Cheltenham Jazz Festival enjoys record-breaking weekend.

Thursday, May 08, 2014

The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival held between 30th April and 5th May was a great success breaking all previous box office records. Press release attached.

We have received the following statement from the Festival’s PR and Communications Manager Candice Pearson;

Cheltenham Jazz Festival enjoys record-breaking weekend

Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which took place over the recent May Bank holiday weekend, smashed its own previous records for ticket sales and visitor numbers. 

5000 more tickets were purchased this year than last, taking attendance to a record 25,000. Hundreds more people enjoyed the sun and free music in Montpellier Gardens, much of which was provided by more than 200 young musicians from local schools.

International music superstars such as Roberta Flack, Robert Cray, Laura Mvula and Jamie Cullum played sell-out shows in Montpellier Gardens, along with Jools Holland and his Big Band, plus jazz and world favourites such as Loose Tubes, Kurt Elling, Ambrose Akinmusire and Tinarawen.

The Festival’s partnership with Radio 2 and 3 took the town’s Jazz Festival to more people nationally and internationally than ever before. There was live coverage every day over the weekend on the Jamie Cullum and Clare Teal shows, plus the live broadcast of Friday Night is Music night, hosted this year by Jeremy Vine. BBC television crews also visited the festival.

Artist-in-residence Laura Mvula described the Festival as ?a real music-lovers Festival’, while in its five-star review of the Festival; The Independent described it as an ?exemplary, sun-blessed event. [Where] mainstream names such as Roberta Flack, Laura Mvula and Jools Holland are the inviting entry into a bill whose substance is a broad church of compelling jazz.’

The Festival was a hit with sponsors too. Matthew Langley, Brand Manager at Weston’s Cider, said: ?We are extremely proud to be part of such a high profile and successful event. The Festival is brilliantly well run and boasts fantastic artists and audiences alike. For Weston’s, Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a real highlight of our year.’

Ian George, Jazz Festival Director, commented: ?The Festival continues to go from strength to strength and is now firmly established as the leading Festival of its kind with big names, new talent and local artists and schools all participating. It was particularly pleasing to see the town so vibrant and busy with happy visitors.’

http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com

Cheltenham Festivals is a not-for-profit organisation. In addition to Arts Council support it has to actively raise 96% of its funding every year to bring the arts and sciences live to audiences, support emerging talent, and deliver educational programmes.

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival was started in 1996.

Cheltenham Festivals runs 4 Festivals a year. The Cheltenham Jazz Festival, The Times Cheltenham Science Festival, The Cheltenham Music Festival and The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Cheltenham Festivals is a registered charity - Charity No 251765

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 30 April - 5 May 2014

The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 3-8 June 2014

70th Cheltenham Music Festival 2-13 July 2014

The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 3-12 October 2014