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Oxjam Music Festival begins in Leighton
Full programme for three weeks of music in aid of charity.
OXJAM swings into action tomorrow (Saturday) in one of the most exciting music events the town has hosted in years.
Venues throughout the town are being used to host the event which runs from March 6 to 27.
Oxjam 2010 is hoping to build on the success of last year's inaugural event when more than 20 gigs were held and over 3,300 raised for Oxfam.
The three weeks of music launches with a bands night at Leighton Library Theatre that's being headlined by Canterbury. (see below for full details).
Latest additions to Oxjam - Leighton's charity music festival - includes an evening of blistering jazz from The Oxjam Jazz Club at Leighton Middle School on March 16.
Starring Claire Martin, multi-award winning, international jazz vocalist and co-presenter of BBC Radio 3's, Jazz Line Up plus an all star UK jazz band featuring Bruce Adams (trumpet), Karen Sharp (sax), Gareth Williams (piano), Arnie Somogyi (bass), and Clark Tracey (drums).
For one night only, six of Britain's leading jazz musicians will be getting together for an exclusive charity gig. Along with the glittering line up, there will be a bar, catering, and a special raffle that includes 'Signed Surprise' from jazz-pop legend, Jamie Cullum, one year's membership to Ronnie Scott's Club in Soho, signed CDs from some of Britain's top jazz musicians, and much more.
The event is being supported by Heart Radio presenter Babs Michel who is compring a gig on March 13 at the Leighton Buzzard Theatre and hopes to run a disco at the theatre aimed at the town's young people.
One of Britain's top bluesmen, Giles Hedley, is also set to appear.
Giles Hedley and the Aviators, one of Britain's foremost rootsblues performers,will be headlining the Oxjam gig.
Giles has been delighting UK and continental audiences since the sixties, along the way playing with some of the great names of blues.
They have a nationalfollowing for their funky, entertaining style andGilesregularly plays to packed crowds at smaller venues like the Wheatsheaf in Leighton.
Also on the bill will be the M-Maniacs (the staff band from the MusicMaker Academy), The Volume Brothers and Spills and Thrills.
Up-to-date information on all events and any new ones may be found on the Oxjam pages at www.iloveleightonbuzzard.com
LEIGHTON BUZZARD OXJAM FESTIVAL 2010 - UPDATED PROGRAMME
Saturday, March 6:
Oxjam Bands' Night. Organised by Denial Promotions. Headlined by Canterbury, Leighton Buzzard Theatre, Lake Street, 8pm. Tickets 6 from Theatre box office (0300-300-8125.For more information contact Denial Promotions, www.myspace.com/denialpromotions
Sunday March 7:
Fairtrade Leighton Linslade's Jazz night, with Lou's Sextet.The Grove Lock pub, Grove, 6pm. Free. Raffle for Fairtrade Leighton Linslade and collection for Oxjam.
For more information contact Angela Feaviour angela.feaviour@btinternet.com
Wednesday March 10:
The Heath Band Open Rehearsal, Heath Barn, 8pm–10pm. Free. Collection for Oxjam, plus opportunities to request a tune and try conducting! For more details contact Pete Farmer peteandlynfarmer@btinternet.com. Founded in 1933, the Heath Band is a progressive and very popular brass band based in Heath and Reach. See www.heath-band.co.uk
Wednesday March 10
Sheaf Session with Isabelle, the Magazines and Lost Minute, The Wheatsheaf, North Street, 8pm. Free. Collection for Oxjam
For more details contact Tim Grover tgrover_uk@yahoo.co.uk
Friday March 12
Organ recital by John Wearmouth, featuring music by J.S.Bach, All Saints Church, Church Square, 1pm. Free. Collection for Oxjam
Friday March 12
Jazz Concert featuring Orchestral Manoeuvres in Jazz, plus Groova and Karen Sharp with students, Vandyke Upper School, 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm). Admission 5.
From swing to rock, Orchestral Manoeuvres in Jazz are a 19-piece big band that gives everything that special jazzy feel, For more details contact Graham Cook cook-the-books@number-cruncher.co.uk
Saturday March 13
Oxjam Open Air Music, with Joe & Frankie Inzani, The Leighton Buzzards, The A-Stars, Gary Bass,Gilbert Inglefield Samba Band, groups from the Saturday Morning Music Centre, plus others.
Town centre, in front of the Market Cross, 10.30am-3.30pm.Free. Collection for Oxjam.
Come and hear a wide variety of music and song while doing your shopping! Further details from Edmund Flach Edmund.Flach@btopenworld.com.
Saturday March 13
Oxjam Gig with headline band Giles Hedley & the Aviators, plus the M-MAniacs (the MusicMaker Academy staff band), The Volume Brothers and Spills & Thrills, Leighton Buzzard Theatre, 7.30pm – 10.30pm.
Tickets 10 (5 students) from Theatre box office (0300-300-8125)
Reviewed as"one hell of an entertainer,a master of early blues, and guaranteed to deliver", GilesandtheAviatorsplayfunky, grippingroots-blues with earthy slide and steel guitars, a unique harmonica style,powerfulvocals andadventurous bass and drums right upin the mix - asoundquite unlike other British blues bands. Four times a guest on Paul Jones's Radio Two blues show, Giles has been delighting UK and continental audiences since the sixties, along the way playing with some of the great names of blues. Check out www.gileshedley.com for more info.
Tuesday March 16
The Oxjam Jazz Club.
Guest Star Claire Martin, multi-award winning, international jazz vocalist and co-presenter of BBC Radio 3's, Jazz Line Up plus an all Star UK jazz band: Bruce Adams (trumpet), Karen Sharp (sax), Gareth Williams (piano), Arnie Somogyi (bass), and Clark Tracey (drums).
For one night only, six of Britain's leading jazz musicians get together for an exclusive charity gig. With a glittering line up, bar, catering and a special Charity Jazz Raffle including 'Signed Surprise' from jazz-pop legend, Jamie Cullum, One Year's Membership to Ronnie Scott's Club in Soho, signed CDs from some of Britain's top jazz musicians, and much more! Tickets 5. Prizes worth hundreds! All for Oxfam.Jazz evening with Arnie Somogyi & friends, including Claire Martin.
Leighton Middle School Hall, 7.30pm.
Tickets 12 (concessions 7.50, under 16s 5) from CocoaBerry (6 Hockliffe Street - 01525-381341 – www.cocoaberry.co.uk.
Wednesday March 17
St.Patrick's Night Travelling Folk Session, open to all local folk musicians, town centre pubs, including The Sun, The Top Bell, and The Golden Bell. Free. Collection for Oxjam.
Full details of the pubs and times to be posted on www.iloveleightonbuzzard.com.
Last year's travelling session was an amazing experience with the group taking over each pub and transforming them into Irish country locals! Not to be missed!
Wednesday March 17
Meadow Way Community Singing Group Open Rehearsal, Meadow Way Community Centre, 6.30 - 8.00pm. Free. Collection for Oxjam.Singing: The Meadow Way. An open charity rehearsal with Leighton's warmest and most inclusive community group. Join in the fun and bring songs. Further details of the group at www.bedfordshiremusic.com
Thursday March 18
Choral concert, South Beds Youth Voices & the Grand Union Community Choir, Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, 7pm. 5 (3 students).
Come and hear the local youth choir, and our very own community choir! Further details of the choirs at www.bedfordshiremusic.com
Friday March 19
Classical Concert by Perth House Academy.
Programme including Five Easy Dances for Wind Quintet by Denes Agay and Grand Nonetto by Louis Spohr, Hockliffe Street Baptist Church, 8pm.
No entrance fee, but suggested minimum donation 5.
Perth House Academy are: Lesley Newing (violin); Hannah Perry (viola); Rosemary Simons (cello); Pam Cross (double bass); Keith Attenborough (flute); Julie Every (oboe); Tim Mackley (clarinet); Ian Every (bassoon) and Toby Hill (Horn). Contact Keith Attenborough for more information: K.Attenborough@open.ac.uk
Friday March 19
Live pub gig with The Bunker Hare Boys, The Bedford Arms, Old Road,
9pm.Free. Collection for Oxjam.
The Bunker Hare Boys are a bunch of noodling neanderthallounge lizards caught trying to play those songs that time forgot from the 60s to 90s.
Saturday March 20
The MusicMaker Academy Big Gig, featuring Academy bands.
MusicMaker Academy concert hall, 3 Boss Avenue, Grovebury Road.
7pm. Entry 2, plus collection for Oxjam
The MusicMaker Academy delivers outstanding group and individual tuition for all ages and standards in guitar, bass, keyboards, piano, drums and vocals. Visit: www.musicmakeracademy.co.uk or email: info@musicmakeracademy.co.uk
Saturday March 20
Classical concert by the Fujita Trio (violin, cello & piano). Presented by Leighton Buzzard Music, Leighton Buzzard Theatre, 8pm.
Tickets 12 (5 students) from the Theatre Box Office (0300-300-8125). There will be a retiring collection for Oxjam.
Programme to include works by Haydn, Mendelssohn and Beethoven.
Sunday March 21
Big Band Concert with the South Beds Concert Band and South Beds Schools Concert Band, St.Barnabas Church, 3pm.Free admission.Collection for Oxjam.
Wednesday March 24
Live pub gig with Blues Control,The Falcon, Stanbridge Road, 9pm–11pm.
Free. Collection for Oxjam.
Friday March 26
Live pub gig with Paradox, The Crown, North Street, 9pm to midnight.
Free. Collection for Oxjam.
Saturday March 27
Saturday Morning Music Centre Concert, Vandyke Upper School, 11.15am.
Entry 1.00. Collection for Oxjam.
Further details of the Music Centre at www.bedfordshiremusic.com
If you want to know more, or would like to help with running the festival, contact Edmund Flach (378262, email Edmund.Flach@btopenworld.com).
All profits go to helping Oxfam's work in countries around the world. For more information visit www.oxfam.org.uk/oxjam
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
