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LATEST NEWS
PHOTOS ONLINE. Click here to view a large gallery of the parade day. 
Golf Club Marquee - please note that there will be no parking at the Golf Club car park over the jazz weekend (ecept for disabled badge holders) due to the amount of visiting golfers playing in a competition. However, you can park in the beach car park at a reduced rate of £1 and take the short stroll down to the marquee, or use the free jazz bus from the village centre. Please show your wristband/ticket for reduced parking. The Abersoch Tourist Information Centre is now up and running at it's new location - The Vestry, next door to the Chapel in the village centre. Telephone number is 01758 712929. Can You Help? Three of the Oriental Jazz Band (two boys and a girl) are looking for a lift to Liverpool Airport on Monday June 15th. They need to arrive there no later that 5pm. Call Avril on (01758) 712929 if you can help. Many thanks. Due to unavoidable circumstances, Sky Murphy cannot attend the Festival this year. Unfortunately, Tom Kincaid will not be playing on Thursday evening June11th at The Riverside Marquee. We have had to make amendments to the Key Guide since we printed the brochure, we apologise for the inconvenience.   Abersoch Jazz Festival 2009
Belated best wishes and good luck to all jazzers, musicians, visitors and organisers for 2009. Abersoch kept Jazz alive in style last autumn with the brilliant SECOND LINE JAZZ BAND from Sweden and in the winter with the very talented group of musicians forming THE AMY ROBERTS ALLSTARS.
Future dates for your diary
Friday September 18th Venue TBC Another opportunity to hear the Second Line Jazz Band from Sweden. They are doing a short tour of the UK and have agreed to include Abersoch for their second visit to Wales!  Abersoch Jazz Festival Treasurer Linda Williams with the Second Line Jazz Band. Photo courtesy of Dewi Wyn
Preparation is now in full swing for the Festival in June to include twenty two bands and seven soloists playing a variety of jazz styles. The popular parade, rousing gospel service, workshops, jam session, competitions, exhibitions, Lotus car display and street music will provide the usual great festive "Jazzpitality" atmosphere. Rhythm will resound around the village from the Brass Band, the Samba Drum Band and buskers. This year the buskers will welcome additional musicians because only two of the regular team can definitely play this year. They have entertained us all and raised much needed money for local charities for seven years.
The bands from all over the UK and abroad include some "Rascals" of jazz. DonÛt miss Gentleman Jim McIntoshÛs Party Session, the as yet, unknown Abersoch Allstars and Isobel and MalcolmÛs Jam Session – anything could happen! Enjoy the five bands new to Abersoch and some surprises. The Jazz buses merry-go-round journeys will help you move easily around the venues.
Once again we welcome the two famous Abersoch Parade Bands, the musicians from Enkuizen in Holland and Morris Jones Parade Band from the UK led by the Lusitano horses and the two Grand Marshals. The local Sea Cadets will be joining the Parade for the first time and should have quite a new experience! The Lotus cars will be on display again beforehand and this year have some different models, their lucky owners will be on hand to answer any questions.
Start decorating your brollies and hats ready to join in the fun of the Parade, 10.30am on Saturday.
Enough said so send for your cheaper early tickets, forget the credit crunch and look forward to the Festival and the summer.
This year especially we thank and really appreciate the financial support from sponsors, donors, and grant funders who enable the voluntary committee to organise the Abersoch Jazz Festival.
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The 2009 Festival aims to be another fabulous weekend with a great line-up of musicians – some questionable ‘Rascals’ of jazz!? Many favourite bands and soloists will be playing, Gentleman Jim McIntosh promises a ‘PARTY SESSION’ with special guests and we continue to support youth with workshops, performances, concerts and other activities.
We are proud that Kate Browning (reeds) from Wales has progressed through the ranks from workshops and as a member of the Gwynedd and Môn Youth Jazz Orchestra to festival soloist with several bands. We wish her well in her first year at Leeds College of Music.
On that ‘note’ see below bands and soloists who have verbally agreed to play June 11th , 12th, 13th and 14th 2009.
Bydd Gwyl 2009 yn anelu i fod yn benwythnos gwych arall gyda cherddorion ardderchog - rhai o 'gnafon y byd jas'! Bydd llawer o’ch hoff fandiau ac unawdwyr yn chwarae. Mae Gentleman Jim McIntosh yn addo ‘SESIWN BARTI’ gyda gwesteion arbennig a pharhawn i gefnogi ieuenctid gyda gweithdai, perfformiadau, cyngherddau a gweithgareddau eraill.
Rydym yn falch fod Kate Browning (reeds) o Gymru wedi rhagori ei ffordd trwy’r gweithdai ac fel aelod o Gerddorfa Jas Ieuenctid Gwynedd a Môn i fod yn unawdydd gyda nifer o fandiau mewn gwyliau jas. Dymunwn yn dda iddi yn ei blwyddyn gyntaf yng Ngholeg Cerddoriaeth Leeds.
Ar y ‘nodyn’ yna, rhowch gip ar y bandiau a’r unawdwyr sydd wedi cytuno ar lafar i chwarae ar Fehefin 11eg, 12fed, 13eg a 14eg 2009
EUROPEAN
Big Easy Rascals (Holland)
Oriental Jazz Band (Holland)
VISITING ABERSOCH FOR THE FIRST TIME
Abersoch Allstars
Deeside Dixies
Gentleman Jim McIntosh and the Jazzaholics
James Evans Incredible String Four
Panama Jazz Band
RETURNING MUSICIANS AND BANDS
Bermo Batala Samba Band
Cajun Denbo (Zideco)
Dr Jazz
Gadjo
Gwynedd and Môn Youth Jazz Orchestra
Huw Warren Band/Workshop
Jazz Rag
Malcolm and Isabel’s Special Jam Session
Marcia Pendlebury’s Quintet
The Red Stripe Band
The TJ Johnson Band
Richard Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz
Savannah Jazz Band
Seindorf yr Oakeley Brass Band
SOLOISTS
Amy Roberts
Dave Mott
Jack Cotteril
Jamie Brownfield
Jonny Boston
Kate Browning
Susan Mott
Top Parade Bands ‘Enkhuizen’ Holland, Morris Jones UK
Competitions
Gospel Service Band
There is a shortage of accommodation in Abersoch and may we suggest that you consider renting self-catering accommodation for yourselves and friends?
Contact Beresford Adams, Quality Homes and Abersoch TIC.
Hafan y Môr are offering special rates to Abersoch Jazz Festival goers.
All details on our accommodation list.
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The Festival theme for 2008 was ‘Treble Dutch’ and it certainly proved to be true. Not only were there the three wonderful bands from Holland, Oriental, Freetime and Big Easy Rascals but they were accompanied by a large contingent of families, friends and fans bringing a great international atmosphere to the weekend. They arrived by boat, plane, car, mini-bus and motorcycles! Mr Jaap de Wit (senior) – string bass, sousaphone, bass saxophone, trombone and occasional vocal played energetically in two bands, the parade and jam sessions totalling at least 8 times in two days. Mr Jaap de Wit (junior) reported on Monday “we are all safely home and my dad is still alive” !
  Photos courtesy of Barry Kesterton To the amazement of a ‘concerned’ committee the sun shone again ensuring the success of the outdoor street music, parade led by marshalls and dancing horses, Seindorf y Oakeley Brass Band, hardworking buskers and Bermo Batala Samba Band, who delighted all on the beach with their third and final session.
It is impossible to pick out special soloists, bands or sets. All were excellent bringing their own varied styles and individuality to the event. Quality favourite bands such as Mart Rodgers Manchester Jazz, Richard Leach’s 7 stars of Jazz, Savannah Jazz band, Allen Beecheys Bright Stars of Jazz, Spats Langham Hot Combination and the Peter Frank Allstars plus annually appearing local bands, Dr Jazz, Jazz Rag, Gadjo, Gwynedd and Anglesey Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Marcia Pendlebury Quintet delighted audiences. Brilliant soloists were Amy Roberts, Tom Kincaid, James Evans, Sue Mott, Dave Mott, Jamie Brown field and Jack Cotterill. Two bands bringing new sounds to the festival were show band Red Stripe and Cajuns Denbo (Zideco) who played to packed out venues with many people up dancing.
 Photo courtesy of Barry Kesterton We continue to promote youth by workshops in the local schools, an open youth concert/workshop facilitated by Mr Huw Warren and band, Isabel and Malcolm’s jam session, young singers in the Gospel Service and by booking several young bands and soloists. The encouragement is apparent by the very young joining the parade, visiting sessions and progressing from workshops to band and even solo appearances.
 Photo courtesy of Barry Kesterton The Festival drew to a close with three storming sessions by Martin Bennetts Old Green River Band, the T.J.Johnson Band and the Oriental Jazz Band plus all the soloists. One keen jazzer said “I had a great journey from Inverness. Only 4 trains, 3 buses, 11 hours and I’m fine – glad to be here!” Thanks Lennie, hope it was worth it.
A big thank you to all the musicians, local community, visitors, volunteers and funders. Without the grants, donations and sponsors there would not be a festival. The Committee balance the books for 2008, heaved a few sighs of relief and started planning for 2009 – possible theme “Some Rascals of Jazz”?
 Photo courtesy of Jilli Whipp We hope some of you enjoyed our little booklet on the “History of Jazz in Abersoch”. Maybe next year some more articles will be added.
“Music is one of the greatest gifts, makes friends and alters the quality of life positively”
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GRANT FUNDERS & SPONSORS 2009
» Co-operative Community Fund
» Arts Council of Wales
» Cyngor Gwynedd Council
» Llyn AONB
» Mr Warwick Leadlay
» Hafan Y Mor
» Llanengan Community Council
» Chas Myers, abersoch.co.uk
» Abersoch Boardrider
» R. H. Evans
» White Stuff
» Blakemores Wolverhampton (Spar)
» Sensation Group
» Harold Roberts, Tyn y Mur
» Mantell Gwynedd
» W. G. Williams
» Lawrence Court
» Sea Side Signs
» Holyoaks Spa Cae Du
Official Photographers
» Dewi Wyn
» Totally Abersoch
The Festival committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all our grant funders, sponsors and donors.
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