The South Glos Post

Following the success of last year’s Jazz Festival at Chipping Sodbury, plans are well underway for a second Jazz Festival in 2012.

Last year’s inaugural festival was a big hit with jazz fans and featured Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen as the main headline act.

“It was so well received by residents and supported by local businesses that the 2012 Festival will be a little more ambitious,”

commented Mark Lloyd, Chair of organisers Sodbury Chamber of Commerce.

The 2012 line up all ready includes jazz legend Acker Bilk, who will play with his Paramount Jazz Band; Jacqui Dankworth, considered to be one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing and daughter of Dame Cleo Lane, and the late Sir John Dankworth; and Terry Lightfoot, internationally acclaimed clarinettist, saxophonist and vocalist and prominent ever since the traditional jazz revival in Britain in the 1950s.

The Sodbury Jazz Festival will take place from 28th – 30th September, but jazz fans won’t have to wait until then to enjoy their favourite music.

“We are holding two concerts earlier in the year to raise awareness and support for the main Festival,”

explained Mark Lloyd.

More about the concerts planned for 2012 »

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A Christmas Market featuring an extended farmers market, high quality gifts and crafts and seasonal live music is to be held soon in Chipping Sodbury.

With Christmas just around the corner, the market on Saturday 10th December, organised by Sodbury Chamber of Commerce, offers a relaxing day out with a wonderful choice from local farmers and producers alongside gift and craft stalls.

A feast of seasonal music will keep shoppers entertained throughout the morning, including: Chipping Sodbury School Choir, Rednock School Brass Group, Round the Edge Community Choir and the Harmonica Group.

The market begins at 9am with accompanying music from 9:30am.

Parking in the town is mostly free with a car park located to the rear of the High Street in Wickwar Road.

Shop Local, Shop Sodbury says the Chamber of Commerce »

Source: Sodbury Chamber of Commerce

Staple Hill’s ‘Christmas on the Hill’ Festival will be taking place this year on Saturday 10th December. The annual festival has become a firm fixture in Staple Hill and always promises to be a fun day for all the family.

Free entertainment takes place throughout the afternoon at venues around Staple Hill, however the highlight of the day is undoubtedly the parade of local groups and brass bands through the town centre at 1pm.

Labour councillor Shirley Potts has been organising the event since it started and has seen it go from strength to strength. Cllr Potts (Labour, Staple Hill) said:

“Christmas on the Hill is always a wonderful opportunity for the whole community to get together to kick off our Christmas festivities.  It is fantastic to see our local residents and visitors making the most of everything that Staple Hill has to offer.”

Chair of the Staple Hill Regeneration Partnership, Cllr Ian Boulton (Labour, Staple Hill), said:

“Christmas on the Hill plays an important part of our work to continue to develop Staple Hill’s reputation as a great place to live and work.  We’re looking forward to a festival that promises to be better than ever”

The countdown has begun for GLOSSFM’s annual winter broadcast which begins on Monday 31st October and runs for four weeks.

“We’ve got a month of great programmes lined up and you can find details of all them all on www.glossfm.org,”

said programme scheduler Chris Mountain.

“We have tried to put like-minded programmes together so the listener knows what they are getting at a particular time. For example, Wednesday and Saturday are rock nights, Thursday evenings feature indie, alternative and acoustic, and Sunday is jazz and soul night. Also listen out for dance, club, oldies, reggae and Latin music.”

“During the daytime there will be plenty of opportunities for the listeners to get involved with discussion and interviews about local issues. We’ll also be putting the spotlight on local history and giving a full rundown of what’s on. And the element of humour is strong as always in our broadcasts.”

To listen, tune in on 87.7 FM, or log on to www.glossfm.org.

If you’ve got a local event that you’d like to publicise on air, go to the GLOSSFM website, click on Get Involved, and leave the details under Contact Studio. If you’re interested in promoting your business or product, click on Advertising.

More: Station bids for full-time licence »

Source: Gloss FM