Sold out Hexham Jazz festival hailed a success by all

The revived Hexham Jazz Festival was hailed a success by all those who attended the three-day sold out event over the weekend.

The event was the brainchild of a group of jazz fans who wished to bring back the festival back after being dormant for years.

Hundreds of festival goers descended upon the town to enjoy a series of concerts featuring an array of musicians from the Tyne Valley, Tyneside, County Durham and as far afield as Edinburgh and London.

The opening event on Friday evening featured the hugely popular Hot Cub du Nord where Violinist Emma Fisk’s Hot Club-inspired quartet and concluded with a pipe organ-tenor saxophone duo featuring pianist Paul Edis and saxophonist Graeme Wilson.

On the second day of the event, audiences were treated outdoor and indoor concerts.

Outside in Sele Park were Hexham's own Core Music, who presented a scratch quartet featuring Ferg Kilsby (trumpet), Joe Steels (guitar), Paul Susans (bass) and drummer John Hirst then later in the evening and indoors, vocalist Jo Harrop was joined by a string quartet.  Followed by solo pianist, Dean Stockdale closed then proceedings on what had been a full day of top quality jazz.

On the last day, audiences welcomed home Hexham-born guitarist James Kitchman who  featured with pianist Bruno Heinen in intimate duo format. 

As dusk fell, the honour of closing the festival went to the Abbie Finn Trio, which were tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble and bassist Paul Grainger.                                   

Mayor of Hexham Derek Kennedy adds: "Hexham Jazz Festival has been a great success, it was an honour for me to be asked to open the event in the Abbey on Friday evening in front of a sell out audience.

"The other events were very popular with good ticket sales.

"I also attended the Jazz at the bandstand on Sunday and treated to some good musicians.

"We look forward to this being an annual event and our thanks for to all the organisers and their hard work."