THE COUNTRY’S longest standing jazz and blues festival is coming to Coventry for the first time in its 40 year history.
Artists will be performing at Coventry Building Society Arena on July 27 as part of a 10 day festival which will see more than 86 bands perform at 116 venues in the West Midlands.
CBS Arena is hosting nine bands and musicians for the event as well as a beer festival.
The Coventry Jazz, Blues and Beer Festival will also feature workshops, talks and masterclasses for fans of jazz and blues.
An opportunity to learn the basics of lindy hop and swing dancing with Ben, Serana and company in ‘The Swing Era’ dance workshop, will be available.
Artists performing on the day will include Sunjay, a Derby-born multi award-winning guitarist and singer – who has been nominated for a British Blues Award and supported many Blues great, including Steeleye Span, John Renbourn and Albert Lee.
Chickenbone John, known as the Godfather of the Cigar Box Guitar, is also on the line-up.
Jamie Thyer and The Worried Men, who have clocked up more than 4,000 gigs over the last 30 years, are set to feature at the Coventry event.
Jump, Jive and Wail will be performing a live set combining boogie woogie piano, honking sax, exuberant harmonica and three-part vocal harmonies.
And finally, ‘Back On The Road’, which comprises well-known musicians Tony O’Brien, Richard Fedeski, Ray Sweeney, Bill Jefferson and Stevie Barr, will perform a range of classic rock, pop and blues covers.
The festival is organised by Big Bear Music, an independent record labels and booking agencies.
Paul Michael, managing director at the arena, said: “This is an event with a fantastic pedigree and we are delighted to be working with Big Bear Music to expand it to Coventry for the first time.
“The best thing is that this event allows people from Coventry and Warwickshire to enjoy the magic of jazz of blues for free, with no entry fee.
“The festival has been a huge success across the Midlands for four decades and we’re looking forward to building on those foundations here in Coventry.”
