The festival programmes have arrived at the office :)
This means we can start getting them out to the venues, tourist offices and all the people who ordered one.

Best Wishes

I don't know how many of you like to stop on the streets and listen to buskers, maybe even give them a couple of spare coins you have lying in your pocket. If you see a person with a charity box at any of the Jazz Festival events, it won't be for the artist. For the past twenty years, the generosity of Birmingham International Jazz Festival has paid for the training of a guide dog by the 'Guide Dogs for the Blind' charity. The lucky dog then goes on to be named after a noted personality in that year's Jazz Festival. This year he or she is going to be called Whitby, after the head of Birmingham City Council - Mike Whitby. A good name for a dog if you ask me.
If you see a person with a blue charity bucket with a plastic dog on top (like a doggy bank) at any of our events, don't forget to give generously to a great cause.

Room Service

Hello to all the wonderful Jazz Festival goers coming to Birmingham from out of town this year.
Did you know that this year, some of the best hotels in the city centre are not only housing our artists and acting as performance venues, but offering great deals to the public too?
At venues including the Copthorne, Hotel Du Vin, Ibis Birmingham Centre, Menzies Strathallan Hotel, nitenite cityhotels and the official hotel for the Festival, The City Inn. You can be not only in the centre of Birmingham, close to the many shops and attractions the city has to offer, but in the centre of the Festival as well. Artists such as the John Patrick Trio, Becky Brine, Kel Elliott, Mellow Harmony Avstreich Baku, Sally Night, Django's Castle, Carol Sudhalter, Paul Sawtell, Alan Barnes Quartet, Tim Kliphuis, Bourbon Street Stompers, Bobby Woods, Misinterprotato and Craig Milverton could be playing in your hotel lobby, with some nifty collaborations taking place. The City Inn is also host to the wonderful exhibition of 'jazz photos of Birmingham 2007' by Merlin Daleman.

Here's an outline of the offers. Remember to ask for the special Jazz Festival Rate and contact the hotel directly on the numbers given below.

The City Inn - From £65 weekends, from £119 weekdays. Brunwick Square, Brindleyplace
0121 643 1003

The Copthorne - From £60 weekends, from £79 weekdays. Paradise Place
0121 200 0600

Hotel Du Vin - from £99. Upgrades available whenever possible. 25 Church Street
0121 200 0600

Ibis Birmingham Centre - £58.50, 21 Ladywell Walk
0121 622 6010

Menzies Strathallan Hotel - from £39 weekends, from £49 weekdays. 225 Hagley Road
0121 455 9777

nitenite cityhotels - £44.95, Centenary Plaza, 18 Holliday Street
0845 890 9099
To view a map of the location and get the full contact details please see out venue list.

If music be the food of love.....

The 2008 Taste of Birmingham event is taking place on July 11-13, at Cannon Hill Park. The Jazz festival is going to be there in the afternoons, serenading your ears as your tastebuds get similar treatment. The midland's finest restaurants are taking part and music will be coming from the Swedish Jazz Kings, Mellow Harmony Austreih, Tiptina, the Hammond organ trio Pedalmania and Misinterprotato, who join us all the way from Australia.
This combination of music and food, arguably two of the best things in the world, should be a great experience for the lucky attendees.

For more information visit channel4.com/taste

Quick Festival Update

The Jazz Festival is nearly upon us, so here's a quick update.

The printed programme is in the final stages of preparation, and to be sent to the printers today, and will be with us within a week or so. If you want to request a copy then head to www.birminghamjazzfestival.com send us your details and request a programme.

If you wish to volunteer and be a part of the Jazz Festival then visit www.birminghamjazzfestival.com, fill in the form and we'll get right back to you.

For all details regarding artists / performance times / venues and ticket prices visit: www.birminghamjazzfestival.com.

Birmingham Jazz Festival welcomes The Cobweb Collective

The Cobweb Collective promotes some of the most enterprising young bands in Birmingham, with a strong link to the Conservatoire. Four bands due to be showcased are: Lydia Glandville Trio, Sam Wooster Trio, Jimmy Brewer Trio and Ben Kane Trio. See them on Thursday 10th July 2008 at The Yardbird Jazz Club (9pm).
www.cobwebcollective.com

Jazz Festival Comments

It's always nice to hear people saying nice things about the festival.
Here's a nice post on Created In Birmingham: http://www.createdinbirmingham.com/2008/05/29/24th-birmingham-international-jazz-festival/

The programme is coming along nicely and is soon to hit the streets.
Visit www.birminghamjazzfestival.com to sign up for updates, to volunteer or just for more information on the festival, it's always nice to hear from you and to hear of your ideas to help us create the best kind of Jazz Festival.

More soon......