your comments
L Gammon and friends
We went to Brecon for an evening performance as Jazz fans. The streets were full of vomiting drunken teenagers unable to stand and urinating in the street. Foul mouthed youths and dare I say women too blocked the streets making it an intimidating place to be. It seems to me that Brecon is being sold to local communities as a good night out on the tiles and nothing to do with music. I felt ashamed to be Welsh amongst the visitors from other parts of the UK and abroad. I cannot imagine it happening in any other country other than the UK. Unless it cleans up its act Brecon Jazz will not attract the true music lovers who would like to be able to have a drink and something to eat before a concert. I suggest all drinking in the street be banned and more stringent checks on underage drinking put in place. If people want to drink only then they should stay inside the pubs. I for one won't go to Brecon Jazz again Haye Jazz is a better venue and all at ticket venues. Music and drunks in the street don't mix. The music was fine by the way!
Mon Aug 13 09:42:33 2007
Karen Moss, Bicester.
Am at the Brecon Jazz Festival again in 2007 and once again the ambience and general party spirit is second to none. The artists get better every year and the crowds get bigger. Look out for Jess Childs if you get the chance as you will be the first to see an up and coming star. She was playing in the A Frame Gallery in the Bulwark and the crowds could not get enough. Fantastic - thank you Brecon once again.
Mon Aug 13 09:35:03 2007
Lisa, Hereford
Where has all the street jazz gone? After going in 2005, and loving the music and the atmosphere, this year was a bit of a disappointment. We went to the gremlin and met some great fellow fringers who took us under their wing . Thanx guys and great singsong at the end of the night, you know who you are ....... tiger and the gang, stay cool, see you next year.
Mon Aug 13 09:27:05 2007
Debbie Edwards, Tonypandy
I have been to Brecon Jazz for three years now and every year I have really enjoyed, but I have to say 2006 festival was such a dissapointment, its lost its atmosphere since the street music has gone, what a pity, I used to look foward to August every year as I found this festival a cut above the rest, but sadly this year I don't think I will be attending as the magic has gone.
Fri May 4 07:09:46 2007
Rhian Jones from Aberdare
13th august is a memory of all people in aberdare as our friends shayne daniel and andrew died coming home from the jazz festival there will always be a lovimg memory in our heart for our friends R.I.P
Mon Feb 26 13:10:32 2007
Karin Mear, Brecon
Aug 10-12 2007
Brecon Fringe happens alongside the Brecon Jazz Festival with over 100 bands playing in local pubs, cafes etc. Most of the gigs are free, and most are not Jazz. In 2006 the Brecon Fringe Guide was launched, enabling Festival goers to know exactly who was playing, where and when. The guide was a great success and this year's Brecon Fringe is likely to be better than ever. 10-12 August. If anyone has any photos of last year's Fringe events please post them here, or send them to breconguitars.co.uk and we'll put them on the website.
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Tue Feb 6 15:41:38 2007
Lesley Hutchinson, Newcastle upon Tyne
This was our 3rd year at Brecon Jazz and I have to agree with those who have said that the atmosphere was just not there in 2006. What made it a festival rather than just a series of concerts - which we could go to at home - was the fabulous street atmosphere. Wandering between venues and coming accross street buskers and performers created the magic of the weekend. Sadly this, along with the kites which were the symbol of Brecon Jazz, were missing. Please bring back the magic of Brecon Jazz as an event for all ages and interests.
Sun Jan 7 20:06:33 2007
Imogen Webb from Suffolk
I have been to the jazz festival for the last 2 days, and i'd just like to say how much I enjoyed this year's as well. I must say it was a bit of a disappointment not seeing as many little performers on the side streets, but I know something has been done about this seeing as there were problems occurring. But I still enjoyed it ever so much. I also want to know why the ticket prices are still going up and up seeing as this could prevent future musicians of the jazz world in the form of younger children being introduced and brought onto the jazz scene...!! Anyway the event was still a success and thank you to everyone who made that possible!! xx
Fri Sep 1 13:59:07 2006
Karin from Brecon
I helped to compile the "Brecon Fringe Guide 2006" and I'm delighted to say that it received a very positive response from visitors to the Jazz festival and local people. The Fringe has always been in existence, but this year people were directed to what was going on, and where, and this might have contributed to the lack of drunken crowds wandering aimlessly around the town. They were all at Fringe gigs, behaving impeccably, enjoying the music and having a laugh! We're hoping that next year's Fringe will have even more to offer, catering for teenagers and children also. Please get in touch with us at Brecon Guitars if you are thinking of organising an event for next year's Fringe.
Wed Aug 23 09:49:47 2006
Martyn - Llandrindod
I have been a Brecon jazz festival attendee since it started. What a disappointment. In '84 Brecon jazz was billed as the Little Orleans in the Beacons. Over the years we have seen street flags , boaters, jazz on the streets and of course those famous canopies - it has become a mecca for jazz fans -- This year "NOTHING" - the carnival atmosphere that once was Brecon - did not exist.
Tue Aug 22 09:42:23 2006
Chris, Porthcawl
What happened? No atmosphere, very little contemporary stuff. Where was Wayne Krantz (again)? You used to be able to rely on there being at least one top fusion artist, but since the untimely demise of Jed Williams, the line up seems to have gone down the pan. Persistent rumours about the festival being 'nicked' by Cardiff Bay are growing too.... Very poor I'm afraid.
Tue Aug 22 09:38:20 2006
Alun Richards, London
Personally, I can get all the jazz concerts I want in London, any night of the week. But concerts alone do not make a festival. Brecon's trump card was the festival astmosphere that tied the concerts together, and made you want to come back. This year it was gone. For the love of jazz, please bring it back next year.
Mon Aug 21 09:49:58 2006
David, Swansea
There was no party feel and walking between the various venues it felt as though Brecon was getting on with a normal Sunday rather than being at the centre of a big event. Traffic was even allowed through the town centre, and as well as seeming incongruous it made it quite dangerous for pedestrians.
Mon Aug 21 09:45:59 2006
Dave Moules from Rossendale
With the absence of street music,the festival has lost its atmosphere and heart.
Music was variable as it always is at a festival. The highlights for me being the Stan Tracey Big Band and Hamilton/Sportiello sessions.Peter King/Chico Freeman was also excellent.
For the future,the organisers have a crucial decision to make - bring back the street music and festival atmosphere or risk losing the festival altogether!
I will watch with interest and seriuosly consider whether to visit Brecon next year.
Mon Aug 21 09:30:20 2006
Richard Bertin from Barry
Extremely disappointed!!!... I dont think I will bother next year. It was a very boring, very lacklustre and poorly organised event. What's going on?? Please, please bring back the street events and please do not increase your prices anymore! Come on there is so much potential in Brecon, yet lately it has been a real poor show, (of course with the exception of the Trevor Davies Band in the George!) So please come on you organisers - Get your act together!
Mon Aug 21 09:10:26 2006
Stephen Squires Burntwood
When I saw the program in advance I decided not to attend this year. However we won a generous selection of free concert tickets through the Friends of Brecon Jazz, so we went!
Compared with the previous year which was great, I thought it a very lacklustre festival. I understand the reasons for the lack of street music and do not complain about that. However though all the concerts except the final offering from George Melly were good and enjoyable, there was little to get really excited about. For me the most interesting were: Polar Bear, Courtney Pine and Gwineth Herbert. Perhaps the organisers need to consider scaling it down and concentrating on quality more than quantity!
Fri Aug 18 11:27:11 2006
Ashley Williams, Cardiff
I thought the festival could have been better organised. I atteneded on Friday and Saturday. On the Friday night I went to see the legendary Iris Williams, what a performance, it truly was inspirational,she insured high levels of audience participation and her voice was so beautiful, it left me breathless. If you can catch this ladie's performance, do so, not to be missed. However I must add that the marquee was not closed and we were cold. It also dampened the atmosphere, although with such a performance from Iris. It didn't spoil the show. To sum up, the Iris Williams concert was a once in a lfetime event. Tremendous.
Wed Aug 16 16:03:01 2006
Tim Donald, Crawley
I think that the best music over the whole weekend was offered by the "Fringe" instead of the organisers of The Jazz.
Wed Aug 16 14:27:59 2006
Jenny, Pontypridd
I'm afraid to say that this year Brecon Jazz had lost it's magic. With no music in the streets it was almost like nothing was happening, certainly not a festival. Bring back the street music or i don't think Brecon Jazz will be around for much longer. I've been going for 7 years and was disappointed this year although the closing ceremony did go off with a bang... well done Wonderbrass!
Wed Aug 16 14:02:30 2006
Gary from Brecon
E Jones writes "Obviously the ordinary people of Brecon have lost their festival"
As a resident of Brecon who isn’t a Jazz fan nor a fan of the drunkenness and the general mess that is made in the centre of the town during the festival, I am very happy that the stage has been removed from the main street.
This year’s festival did seem quieter than previous years, not such a bad thing if you ask me!
It is clear to see that of the 70,000 people who attend the festival many are not Jazz fans or attending a performance. They are clearly just in Brecon for a good weekend. ! So if the centre of town is to stay music free, I don’t think you will find many complaints from residents of Brecon.
Tue Aug 15 17:51:37 2006
Jen from Bristol
Very disappointed at this year's fest. Less concerts, less stroller venues. Why was the festival removed from the town centre? It has lost its atmosphere completely and there is nothing to do in between concerts...One good comment though - the new Brecon Fringe booklet that tells you about the local bands playing the pubs and where to see exhibitions and where to eat etc. That really saved the weekend as far as we were concerned and we saw some wicked musicians we might otherwise have missed.
Tue Aug 15 17:46:04 2006
Michael from York
I have to agree the music was fantastic but the atmosphere has gone. And because the jazz fans are crowded into the venues the idiots were left in the streets alone, whereas in the past they have been diluted by sensible fans thus stopping the scenes we saw on Saturday night. Bring back the streets and the atmosphere!!
Tue Aug 15 16:41:53 2006
Nigel Richards from Swansea
I went to the festival last year and I enjoyed myself much more due to the fact it was held in the town.
I did enjoy this year but the atmosphere was not the same and the organisers need to listen closely to the people who attend or they will start to see attendances dropping.
Look forward to next year and hopefully music back in the town centre.
Tue Aug 15 15:33:23 2006
John, Bridgend
This was our first year and superb weekend - not at the jazz concerts though. Did the fringe venues and saw some excellent bands for free! Ticket prices were a bit much, £27 for a Saturday stroller that didn't even guarantee that you could see the artist that you wanted!! Saw someone buying one at 15:00 at full price with half the day gone. Ridiculous.
Tue Aug 15 15:30:31 2006
E Jones
Well here we are again in Brecon for the Jazz Festival - 23rd year running..... Only one problem..... where the hell has it gone? We failed to find it! The essence and charm of this festival "was" that it was in the town itself. Loads of Concerts and stroller events but also a vibrant and exciting atmosphere in the streets with street music, marching bands, market stalls, local charities fundraising stunts, buskers, street theatre, you name it and Brecon Jazz had it. Yes I do mean had it. It's gone. Nothing in the main streets except a lot of very disappointed and disgruntled people with nothing to do and nowhere to go. Also, why are there military police everywhere in town? What's that about? I wonder if they are expecting to have trouble this year because of the sheer lack of entertainment? Obviously the ordinary people of Brecon have lost their festival and it's a crying shame.
Mon Aug 14 10:13:51 2006
Joanne Weston from Barry
Just returned from a day in Brecon and don't think I will bother next year. There was absolutely no atmosphere in the main street (which wasn't even pedestrianised!!). It was an effort to find any street music, and bands which were advertised never actually started playing at the time stated. Most of the toilets were only available to those using the venues, so we had to traipse to find the public conveniences.
It seems as if the organisers only want people there who are prepared to pay the ever increasing amount for a stroller ticket/or concert tickets. Those of us with families, who just want to introduce children to the jazz scene, are not really wanted.
Mon Aug 14 09:47:31 2006
