International Jazz Banjo Newsletter

Yes – that’s right!...The BBF. Already there is a plan for its reconstitution. Martin Jennings-Wright is the Manager of The Little Theatre in Bath. It’s a 180-seater put up in the 1920s with a stage, and shows films. It has lovely acoustics. And best of all it’s right in the middle of Bath. Martin wanted to come to the Banjo Festival last year but had to visit his brother – who also plays the banjo. So he decided to come to the Festival this year – only to find that it had been cancelled. Not to be daunted, our Hero wrote to me and asked what was happening, and then asked if I be interested in organising a concert at the Little Theatre as an experiment. So this is what’s happening.
This year, as something which could be organised quickly, we are putting on a concert with Leon Hunt (highly progressive bluegrass) in a 4-piece band and Elias Sibley. The concert will be before and after a showing of the Channel 4 documentary Echoes of America, which features banjo players from both sides of the Atlantic.
Apologies to all other banjo players who want to hear some of their sort of music, but this really is a small try-out, with the hope and expectation that it will be bigger next year!
The Little Theatre is down a cul-de-sac off the main pedestrian area of Bath, and so is in the middle of an array of small cafes and pubs. But the Little Theatre is also licensed to sell alcohol, so we shall be having seats and tables outside in the street. Come along from about lunch time on the day (Sunday August 6th) and sit around and chat and play. It will be adequately signed. There are several large and cheap car parks in the city. If you come by train or bus, simply walk towards the town centre, and a little to your left. The evening concert and film will cost about £6-7 (not sure yet), and we’ll be able to have a session afterwards.
We shall reformulate the BBF next year as a two-day event, perhaps as part of the Bath Music Festival or the Guitar Festival. The new Festivals organiser is much more open-minded that the last one, as she has added a street carnival and a jazz session to the range of entertainments. And since the Guitar Festival is running at the same time this year, you can have even more fretted fun!
Look forward to seeing you there.
Bath Banjo Festival,
August 6, 2006,
Little Theatre, Bath.

Julian Vincent.