Brecon Jazz and Fringe festivals take place over this weekend with around 300 performances in the historic town nestling under the Brecon Beacons.
These are over 200 fringe events – mostly free – which take place alongside Brecon Jazz Festival itself which welcomes Femi Kuti and Allen Toussaint amongst a particularly strong line up this year.
Together, the weekend is now arguably the largest musical event in Wales in terms of number of performances.
Also, for the first time in many years, free community music in the centre of town is back on the “Musictown Stage” outside St Mary’s Church with appearanced by Wonderbrass, The Adamant Marching Band and many others.
Organiser David Brockwell said : “Just under 100 musicians in various groups will be performing without payment in order to bring music back to the heart of Brecon this weekend. It’s really important that that the festival weekend has community at its heart.”
St Mary’s Church itself plays host to Songwriter and Poetry sessions over the weekend, whilst acoustic music is also highlighted at Pilgrim’s Tearooms at Brecon Cathedral as well as several of the many galleries and bookshops in the town.
The Cathedral has a gala performance in its grounds by The Morriston Big Band of Swansea whilst Jazz Festival concerts take place inside the 1000 year old building as well as on a campus site at Chris College Brecon and Brecon’s historic Market Hall.
The Castle Hotel has appearances by The Amigos amongst a quality Jazz programme whilst The George Hotel has Mike Harris Root Doctor’s Centre stage on Saturday. Music of increasing variety is everywhere in the pubs and hotels with increasing amounts in the social clubs and community spaces alongside the main official Jazz Festival.
David Brockwell said :” It all adds up to a great weekend of music in Brecon this weekend – we’re an hour from Cardiff – come and join us !”
Links:
www.breconjazz.org
http://www.breconfringe.co.uk/
http://www.breconbeaconstourism.co.uk/
