Friday 9th October 2009  8.00pm Marsden Mechanics

Georgie Fame (More Details Soon)

Saturday 10th October   12.30pm  Marsden Mechanics

BLINK

Robin Fincker (Sax/Clarinet); Alcyona Mick (Piano); Paul Clarvis (Drums)

Formed out of a long-standing collaboration between pianist Alcyona and French saxophonist/clarinettist Robin Fincker, Blink has been a trio for two years with percussionist/drummer Paul Clarvis. A member of London’s Loop Collective, the trio plays mostly original material written by Alcyona and Robin combining influences from various sources of swing, 20th century classical music, rock, free improvisation and world music.

Saturday 10th October  4.00pm  Marsden Mechanics

NICOLAS MEIER GROUP

Gilad Atzmon (Sax); Pat Bettison (Bass); Asaf Sirkis (Drums) Nicolas Meier (Acoustic Guitar/Saz)

London-based Swiss  guitarist Nicolas Meier is one of the rising stars of a vibrant British jazz scene, his trademark sound, as heard on his Naim albums, a mixture of Methenyesque jazz and spicy Turkish and world music rhythms. The Meier Group have toured extensively in Europe, sharing the bill with the likes of Elvin Jones, Brad Mehldau, Trilok Gurtu and Bill Evans and this year's extensive UK tour includes the London International Guitar Festival.

Saturday 10th October  8.00pm  Marsden Mechanics

IAN SHAW

Twice winner of the BBC Jazz Awards, Ian Shaw plays the Saturday evening gig at the Mechanics with his regular trio featuring the virtuoso drummer, Mark Fletcher, a favourite of the visiting Americans.  Shaw, who has the reputation of being "simply our finest male jazz singer" (Time Out) has recently been touring his last two albums (Linn Records); "Drawn To All Things, the Songs Of Joni Mitchell" and the more recent "Lifejacket", a stunning collection of heartfelt originals, charting the course of city living, childhood memory and the often surprising notion of being in love. Don't miss this dazzling highlight of the festival with Shaw at his vocal and daring best.

Saturday 10th October 11.30pm Marsden Mechanics

HAGGIS HORNS LIVE (First Word Records)

The Haggis Horns are one of the best live bands in the game; a brass heavy funk powerhouse that has been rocking clubs up and down the country for years, combining breakbeat funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat with the virtuosity of trained jazz musicians.

Sunday 11th October  1.30pm  Marsden Mechanics

MIKE WALKERS MADHOUSE BAND

Mike Walker (Guitar); Iain Dixon (Saxes); Pat Illingworth (Drums); Steve Watts (Bass); Les Chisnall (Piano); Malcolm Edmonstone (Keys).

"Mike Walker is one of the most powerful jazz guitarists in Europe ... This (Madhouse and the Whole Thing There) is his first album under his own name but, far from sounding like an insular personal journey, this debut is a soaringly confident piece of idiosyncratic contemporary fusion." - John Fordham, The Guardian May 23rd 2008

Sunday 11th October  5.00pm  Marsden Mechanics

IAIN BALLAMY, ANORAK

Iain Ballamy (Tenor Saxophone and Compositions) ; Gareth Williams - (Piano); Steve Watts (Double Bass); Martin France (Drums)

This stunning quartet features four fine musicians playing original material that still retains strong points of reference to the legacy of Jazz from the second half of the 20th century. The material includes a mixture of burning swing, ballads and re-writes of classics such as Blue in Green, Stella, I Got Rhythm and All The Things You Are, all of which feature Ballamy's lyrical approach, for which he is now well known.

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

You can check out the music of most of our 2009 headliners on their myspace pages. Just click on the following links:

Georgie Fame  
Blink   
Nicolas Meier Group   
Ian Shaw 
Haggis Horns   
Mike Walker's Madhouse Band   
Iain Ballamy   

Our thanks go to the Pubs and Clubs of Marsden, who support the Festival each year by paying for the bands which Festival audiences can then see for free. Without their support the Festival would be much smaller and quieter. Please show your appreciation by supping up while you enjoy the music!