Big Band Dates

Start date: 11th July 2009 until 19th July 2009

THEY'RE British, they're big and they're back in Wigan!

Wigan International Jazz Festival will celebrate all that's great about British big bands at this year's festival in July.

Organisers have announced this year's line-up will include some of the country's biggest big band names including the Mark Nightingale Big Band, the Al Wood Big Band and Pete Long's All Star Goodmen Orchestra.

Also making a welcome return to the festival is one of Britain's finest vocalists Carol Kidd, who will be appearing in concert with guitarist Nigel Clark.

Ian Darrington MBE, director of the festival, said: "We have developed a reputation over the years for presenting and promoting quality shows featuring the big names in big band and we're returning to that formula.
"We've held big band bonanzas like this twice in previous years and felt this was the right time to revisit that theme."

From the dance hall to the concert hall, big bands continue to appeal to a cross generation of Jazz fans and new music enthusiasts alike.

Ian is hoping their relaxed social feel and visually strong performances will boost attendance at this year's festival despite the current economic downturn.

Ian added: "Over the last 20 years we've become known around the world for putting on some of the top American bands but this year every big band will be British.
"There's definitely a situation now in the UK where the big band scene is as strong as anywhere in the world.
"There's a real quality here in this country that's second to none.
"We have the cream of British jazz coming to Wigan in July and we believe that despite the current recession this could be one of our best years yet."

Highlights of the festival also include Broad Band, Eleanor Keenan's new all girl swing orchestra; Ray Gelato and the Giants; and Kings of Swing - a tribute to Gene Krupa America's Ace Drummer Man A Centenary Celebration.


Tickets for the 24th Wigan International Jazz Festival will be available from Wigan's Tourist Information centre from mid-May, call 01942 825 677..

Wigan International Jazz Festival
11th - 18th July 2009
Director Ian Darrington MBE

BIG BANDS ARE BACK!

Celebrity Concerts...JJB Stadium South Stand Suite.

Saturday 11th July Pete Long's All Star Goodmen Orchestra featuring US
8.00pm Singer Joan Viskant. Sensational recreation of the1938 Benny
£20 / £18 concession Goodman Carnegie Hall Concert.

Sunday 12th July Al Wood Big Band - The North's Most Popular Big Band
£12 / £10 concession directed by Britain's finest multi instrumentalist Al Wood
12.30pm

Sunday 12th July Kings Of Swing - Gene Krupa
8.00pm America's Ace Drummer Man
£18 / £16 concession A Centenary Celebration 16 Piece Big Band
Featuring Richard Pite (drums) & Enrico Tomaso (Trumpet)

Mon 13th July A Woman's Touch......
8.00pm BROAD BAND!
£18 / £16 concession Eleanor Keenan's
New All girl Swing Orchestra

Tuesday 14th July Wigan's Jazz Showcase...featuring three Emerging bands
8.00pm from the Northern Jazz Scene
£10 / £8 concession

Wed 15th July Mark Nightingale Big Band featuring the absolute cream of
8.00pm the UK's jazz and studio musicians
£20 / £18 concession

Thursday 16th July An Illustrated Presentation on the History of the Award
8.00pm Winning Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra & Guests
£10 / £8 concession directed by Ian Darrington MBE

Friday 17th July Ray Gelato & the Giants
8.00pm
£18 / £16 concession

Saturday 18th July ‘Double Header'
8.00pm "Britain's finest ballads singer"... Carol Kidd in Concert with guitarist Nigel Clark
£18 / £16 concession Plus Wigan Jazz Club Big Band plays the music of Stan Kenton directed by Ian Darrington MBE

Other Events from Wigan

• Pemberton Masonic hall Wedding fair
• The Ghosts Of Wigan Pier Investigation
• NSPCC Wigan Gala Dinner
• PSYCHIC, HOLISTIC & WELLBEING FAIR
• Saturday Night Dance 24th September

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