The festival started life in 2008, alongside the Artemis Transat transatlantic yacht race, and we’ve been programming superb jazz and blues from outstanding local, national and international artistes since that time.
This year, we are in a flotilla of waterside events, moored up alongside Plymouth’s Classic Boat Rally and the Port of Plymouth Regatta.
We have teamed up with those maritime happenings to create a waterside bonanza of classic boats, dinghy sailing, yacht races and good, good music. We’ll be based around West Pier – look out for lots of free music on here, beneath the Prawn on the Barbican.
There’s music on the water as well: we’ve got a fantastic, harmonica-fuelled Blues Cruise, with Johnny Mars, Michael Roach and our own harpman Thomas Ford on Saturday’s briney bill. Plus gypsy jazz fans can enjoy the Classic boats in sail to a soundtrack of Hamer & Isaacs on the water on Sunday.
Of course, there will be sounds of jazz and blues on dry land, with gigs at The B-Bar on Castle Street (which is also Festival HQ for all your festy questions), Plymouth Gin, Bacaro and further inland at dBs-Live (see listings inside for venue details). The National Marine Aquarium hosts a jazz-umbrella workshop.
Whilst you’re here in Plymouth’s historic quayside quarter, we encourage you to experience the Barbican’s atmosphere, shops and varied places to eat and drink.
But above all, we encourage you to get down to some great music from excellent musicians.
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