Plans are under way for next year’s Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival, following this year’s successful first event. 

The festival will take place from Thursday, May 25 until Monday 29, which is the May bank holiday weekend. 

There will be ticketed concerts featuring world class performers, a dedicated outdoor stage presenting the best local and regional bands and musicians, workshops, outreach community projects and many free music events at local venues. 

The festival will aim to offer the best in jazz, blues, roots, funk, soul, gospel, Latin and Cuban music. 

Festival director Ian Bowden is in discussion with artistes including the multi–award-winning American jazz singer, saxophonist and composer Curtis Stigers, Mud Morganfield who is the eldest son of the ‘king of the blues’ Muddy Waters, and British jazz giant Courtney Pine. 

But he said that as well as featuring internationally acclaimed artists, one of the festival’s core values is to provide subsidised free music, educational and community events both for the wider Sidmouth community and to attract visitors from much further afield. 

Ian is now looking to form partnerships with local and regional businesses that would like to come on board to raise their profiles and perhaps offer client hospitality at the event. He will be launching a crowdfunder and patrons’ scheme and is in the process of applying for various grants to help support the free music and community events at the festival. 

Ian said the success of this year’s festival bodes well for next year’s event and all its potential supporters. 

He said: “The atmosphere and buzz were fantastic in the town during the festival in early June this year. The feedback was incredibly positive, and it was hugely encouraging to see so many people enjoying the diverse range of music that was on offer including music fans, families and people of all ages and backgrounds. 

“Without sponsorship and funding from various sources it would not be possible for the festival to provide the free events that we have planned. We are asking the wider community to come on board, share our vision, and to be part of something that is rewarding, provides joy and wellbeing to so many and to support a cultural event that assists the local economy and tourism of Sidmouth.” 

Anyone interested in volunteering for the festival to help with marshalling and other tasks should email ian@sidmouthjazz.com for more information.  

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