against the stunning backdrop that is the stately and family home Burton Agnes Hall – the most perfect of settings and that which was featured in the Daily Telegraph’s top UKfestivals for 2012.

The festival will once again showcase some of the UK’s finest jazz and blues acts in the most stunning, magnificent and serene of surroundings creating a beautiful and intimate festival experience for all.

A varied line up of funk, traditional jazz, blues, dreamy vocals and everything in between will adorn the courtyards and stages and festival goers will be mesmerized with its diverse and premium bill that will combine jazz greats, international legends alongside cutting edge and new artists.

The Halls front lawn hosts the festival’s main stage with rolling fields behind and pristine woodland to the side.

Inside the Hall, intimate acoustic performances mix with original Elizabethan carvings and French Impressionist art to create an inimitable festival experience.

The courtyards are also alive with intimate performances throughout the full weekend too.

Local food and drink feature heavily at the festival and festival goers can indulge in home-baked treats, barbecued local meats, freshly prepared meals and salads grown in the neighboring walled garden.

In the beer tent, the award winning Wold Top beer is on tap, brewed just five miles away from the festival site.

A campsite in the field adjacent to the Hall offers welcome hot showers and panoramic views of the Yorkshire Wolds for those wishing to pitch a tent for a night or the whole weekend.

With its safe and easy going vibe, there is plenty on offer for children including a Children’s Corner with play area, 15 acres of magical gardens to explore including a walled garden with maze, jungle garden and giant games and a woodland walk with forest creatures to find. Free face painting and balloon artistry keeps the children amused whilst the grown-ups enjoy some of the finest Jazz and Blues music in the UK.

This all goes towards creating a one-of-a-kind, family-friendly experience that will see Burton Agnes Hall once again welcome some of the finest Jazz and Blues artists from all across the UK and beyond.

Kenny Ball http://www.kennyball.co.uk/

Among the leading traditional jazz trumpet players on the eastern side of the Atlantic, arguably the most successful is Kenny Ball, a true legend.

Born in 1930 in Ilford, Essex, he began his career as a sideman in bands before forming his own in 1958. Moving away from the overworked traditional repertoire, the band sought out tuneful songs from all sources, gave them the ‘Kenny Ball’ treatment, gained hit after hit, and took the band to worldwide renown during the heyday of the traditional jazz boom of the 1960’s.

Probably the greatest test of an artist’s success is his durability. Along with his Jazzmen, Kenny is now in his 50th year and, as a band, they continue to put on a musical, swinging show, performed with energy and enthusiasm. A tour of Australiaand New Zealand in 2000, and a string of continuous gigs throughout Britain and Germany were typical among the average 150 dates per year the band fulfilled, up until 2002. At the start of the year recording began on the new album; in April Kenny was taken ill and battled with his illness to recover, complete the album, and return to performing in July.

Today, the love of music inspires Kenny to continue to record. With part of that original band, John Bennett (Trombone), and other members of his current band, “Jazzical Class” is on the verge of release. Kenny is a very content man, who still continues to produce some timeless, yet refreshing pieces of great jazz!

Simon McBride

http://www.simonmcbride.net

Predicted to be the next Irish blues guitar hero following in the footsteps of Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, former Young Guitarist of the Year Simon McBride has undeniable guitar artistry combined with a fine voice and a real knack for creating memorable hooks and great melodies.

Having turned pro at 16, a UK tour opening for guitar wizard Joe Satriani, a set at Glastonbury Festival 2011, performing at Don Airey’s Soul & Blues Festival as well as supporting Jeff Beck and Joe Bonamassa, 2013 will see Simon headline the Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival – the sound of a world-class talent.