BRECON Jazz Festival is definitely going ahead and now needs the support of the community to be a massive success, says festival organiser Geoff Goodenough.
Securing the necessary road closures in Brecon for the jazz events was the last hurdle that had to be cleared to ensure the festival goes ahead from Thursday, August 10 to Sunday, August 14.
It means the main acts will now play on a stage in front of St Marys Church in The Bulwark in Brecon town centre. Already many of those acts, such as the Darius Brubeck quartet, have been booked and businesses interested in having stands during the festival are coming forward.
Some sponsors, such as accountants Mitchell Meredith and the Brecon branch of Specsavers, have also helped with sponsorship – but more financial backing is needed to ensure the festival returns to the days when the whole town was swinging with a jazz vibe.
Of course, the fringe festival when many pubs throw open their doors to live musicians of all kinds, which always coincides with the jazz festival, will add to the festive fever.
But at one point this year it looked as though the festival would not go ahead after an independent report commissioned by the town council said the event as an jazz showpiece was not sustainable in the long term.
Suggestions were made that the festival weekend should broaden out to become a wider cultural event in Brecon, but no one backed up those suggestions with solid action, so festival stalwarts like Mr Goodenough, Lynne Gornall and the Brecon Jazz Club continued with their own plans, strongly believing the jazz festival in Brecon should not be allowed to die.
Underlining the need for more ‘stakeholders’ to come forward to help cover the cost of booking musicians and paying for sound equipment, Mr Goodenough said: “We want this to be a ‘win-win’ year – where local stakeholders as well as those around the UK who care about the Festival, work together to show how such a global name as ‘Brecon Jazz’, can also be rooted and sustained in its local, hospitable community.”
Ms Gornall said an example of how local people could support the festival was typified by Jonathan Morgan, a private individual who had made a cash donation to the event. She said: “Everyone has said it’s incredibly touching someone would dip into their own savings to help the festival, and Jonathan’s support means the organisers can go forward with much more confidence. It also encourages other people to get involved. Jonathan doesn’t just appreciate jazz, but he’s prepared to go the extra mile to make sure it stays in the town.”