Ticket sales at the 2015 Lockerbie Jazz Festival hit records levels, increasing by 20% from last year, with attendance exceeding 1,200.
Audience feedback to this year’s programme has been very positive, with praise for the American visitors: Melba Joyce and Stephanie Trick whose visit was supported by the US Embassy and for the range of different bands at Take Five. Ruby Turner exceeded all expectations delivering exciting and dynamic performances in Lockerbie and Gretna.
Most importantly, for us, the artistic quality of the Festival was excellent. It is difficult to single out shows, but audiences were particularly thrilled by Rose Room playing with Konrad Wiszniewksi, Stephanie Trick’s duos with Paolo Alderighi and the comic antics of Budapest Ragtime Orchestra.
Support from Hollywood Trust and Robertson Trust enabled over 50 young people from the DG area to work with top Scottish jazz musicians Richard Ingham and Richard Michael creating the Dumfries and Galloway Youth Jazz Orchestra who performed to a capacity crowd during Take Five.
The Festival opened with a reception for the tenth year of the Festival, attended by The Right Honourable David Mundell MP (Secretary for State, Scotland), Susan Wilson (Principal Officer US Consulate) and Councillor Colin Smith (the Events Champion for Dumfries and Galloway Council) as well as musicians Melba Joyce, Stephanie Trick, Paolo Alderighi and Festival Director, Derek Gorman (picture attached).
Councillor Colin Smith, the Events Champion for Dumfries and Galloway Council said: “I am delighted that the Lockerbie Jazz Festival goes from strength to strength it brings economic benefit to the town and surrounding area and presents great quality music for residents and visitors alike!”
Derek Gorman, Director said: “This has been an outstanding year for the Festival, with appeal to a huge range of people. We offered something for everyone, and the formula worked. The Festival is on a roll!”
