Calstock taps its feet to first Jazz and Blues Festival
The first Calstock Jazz and Blues Festival has proved a resounding success, with venues around the East Cornwall village filled with music enthusiasts throughout the weekend.
Alastair Tinto, the festival's chairman, said: "It's been absolutely amazing, every single event has been packed out or has exceeded our expectations.
"Not a single event has lost money and there hasn't been a single event that hasn't worked."
The inaugural festival has seen a busy schedule of performances from some of the top names in the jazz world, including Clare Teal, Nicolas Meier and Dave O'Higgins, as well as an array of workshops.
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Mr Tinto added that Calstock is full of creative talent, and the festival was a great opportunity to show it off.
"There's a wonderful, festive atmosphere and people have really got behind it," he said. "One of the unique selling points is that every single venue in Calstock has put on jazz. Every single place has been involved, that's really focused our minds on all kinds of jazz."
Events today included the Jazz Cafe Songs Premiere at The Old Chapel. Jazz singer and vocal coach Helen Porter had worked with a team of composers, writers and singers, as well as children from local primary schools, to produce a collection of new songs for the festival.
With the festival drawing to a close today, organisers are already thinking about next year.
Mr Tinto explained that this year the festival had secured a grant from FEAST, a partnership between Arts Council England and Cornwall Council, which had helped them to launch the event. Although they won't get that funding again next year, Mr Tinto said the overwhelmingly positive response to this year's festival meant the foundations have already been laid for a similar success in 2013.
For more photos from the Jazz Cafe Songs Premiere click here.
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