'Let's turn Sidmouth into New Orleans by the sea' - latest news on the town's new jazz festival

'New Orleans by the sea' is the vision of Sidmouth being put forward by the organiser of the town's new Jazz and Blues Festival.

Ian Bowden says he wants to 'bring the streets alive with music' when the first festival takes place in the first week of June 2022.

He's revealed a wish list of well-known artistes he hopes will perform, and while nothing's confirmed yet, he's 'actively approaching' all of them, as well as many other musicians.

His idea is for an event similar to the Folk Festival, with a mix of big-name ticketed events and free performances, including 'fringe' concerts at various venues. There will be a free food and drink festival in Blackmore Gardens, free music, singing and drumming workshops, and a 'late night lounge' with an ambience similar to the London jazz club, Ronnie Scott's.

He said he also wants the event to 'go into the heart of the community', taking music into care homes and schools, engaging with people of all ages: "Wouldn't it be great if we could take some of those people in care homes, of a different age group and generation, back on a journey to experience some of that music they remember growing up and listening to all those years ago, that's a very important part of what we're trying to do."

'I basically fell in love with Sidmouth'

Ian, who lives in the south-east, has been the director of the Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival since he launched it in 2012.

He told Sidmouth Nub News he decided to hold a similar event in Sidmouth when he visited for a wedding last October.

He said: "I basically fell in love with Sidmouth. I stayed there for three days, and drove to Beer and loads of little villages, and I thought, 'well we've got to do something here'.

"I made my mind up pretty much on the morning of the wedding that I was going to launch the festival, and I came back home, and I haven't stopped working on it since."

Ian's proposals immediately struck a chord with Sidmouth Town Council when they first discussed the idea in December, as reported by Sidmouth Nub News – read the article here.

On Monday, March 8, he attended the council's Zoom meeting to give a progress report.

The Sidmouth Jazz and Blues Festival plans so far

He's planning a 2,000 capacity seated concert venue at The Ham, with a VIP area for sponsors to entertain clients, and the 'late night lounge'. Around nine concerts will take place there.

There will also be up to four concerts at Sidmouth Parish Church, and community performances by local bands in Connaught Gardens.

Ian is in talks with various hotels about providing fringe venues, and has also received a positive response from the local rugby and cricket clubs.

He's working with potential sponsors, including breweries and gin manufacturers, and insurance companies.

He will also be working with the Big Lottery Fund, the Arts Council, the Sid Vale Association and the Co-op Community Fund to help finance the Sidmouth festival.

But he told the town council: "We'll tailor-make the festival to fit the budget and the finance we raise."

He said it will take the rest of this year to get the plans for 2022 into place, as he has to obtain all the necessary licences before booking artistes.

But he's told Sidmouth Nub News that he's planning to hold a 'taster launch event concert' in July this year, to give Sidmouth a flavour of what's to come and share the latest plans in more detail.

Ian said he's very pleased that the town council, the Chamber of Commerce and the local MP Simon Jupp have all been 'incredibly supportive' of his plans, and he's looking forward to filling Sidmouth's streets with music.

He said: "It's not always necessarily all about what and how you do something, but equally as important is where you do something.

"In a lovely way I guess that Sidmouth chose me."