Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival 2017
Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July 2017Burton Agnes Hall, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO25 4NB, England MAP
early bird £70 + £40 for a camping voucher
Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival has announced a link up with Saint Lucia - home to the internationally acclaimed Saint Lucia Jazz Festival - to bring specially-selected jazz musicians from the island to the Elizabethan Burton Agnes Hall, in East Yorkshire from Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July 2017
"I was keen to do something special and different to celebrate our tenth anniversary, and to present some unique cultural activities amongst the Hull City of Culture events." explains festival organiser, Simon Cunliffe-Lister, who travelled to Saint Lucia in March to audition bands for the festival.
The Simon Cunliffe-Lister a vibrant young saxophone led quartet; the soulful and sophisticated singer Chrycee; St Lucian gem and household name, Claudia; and jazz guitarist Rupert Lay, who leads a jazz quartet that includes the quintessentially Caribbean steel pans.
There's also plans to bring Saint Lucian chefs and Saint Lucian rum cocktails to his festival, along with an exhibition of work by the island's artists.
Simon Cunliffe-Lister said "I am proud to have this exciting and vibrant addition to our well established festival, and to provide an opportunity for these talented St Lucian musicians to come to the UK and participate in a much-loved festival."
"Dynamix have such a mature and sophisticated sound. I was flabbergasted to discover that the four boys are all between 15 and 19 years old, playing well in advance of their age. The soulful Chrycee, and the St Lucian household name, Claudia, are two exciting singers who work modern St Lucian styles into well-known songs and their own creative compositions. When auditioning bands, it was a compelling twist to hear the Rupert Lay jazz guitar trio, with drums and double bass, playing a bebop classic, and joined by that quintessential Caribbean instrument, the steel pan."
Tickets are on sale at the early bird price (until 1st June) of £70, plus £40 for a camping voucher. Concessionary tickets (for children 12-15 years old) are priced at £68. Day and evening-only tickets are also available.
The festival, organised by its sax-playing owner Simon Cunliffe-Lister and jazz singer Saffron Byass, features live music, picnics in the grounds and children's entertainment.