It’s Jazz Festival weekend again and Marlborough is about to become immersed in a melange of great music from all over the world when Wiltshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Mrs. Sarah Troughton declares the 30th Marlborough International Jazz Festival open.
Kicking off on the steps of the Castle & Ball at 5.30pm Marlborough’s world famous International Jazz Festival will be highlighting legendary acts such as L’il Jimmy Reid (the last of the great Louisiana Blues Artists being brought over specially to celebrate the 30th 
anniversary of MIJF and who will be playing at the Castle & Ball on Saturday evening), the incomparable Claire Teale, back again to showcase her new album ‘Twelve O’Clock Tales’ in the Priory Gardens Marquee on Sunday, and on Friday night a star of tomorrow – Alexander Bone, 19 year old British saxophonist and first ever winner of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Jazz Award in 2014 who will be playing the ASK marquee between 7 and 9pm.
“Well over a hundred acts to savour” stated Jazz Festival organiser Nick Fogg. “Ticket sales are going well, but the breadth of great music in so many venues right across the town means that there will always be stroller tickets available for people to enjoy what will be a great weekend of fantastic music. It’s all bloody marvellous!” he added.
Too many great acts to list but other highlights on Friday include the Red Stripe Band in the Priory Marquee, followed by Ray Harris making a welcome return to Marlborough after a year’s absence. Saturday sees the Budapest Ragtime Band, one of 
Hungary’s most prestigious jazz bands playing the Fire Station at 2pm, Marlborough favourite Ben Cipolla also in the Fire Station at 8pm and the extremely popular Bratislava Hot Serenaders filling the Priory Marquee in the afternoon between 3 and 5pm.
Tickets are available from the Jazz festival website or from the booth on the High Street just outside the Castle & Ball.
“We would like to thank all of our sponsors, but especially our new lead sponsor – Kerridge Commercial Systems for their support” said Nick, before adding that without the support given by the sponsoring organisations the Festival “could never present such a strong line-up of artists and acts”.
