14th Jazz Festival starts this week

The festival continues to go from strength to strength and has become the largest annual cultural event in the borough with 33 bands giving over 50 performances over the course of the weekend. The music on offer spans the full range of jazz and blues styles from easy listening ballads to Dixieland and from piedmont and country blues to blues rock. All events are free and the festival is organized by a completely volunteer committee. The committee wishes to thank Limavady Borough Council for their continued generous annual funding and for the third year Bulmers Cider (Diageo) for their support as the festivals main sponsors, and also to acknowledge the generosity of all advertisers who feature in the festival booklet and website. The festival aims to provide opportunities for families to enjoy the music in non-licencensed premises and so there are gigs scheduled for Betty Blakes Coffee Shop, Flair Interiors, Books Upstairs, and the Museum at Roe Valley Country Park. Limavady Community District Initiative will host a Jazz Picnic Family Fun Day on Saturday afternoon at the Roe Valley Hospital grounds, where there will be childrens entertainment and food on offer. New for this year is the acoustic troubadour trail. In addition to the events on the main gig guide, on Saturday afternoon half a dozen groups of musicians will tour the town centre pubs and play a half hour acoustic set in each. There is a mix of jazz and blues, and a chance to see and hear some artists in an unusual 'unplugged' setting.The festival committee would like to welcome returning and new visitors from outside the borough and hope that everyone has an enjoyable and safe festival. For full details check the website www.limavadyjazzandblues.com and join Limavady Jazz and blues festival on Facebook.