Playing host to just about every genre from New Orleans traditional to contemporary free-form, the Porthcawl Jazz Festival (or ‘ Jazz on the Sands ‘) will once again be raising the roof in Bridgend County on the weekend of the 11th-13th April 2014.
Having been running for 12 years, this year’s Porthcawl ‘ Jazz on the Sands‘ will see some thousands of jazz enthusiasts travel down to listen to around 180 artists over 24 events in nine different venues.
The action spills out from the Grand Pavilion to numerous other venues, all within walking distance of the famous octagonal dome. These include the Ship and Castle restaurant and Trinity Church.
First set up in 2002, the festival originally focused on the best jazz talent from across South Wales and West England. These days, the event is seen as a hub for national and international performers such as Buddy Greco, Acker Bilk, B D Lenz, Clare Teal and Janice Mitchell.
It is said that Jazz on the Sands is home to a wider range of jazz styles than anywhere else in Wales, maybe even the UK, and this year you’ll get to see everything from the boisterous blues of the Big Chris Barber Band to the avant-garde improvisations of Simon Desorgher’s Free Spirits.
Other acts include: Digby Fairweather, Kevin Grenfell’s Jazz Giants the Davide Logiri Quintet and Colourscape, plus home-grown talent such as the Cardiff University Big Band, the Dick Hamer Quintet and the Rhondda Symphony Pops Orchestra.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.porthcawl-jazz-festival.com, www.grandpavilion.co.uk or call 01656 815 995.
*** Fancy some other spring activity ideas? Take a look at our blog Bridgend: 5 things to do this Spring!
Bridgend, Coast & Valleys 