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
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.