Liverpool International Jazz Festival returns tomorrow with an expanded line-up and free creative sessions, thanks to its first ever Arts Council funding.
The line up, at Hope University, promises a bill packed with local and international artists. Organiser Neil Campbell said: “It’s looking like the biggest festival we have ever done”.
The festival first started in 2013 and, with the exclusion of one year, has run annually ever since.
This year, international artists such as Darius Brubeck, son of legendary pianist Dave, will headline the festival alongside acts such as local talents Sweet Beans.
Mr Campbell said: “[We have] always championed local artists doing their own music as well as international artists”.
A new addition for the event sees, for the first time since its origin, funding from Arts Council England to allow creative sessions on February 22nd, led by musicians playing on the bill.
These practical, hands-on workshops are free to musicians looking to develop their craft, as well as members of the public looking to try their hand at jazz.
The funding has also meant the organisers have been able to offer free tickets to the event.
Mr. Campbell said this backing has: “Allowed accessibility for those who might not have been able to afford, or feel somewhat dubious, to come along and see something that might change their minds about music, really”.
He continued: “It’s called jazz, but it’s music that is still pushing the boundaries and fuses different types of music to create new sounds.”
The Liverpool International jazz festival runs from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd Feb.
A link to tickets for creative sessions on Saturday can be found at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOTro1dZ1YujRnONEWYbRukMUGywp5NCO2K7IuC9s0CGGdxQ/viewform
