Lowri Beck Concert Series

Start date: 11th July 2009 until 18th July 2009

AN award winning support services business has thrown its support behind this year's Wigan International Jazz Festival in a bid to help people beat those recession blues.

At a time when the banks are being bailed out, high street shops boarded and house prices slumping; Lowri Beck Services and the Wigan International Jazz Festival are trumpeting good news and bright times ahead.

Bob Vernon, Managing Director and Chairman of Lowri Beck Services said: "These may well be dark days for the economy; however, we are pleased to bring a bit of brightness to the local area.

"The jazz festival can give Wigan a boost in the arm at just the right time."

Lowri Beck has agreed to be the sponsor of the jazz festival's main celebrity concert series in 2009.

Their funding support will enable the festival - now in its 24th year to continue to attract some of the world's biggest jazz names and maintain its reputation as one of Europe's largest jazz events.

The Lowri Beck Concert Series will include:

Sat 11th July. Pete Long's All Star Goodmen Orchestra

Sun 12th July (12.30pm). Al Wood Big Band

Sun 12th July (8.00pm). Kings of Swing - Gene Grupa Tribute

Mon 13th July. Eleanor Keenan's Broadband

Tue 14th July. UK Jazz Showcase. Featuring four emerging bands: James Mainwaring Quartet. 52 Skidoo. Straight on Red. 6ix Toys.

Wed 15th July. Mark Nightingale Big Band

Thu 16th July. Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra with Alistair White.

Fri 17th July. Ray Gelato and the Giants.

Sat 18th July. ‘Double Header'. Carol Kidd plus Wigan Jazz Club Big Band.

Festival director, Ian Darrington MBE, welcomed the Wigan firm's support.

He said: "We always set ourselves high standards when it comes to performers and performance at the Wigan International Jazz Festival. Maintaining those standards is much easier when local businesses such as Lowri Beck not just provide us with funding, but also get behind us and share our enthusiasm and ambition."

Lowri Beck's headquarters are based in Wigan but the nationwide business support services company also has offices in Luton, London and Oswestry.

Established in 1996 and employing more than 150 local employees they provide services including contact centre services, meter reading, metering and maintenance. They also provide mobile handheld terminal software to the utilities industry and other commercial organisations.

They were voted "Fastest Growing Business" at the Annual Wigan Business Awards in 2008.

Ian added: "We were worried that the credit crunch might put pay to local business support in 2009. But the response this year has been greater than ever before. Alongside Lowri Beck, Manchester Airport has agreed for the 19th year to be principle sponsor and we have won new - first time business supporters in Visit Manchester, NPS Northwest, PA Hull and Grant Thornton."

Rover tickets - covering the majority of festival events - go on sale on Friday 5th May with general tickets on sale from May 18th .

Tickets and festival brochures are available from Wigan Tourist Information Centre.

Wallgate, Wigan. Telephone 01942 825 677. For regular updates visit the official festival website: www.wiganjazz.net 

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