EALING JAZZ FESTIVAL 2016 - BAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS

THE BAD NEWS IS:- • The Council has ridden rough-shod over the values that have underpinned Ealing Jazz Festival’s success for the past 30 years: it is now 2 days not 5, no longer locally based, with an untested new artistic focus, a 40% higher admission price and they have perfunctorily dispensed with the services of the co-founder/organiser. This is why most of the Ealing based bands that have appeared in the past, declined to play at the festival in its new format. The changes were presented by the Council as “saving money”, yet they have spent disproportionate amounts on “big name” artists when there is no more capacity for larger crowds than have packed out weekend performances by good local bands in previous years. They have repeatedly failed to supply requested information to justify their actions. THE GOOD NEWS IS :- • With the considerable help and enthusiasm of a major Ealing pub we have organised a one day Jazz Festival at the Drayton Court pub in Ealing on Sunday 21st August – see details below. The festival will be hosted by Ealing Jazz Festival founder Dick Esmond and is very much “back to the roots” of the famous Ealing Jazz Festival of the past 30 years, featuring bands and musicians who have supported it over that time. • Admission to the Festival is free. • The pub has an extremely large and attractive garden and we hope for the support of many of the 2000 people who signed this petition to join us to enjoy a fantastic day of jazz. There are then definite plans to increase this Festival to three days next year.