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  @pecangirl welcome!
  (about 17 hours ago)
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  Festival patron Pee Wee Ellis plays the American Muesum in Bath tomorrow afternoon with the superb Jason Rebello http://t.co/CNkwPWOifi
  (about 1 day ago)
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  Theo Jackson at Chapel Arts Bath, tonight, worth checking out if you're in town. http://t.co/SrfcVRYc8G
  (about 1 day ago)
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  RT @EmilyWright__: Absolutely stonking gig last night @FringeJazz with John Pearce, David Newton @willonbass and Ian Matthews. Really was a…
  (about 1 day ago)
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  Nice review of Kevin Figes' quartet's latest CD (playing Colston Hall foyer tomorrow late afternoon) http://t.co/eIQQGEuH8i
  (about 2 days ago)

We just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who made out first year such a great one! The dates for next year are now set: 6th – 9th March 2014 returning to the Colston Hall with additional venues to be added soon.

The city of Bristol played host to some of the world’s most exciting and innovative jazz musicians for one explosive weekend in March 2013. From Friday evening 1st March through Sunday evening 3rd March, the city’s flagship concert space, Colston Hall, featured over 24 individual concerts as well as free late night jam sessions and 'In Session With..' events featuring some of the top artists.

Colston Hall 1—the main room— saw performances by Cuban virtuoso Arturo Sandoval and his sextet on Sunday night. Guitar legend John Scofield brought his new project, the Organic Trio featuring Larry Goldings (organ) and Greg Hutchinson (drums), to play on Saturday evening and on Friday we welcomed Ginger Baker's Jazz Confusion, a powerhouse in African and jazz fusion.

The weekend also saw performances from UK legend Chris Barber, New Orleans official musical ambassador Lillian Boutté, funk maestro Pee Wee Ellis, local heroes Andy Sheppard and Get The Blessing, BBC radio stars Clare Teal and Alyn Shipton, and a host of other great artists.

Local groups were well represented on the free Foyer Stage which had music running all day provided by the cream of south-west jazz talent. Colston Hall 2 featured more national and international bands and was the venue for a series of workshops provided by some of the great players we had booked for the Festival.

If that wasn’t enough, the upstairs Bar played host to late night jam sessions which kicked off after the Hall 1 performance on each evening, we had a superb house band together with some of our headline artists and any musicians who chose to join in for a truly unique and inspiring session.

Make a date in your diary for next year, tell all your family and friends, and we look forward to celebrating with you at the 2nd Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival, 6th – 9th March 2014!