The festival will be held between the 8th and 10th of October 2021. Marsden Jazz Festival is one of the longest-running jazz festivals in the UK.
Although not in Saddleworth, Marsden is a stone’s throw away over t’hill in proper Yorkshire. It’s the next stop on the Greenfield to Huddersfield railway line and about 15 minutes away by car. You can even walk there over the Pennines in a couple of hours, it’s a splendid hike.
The Marsden Jazz Festival is a truly fabulous weekend of music and fun and is a festival that never takes itself too seriously despite having a roll call of some of the best Jazz musicians in the country. The line up for 2021 has not yet been announced, but rest assured it will be magnificent (as always!)
In 2018 over 800 musicians performed over the two days, and 2019 saw as many and then some, performing to a couple of thousand visitors to the beautiful village of Marsden set on the River Colne in West Yorkshire. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the COVID19 pandemic.
The highlight of the weekend for many is the parade held on the Saturday that sees a plethora of performers parading down Peel street through the centre of the village, and like the children following the pied piper of Hamelin, the crowd goes with the flow. This is a very interactive parade, you are not required to stand on ceremony. Expect something magical and something unique from the musicians, it’s always a bit wacky, and always a lot of fun.
The festival is well known for not only attracting world-renowned and established artists, but also for providing a platform for youth groups and early-career musicians to have an opportunity to share their talents with a receptive audience. There is really something for everyone as well, with traditional jazz mixed in with experimental sounds and there are some incredible and even some crazy performances from an eclectic mix of musicians.
Check out the Marsden Jazz Festival website for more details.
Marsden is a super village located at the other end of the Standedge tunnel and is very similar in style and history to the villages of Saddleworth having prospered through the production of woollen cloth. It’s got some great little restaurants, the Olive Branch slightly out of the village on Manchester Road is one of the best in the region, and the River Head Tap who brew all their own beers is a superb place to stop off for a pint. Their Butterley Bitter is so wonderful, it’s worth a trip over the hill just for a pint, and in fact, I make it a priority to head there every time I’m back in Uppermill.
More information about Marsden can be found here.
If you are heading to the festival I hope you have a fabulous time, it really is a spectacular weekend, the setting is just perfect and the welcome to visitors is always warm, even if the weather isn’t.
Cheers and beers and Jazz
Cliff
Click here see a list of the events and festivals going on in 2019/20 in Saddleworth.
Pots & Pans Cottage is a charming L shaped 18th-century weavers cottage located in a small hamlet 10 minutes walk from the centre of Uppermill in Saddleworth. If you are interested in visiting Uppermill and exploring beautiful Saddleworth then click on the book now button below to view the prices and availability and make a booking.
