Marsden Jazz Festival £10,000 appeal for 2019 event

AWARD-WINNING Marsden Jazz Festival has launched a funding campaign and needs to raise £10,000 by Sunday, July 21 to secure the festival for this October.

Dani Sicari and The Easy Rollers

The 28th Marsden Jazz Festival will take place from Friday, October – Sunday, October 13, welcoming thousands of visitors to Marsden.

One of the unique aspects of Marsden Jazz Festival is that three-quarters of the 90 or so events taking place on the festival weekend are completely free to attend, including the much-loved festival parade and street band battle.

To keep these events free, the festival, which is a registered charity, has to raise significant funds each year.

Barney Stevenson, artistic director of the festival says, “The competition for funds gets keener every year, so we have to work harder and harder to secure funds for our festival.

“Luckily we have a fantastic network of supporters who have donated and adopted gigs in the last few years, and this has contributed significantly to the survival of the festival.”

In 2018 when funding was cut, the festival launched its very first crowdfunding campaign and raised an incredible £12,000. 

The festival aims to meet its £10,000 target by Sunday 21st July.

Last year’s event (Pictures thanks to Marsden Jazz Festival)

“It’s key that we raise the £10,000 at this stage because we’re in the middle of programming,” Barney added.

“this is when all of the free events are planned, artists are booked, and venues come on board. If we fail to reach our target, then it’s likely we’d have to make cuts to the number of events we can programme.”

The festival partners each year with community groups, schools and organisations working with young musicians, providing a platform for performance and education.

The 2019 festival will feature performances by award-winning composer Cassie Kinoshi’s SEED Ensemble and 2018 Ensemble of the Year the Alison Rayner Quintet, which features renowned guitarist, Huddersfield-born Deidre Cartright.

To support Marsden Jazz Festival with a donation, whether large or small, visit their website marsdenjazzfestival.com/donate

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