With Birmingham eagerly anticipating the UK City of Culture verdict on Thursday night, Colmore Business District (CBD) is set to bring music to the streets as The International Jazz and Blues Festival arrives in the heart of the city’s Business District this summer.
From Monday 19th to Friday 23rd July, CBD will be welcoming some of the world’s finest jazz musicians to the area as it hosts a weeklong programme of events.
Musicians include the jazz singer Becky Brine, who is visiting the District for the second time after entertaining visitors at last year’s festival. Becky will start the week’s entertainment with a performance on Monday morning at St Philips Square.
This year’s festival also includes performances in CBD by Emanuele Fizzotti, one of Italy’s foremost blues and rock guitarists and traditional jazz from Teens Jazzband Velke Losiny who are one of the most energetic and youthful representatives of the jazz tradition in the Czech Republic.
Becky, Emanuele and Velke Losiny will be joined by seven other performers who will entertain the District throughout the rest of the week, with three performances a day at various locations.
For lunchtime and early evening outside performances, visitors will be able to sit and relax on CBD branded deckchairs whilst enjoying the talent of jazz musicians from around the globe.
CBD director Diane Benussi said the partnership with the Jazz Festival was a great way to build a sense of community in the District.
“Colmore Business District is a business capital, and as such it is important that everyone who works and visits the District enjoys and takes pride in their working environment to create a vibrant business network.
“To help facilitate this we have developed a calendar to bring a variety of events to the heart of the business community. The International Jazz Festival is the first of key events that we have planned for the summer and autumn periods.
“All jazz shows are free of charge to attend and I urge everyone to take a break away from their work and join the CBD community for a week of celebrating the best in jazz.”
Jazz Festival organiser Tim Jennings said he was delighted that Colmore Business District had decided to support the festival for the second time.
“We worked in partnership last year on the District’s first Jazz Festival which formed part of our 25th Anniversary event, and it really is great to be back again in the heart of Birmingham’s business quarter.
“The festival provides a unique opportunity to bring jazz to people who may not otherwise hear it,” he said.
“Plus building partnerships with organisations such as Colmore Business District helps ensure the continued success of the festival and keeps Birmingham’s profile on the international map as a truly inspiring place to locate and do business.”
A full programme of the District’s Jazz Festival can be found by visiting www.colmorebusinessdistrict.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- A Business Improvement District or BID is a defined area within which the local business community work together and invest collectively in new projects and services that they have prioritised to address opportunities and problems that affect their businesses, staff and clients.
- The Colmore Business District BID is the third in Birmingham City Centre (joining the Broad Street and Retail Birmingham BIDs). The project will run for five years from April 1, 2009 as an independent company, Colmore Business District Ltd.
- The BID was voted in by 87.3 per cent of all those who voted, with a majority by rateable value of 90.1 per cent.
- The BID will be funded by an annual levy collected by Birmingham City Council. All business sectors will be included and a 1% levy of rateable value will be charged on all properties with a rateable value of £10,000 and above. The largest occupiers in the district will have their contributions capped.
- The 26th Birmingham International Jazz Festival will run from Friday 16th to Sunday 25th July with acts performing at venues throughout the city.
For further information please contact Suzie Branch or David Martin at BHMG Marketing on 0121 236 2871.
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