We are thrilled to welcome you with a packed programme for the eighteenth annual Marsden Jazz Festival. We have hand-picked a fine selection of music from right across the spectrum of jazz for new and seasoned jazz fans alike. This year’s programme is bulging with new bands and sounds alongside firm festival favourites.

Marsden Jazz Festival is a crossing point for musicians regionally, nationally and internationally and the perfect place for new and established jazz audiences to listen to something familiar or something totally different. This year, as well as our regular headline concert series, we are bringing you a new stream of bands. We want to introduce you to new jazz music and delight, enthral or challenge your ears, so the new stream gigs are priced to entice. Catch these rising stars in intimate surroundings while you can! New to Marsden Jazz Festival this year are events especially for young people and family audiences at the Standedge Tunnel Visitor centre.

As in previous years, the majority of gigs at Marsden Jazz Festival are presented free of charge thanks to the generous support of the hosting venues – please raise a glass to them! Marsden Jazz Festival would not be possible without a dedicated band of volunteers to plan and run the festival year-round and help out on the weekend itself. If you want to get involved, contact the festival office on 01484 846969

or mjfoffice@tiscali.co.uk to find out more

FAMILY FUN AT MARSDEN

This year we are delighted to be introducing a special part of the Festival Programme specifically for young people and family audiences.  In partnership with British Waterways, National Youth Jazz Collective and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival we have a packed day of events at the Standedge Tunnel Visitor’s Centre on Sunday.

There are hands-on activities, music workshops and interactive performances to introduce jazz to young audiences.  Look out for the one-man-band, and the Jazz Boat, complete with The Krape Twins on board will take you from Marsden Station up to the Visitor’s Centre.

Also at the Visitor’s Centre on Sunday we have a musical puppet show, and stalls, face-painting and craft activities.  The café will be open all day serving light refreshments and the ten-minute walk along the canal towpath between the village and Standedge is buggy-friendly and a perfect distance even for little legs.

NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE FESTIVAL OFFICE

The T-Shirts for the 18^th Marsden Jazz Festival are for the first time printed in three colours, front and back.They are available in

Women’s Fit

small, medium and large

Traditional Fit

small, medium, large and extra large

PRICE :  £11.00

ALSO for the first time we have jute bags printed in two colours with our legendary sheep logo which at only £4 are a really stylish bargain.

TICKET SALES

Tickets are now on sale for all of the 2009 Festival ticketed events.

Just follow the links from the 2009 Festival Programme page or from the 2009 Tickets page. When tickets went on sale at the Marsden Information Point there were long queues despite the rainfall. You can avoid queuing in the rain by taking advantage of our new on-line booking facility.

TICKET LATEST

Tickets for Georgie Fame and Sons (Fri)

are now SOLD OUT

More ... JAZZ VOICES

We are delighted to announce an additional event to those advertised in the main Festival Programme. On Saturday 10th October at 1.00pm in the Marquee outside Marsden Mechanics, the Jazz Voices Community Choir will be performing. Not to be missed.

Two Valleys Radio

The 2009 Marsden Jazz Festival will mark the launch of an exciting new community project which will run through until July 2010. The Two Valleys Community Radio Project has chosen the Marsden Jazz Festival as the launch event for what sounds like an exciting and innovative project that will be run by people from the Holme and Colne valleys. They will be broadcasting from Marsden throughout the Festival so keep a look out for their caravan.

Marsden Moods

Marsden Moods is a book of photographs of Marsden taken by a group of local photographic enthusiasts. The book includes several pictures of previous festivals and it will be on-sale at the Marsden Mechanics Booking Office over the Festival weekend. All proceeds go to the local Cuckoos Nest charity. You can also order copies of the book on-line at the group's website.

Change Of Line-Up

Gilad Atzmon will no longer be appearing as part of the Nicolas Meier Group. His place will be taken by the internationally renowned Mark Lockheart. Mark will be known to many as long-time collaborator with Django Bates (Loose Tubes, Delightful Precipice) and is currently a member of the award-winning Polar Bear. We are delighted to welcome him to Marsden and we are sure you'll enjoy his playing.

Additional Sponsors

In addition to the sponsors listed in the Festival Programme we would like to thank the following for their support of the Festival :

Jones Steel Ltd

Month of Sundaes, Marsden

Marsden Avalanche Dodgers

Jo Barnes Memorial Fund

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: