Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues festival are delighted to bring to its festival goers this July some of their firm favourites along with a host of new award winning established artists...
...all who are incredible performers and all who are guaranteed to provide a wide variety of jazz, blues and funk - but above all superb musicianship.
The main stage line up at the festival is almost complete and we are delighted to confirm the following information for you:
13th July - Friday Evening
Friday evening will see TipToe open the festival with their luxuriously soulful and intimate sound. The band lend a mix of fun and sophistication and their varied set list of traditional jazz numbers mixed in with more modern soul and RNB songs means there will be something toe-tappingly familiar for festivalgoers to enjoy.
Following next is the award-winning Space-Funk Trio The ElecTrio who are from the UK and will take the classic sound of 70's instrumental Jazz-Funk-Fusion into the future!
Formed in 2012 by UK-based Keyboard-guru and Rhodes player Dan Goldman (aka JD73), The ElecTrio have supported artists including Blue Note artist José James and play hard-hitting, adventurous original compositions influenced by esteemed Rhodes players/artists including Herbie Hancock and The Headhunters, Bob James, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Jeff Lorber, and Chick Corea.
14th July - Saturday Afternoon
Saturday begins with the much-anticipated return of Matt and Carlos - the Jazz guitarist duo of Bolivian Carlos Olmos and Londoner Matt Smith, performing a mix of soul, funk and jazz and blues.
Another festival firm favourite set to perform on Saturday is the gorgeous Zoë Gilby, a vocalist and songwriter who offers compelling and original compositions. Her stockpile of music reaches a wide range of more contemporary material from composers such as Pink Floyd to Kate Bush, with influences from Sheila Jordan and Joni Mitchell.
New to Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival for 2018 is Ubunye (‘one-ness’) a band who unites singers hailing from Kwa Zulu Natal in South Africa (now Huddersfield based) with Gospel and R’n’B players from Yorkshire in an inspirational blend of jazz, Isigqi – traditional Zulu music – and Afro-Pop.
14th July - Saturday Evening
The wonderful Jo Harrop will play tribute to the sultry songstress and ‘regal’ Peggy Lee and kick off the Saturday evening line up. Jo will deliver moving renditions of Peggy Lee classics as well as swinging out on other great songs from the Lee canon.
The Durham born jazz singer has a voice that is warm, intimate & sincere. She is no stranger to performing at the best clubs and radio stations garnering praise notably from luminary composer Howard Blake OBE, & jazz pioneer Courtney Pine CBE.
Headlining the main stage on Saturday evening, will be the Grammy nominee and Emmy Award winner Billy Branch, presented by the Giles Robson Band.
Supporting Billy is international blues harpist, Giles Robson and his band. Billy, Giles and the band are on fire and invite festivalgoers to be part of their exciting journey as they bring the pure blues out of the shadows and rock the Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival!
Expect them to bring Saturdays performances to an explosive end!
15th July - Sunday Afternoon
Sunday begins with an electrifying new duo Skeltr in which Sam Healey’s roaring sax lines soar above Craig Hanson’s drum patterns, electronic soundscapes and samples, manipulated live in the moment: a striking expansive sound with a buzzing energy at its core.
Kyla Brox with Danny Blomeley are also making their Burton Agnes festival debut.
Kyla's voice remains a stunning example of the soul singer's art: turning up the heat by degrees, lulling and charming before unleashing emotional catharsis, and blurring the distinction between pleasure and pain like the soul greats of old. Harnessing undiluted soul power in a duo with musical and life partner Danny Blomeley, Kyla Brox is without doubt the most authentic UK blues and soul singer of her generation.
Born in Lancashire, Kyla was exposed to the passion of Afro-American music at first-hand from her blues singing father Victor Brox and her mother Annette Brox, the 'maid by the fire' in the original Jesus Christ Superstar.
The penultimate band to perform is the seven-piece Atlantic Crossover, the renewed version and second wave of a 'Tribute to Atlantic Jazz' who, after over 6 years of being apart, have revived the project and are now taking the original idea and concept to deeper depths. Still retaining its appealing soulful driving front line power combined with a dynamic and exciting rhythm section, expect to be taken on a journey further into the Atlantic Sound.
Then, playing out this year’s festival, will once again be festival favourites
Ben Beattie’s after midnight band plus Simon Cunliffe-Lister.
Saxophonist and pianist Ben Beattie's compositions bring together an intriguing mix of atmospheric jazz, blue grooves and soulful ballads.
Festival organiser and saxophonist Simon Cunliffe-Lister joins Ben to play out the weekend.
There are still a few acts to be announced and there will also be a programme of late night events too with The Alligators and more to be confirmed.
Published on 01 May 2018 by Ben Robinson
