Legendary New Orleans trumpeter Leroy Jones, as well as founder member of the Average White Band Hamish Stuart, and not one but three top American blues guitarists are all signed up for this year’s festival.
And promising an event that will be better than ever, festival director Derek Gorman said: “Thanks to Major Festivals and Events status from Dumfries and Galloway Council, the festival has been able to deliver a programme with an international flavour and packed with musical excitement and delivering serious listening to party music — there truly is something for everyone.”
Once again this year the Jazz Festival is spreading its wings and branching out to neighbouring towns. Music lovers can expect jazz films in Lockerbie and Dumfries and concerts in Annan, Gretna and Moffat.
But Lockerbie is set to remain as the main hub for the event and new for this year is the Jazz Cafe.
Lockerbie Town Hall’s Lesser Hall will be set-up as an intimate listening venue with food on hand from Hullabaloo.
Jazz stars Alan Barnes and Brian Kellock are set to kick off the Jazz Café programme on Thursday September 22.
And the all-day jazz and blues extravaganza, Take Five, is back again for 2016. Take Five lets visitors hear more than 100 different performers, all within the surroundings of Lockerbie Town Hall.
Five hours, two stages, nine bands including young players and singers from all over Dumfries and Galloway.
All types of jazz and blues will be showcased, with food and a bar thrown into the mix.
Other big name acts set to descend on the festival include Rose Room, Paul Harrison Trio, Remembering Chet and purveyors of all things Cajun and Zydeco Boogalusa will deliveraCajun party night at the Queen’s Hotel in Lockerbie too.
■ The Lockerbie Jazz Festival takes place across various venues in Lockerbie, Gretna, Annan, Moffat and Dumfries between September 22 and 25.
