The 35th Bude Jazz Festival was held from 27th August to 30th August 2024. It was another successful festival although accompanied by some sadness as described below. Nevertheless, there was great atmosphere, some excellent performances, and its success has allowed the Committee to plan a similar event for 2025.

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The format was similar to recent years with all the venues in walking distance of each other, two or three gigs at each venue per day, and staggered intervals so that festival goers could move around without encountering breaks. The venues were the same as for 2023 and included the Falcon Hotel, the Ivor Potter Hall in the Parkhouse Centre, the Methodist Church, the Golf Club, and ‘Upstairs’. The bar and catering at the Parkhouse centre, by ‘Outside Inn’, were again very well received.

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The festival was overshadowed this year by two sad events that occurred immediately before the start. Jeremy Huggett, who was scheduled to lead a number of bands, had a heart attack shortly before the festival, and, as many will know, he sadly passed away a week later. This led to much re-arranging of band line-ups by fellow musician Kevin Grenfell, who did a wonderful job; the Committee are very grateful to Kevin. The second sad event was that Tim Browning, one of the Festival Committee members passed away the day before the start; Tim used to own the Falcon Hotel and will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with Maria Huggett and Dorothy Browning.

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The festival included the usual parade and prizes were given for the best adult and children’s brollies. Other features included a strolling band playing at various locations around the town on two days, busking sessions outside the Falcon every morning, and dance lessons each day, led this year by the Swingsters, Mike and Mel.

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There is still plenty of traditional jazz at the festival but the organisers have continued to widen the variety to give a wider choice of music, and some younger musicians. There were also bands paying tribute to musicians of the past such as Ian Bateman’s Louis Armstrong All Stars, Richard Exall quartet - Goes Getz, and Warren James - the Story of Skiffle.

 

The 36th Bude Jazz Festival will run from Tuesday 26th to Friday 29th August 2025. Tickets will be on sale from January/February 2025.

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Peter Daniel