// Click here to view Images from the 2006 festival What's on for the Abersoch Jazz Festival 2006? Well, the voluntary committee have been working on the arrangements since July 2005 and face all the usual hurdles of health and safety, new legislation and licensing laws, needing new funding as grants become thinner on the ground, and accommodation, etc! The range of music will be provided by some old favourites, some new favourites, local bands, soloists and exciting young musicians. We hope there is something to meet everyone's needs, and by popular request we are including more street music, a bigger parade, the Gospel service, competitions and stalls, and maintaining the international flavour of the festival. So, decorate those brollies, come along and join the parade, feel the music, enjoy yourselves, and be very welcome to Abersoch 'the Riviera of Wales'. NEWS / GOSSIP UPDATE – 18.09.06   The glorious weather arrived just in time to welcome thousands of people to Abersoch for it’s fifth annual Jazz Festival on the 10th and 11th June. The “jazzpitality” that Abersoch has become known for means that every year more and more travel to Abersoch over the course of the weekend to absorb the atmosphere and relax as the sound of Jazz floods the village. This year a record 17 shops and businesses were beautifully decorated with a musical theme, and an incredible 173 jazz posters created by local school children made a beautiful colourful exhibition in the Village Hall. The bunting was flying high and all the venues were prepared for one of the most popular weekends in the Abersoch calendar, whilst behind the scenes the committee continued to rally round to ensure that the whole weekend ran smoothly. As the event expands each year, visitors have begun arriving earlier and staying longer so by the Thursday, the Jazz Office in the Tourist Information was in demand. The weekend kicked off in the Riverside marquee with an evening of music from Dr Jazz and was followed over the course of the weekend by an amazing 41 sessions of a range of different types of jazz from performers around the world. Young musicians and bands such as Oriental (Holland), Dixie (Norway), Richard Bennet’s International Jazz Band, The Jonny Boston Quartet and T.J Johnson’s Rhythm and Blues all play an important part in the event and help to ensure the future of the music. Oriental planned their trip to ensure that they wouldn’t miss any of their national team in the World Cup. The Vaynol didn’t know what had hit them when a mass of jazz playing Holland fans descended on the pub. Ecstatic after their win their enthusiasm ensured that their gig up at S.C.Y.C that evening went with a bang! The Yacht club was catering for all with the footie on at one end and the jazz on at the other! More top class bands than ever before travelled from all over the UK, including the very funny Bob Kerr’s Whoopee Band, who had whole families in fits of laughter and Hot Banana, who entertained with jump jiving. Our local favourites such as Gadjo, Jazz Rag, Jazzd and Marcia Pendlebury Quartet also played an integral part. The Gwynedd and Anglesey Youth Orchestra, who were performing in a marquee for the first time, were excitingly joined by internationally famous Huw Warren (composer/pianist) and Bosco de Oliviera (percussionist). The Oakley Brass Band Quartet, (who were back by popular demand) performed outside at the Sandpiper. Jess and Leigh were inundated with calls from visitors trying to get a good spot on the patio! Many will know by now that street buskers play on the patio of the Vaynol. Their numbers grow every year and the crowds love to hear them. Their collections raised £230, which was kindly donated to buy a new trombone for the local school. The parade was the biggest and best ever, led by five beautiful Lusitano stallions, our two regular marshals, the Gambett Lovetts and two bands. Much “sticking” and “sketching” resulted in an array of colourfully decorated brollies and hats in the “second line.” It proved to be a difficult task for our three local judges, Yvonne Lloyd Jones, Betty Hughes and Jean Williams to chose the winners in the brolly and hat competition. Capel Aber was standing room only for a rousing bilingual gospel service led by Reverend Nick Hawkins, Sheila Hawkes and the Jazz Rag Gospel Band. Anna Jones took the reading and the young Pugh family had to perform an encore after receiving a standing ovation for their beautiful traditional Welsh singing. The collection raised £512 in aid of the Capel. Three storming sessions brought the festival to an end on the Sunday night. Luckily Gwlms Evans Jazz Bus service was on hand to transport safely home as the first rain of the weekend began at 11.30pm! They provided a continual circular service all weekend to make sure that everyone could enjoy the great music, food and views from up at the brilliant Five Degrees West to others around the village. From the four local school workshops at the beginning of the week to the last performers late on the Sunday night, the festival was a huge success and people, whether avid Jazz listeners or not, left happy. Abersoch Jazz Festival could not take place without the generous grants provided by The Arts Council, Gwynedd Council and Tourism Partnership Wales. These grants and the generous donations from sponsors provide the backing for this fantastic weekend that the whole village can look forward to and enjoy. The committee would like to thank everyone involved in the festival over the course of the weekend and in the huge amount of organisation that goes on behind the scenes, from the volunteers, the local community, visitors, musicians to young people who come together to make the event so special. Next year looks set to be as popular, with a great deal of accommodation provisionally booked. People are already demanding tickets for 2007!   Welsh Tourism Awards 2005 The Abersoch Jazz Festival is proud to display this Logo which is unique to the three finalists in the Welsh Tourism Awards 2005. The Festival was nominated in the ‘Best Day Out’ category, which was open to all events over the whole of Wales. It was a great achievement as the Festival was up against a very high and varied standard of entries. Abersoch Jazz Festival Commitee would like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors and all who have supported this festival. Dymuna Cymdeithas Jazz Abersoch ddiolch i'r noddwyr ac i bawb arall am eu cefnogaeth i'r Wyl. Tourism Partnership North Wales Arts Council of Wales Cyngor Gwynedd Council Abersoch Boardrider and Surf Shop Blakemores Wolverhampton (Spar) R.H.Evans White Stuff Fat Face Crew Clothing Boardrider Chas Myers, Abersoch.co.uk Abersoch Cafe and Deli Beresford Adams Estate Agents Harold Roberts - Tyn-y-Mur Camping Spar Cae Du Bysus Evans Buses Llaniestyn Turtle Photography Harlech Frozen Foods John Minnion, Bude Jazz Festival Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw Vaynol Arms Carol Davies - Nailtek Nina Lewthwaite - Oriel Fach Cafe Mike Atherton Angorfa Bed & Breakfast and Cafe Swyddfa Post Abersoch Post Office West Coast Surf Abersoch Boatyard Flipside Jewellery Phyllis and Emma, Llysfor Guest House Terry's Family Butcher Marilyn Selwyn Mr and Mrs G.A.Davies, Bed & Breakfast Mrs S Preece, Bed & Breakfast Mrs Doris Jones, Bed & Breakfast Sea Side Signs Abersoch Taxis (Tony) Official Photographer - Dewi Wyn