JAZZ RE:FEST turns virtual for 2020

Like many annual festivals, this year's Jazz RE:FEST will be hosted online

Published 11th Aug 2020

Renowned music and arts organisation JAZZ RE:FRESHED will bring its annual festival JAZZ RE:FEST online this year, as part of a digital strategy to keep UK jazz thriving while venues are closed, and continuing to support musicians whose performance opportunities have dwindled as a result of the global pandemic.

JAZZ RE:FEST 2020 will be taking place between 5-9pm BST on Sunday 23rd August. The virtual showcase, held at The Mill studios behind closed doors (with social distancing measures in place), will be streamed on Jazz re:freshed's YouTube channel.

The amazing four-hour show will feature performances from breakthrough and established acts including Binker Golding, Sahra Gure, Steam Down, Ms Maurice, Golden Mean, Jas Kayser and Anthony Joseph, bringing the festival’s signature atmosphere and excitement directly into viewers’ and listeners’ homes.

Saxophonist Binker Golding (a former Jazz FM Award winner) is nominated for 'Instrumentalist of the Year sponsored by Hampstead Jazz Club' and his album Abstractions of Reality Past and Incredible Feathers was put nominated as part of the all important public vote category 'Album of the Year sponsored by Arqiva'.

JAZZ RE:FEST is an annual one-day festival produced by JAZZ RE:FRESHED, celebrating jazz and jazz-inspired music and culture. Usually hosted at Brighton Dome, the festival was recently cancelled due to COVID-19 related venue closures and will now take place behind closed doors at The Mill studios in London.

As a not-for-profit organisation, Jazz re:freshed will be encouraging donations on its YouTube channel from festival viewers.

Adam Moses, co-founder of Jazz re:freshed says: “Despite barriers, we are still on a mission to celebrate a genre and musicians whose performance opportunities are severely reduced right now, and to showcase the incredibly diverse, colourful, expressive and creative world of jazz music and alternative culture. The festival has been the perfect launchpad for pioneering artists such as Moses Boyd and SEED Ensemble, and it’s great to return with a mix of fresh talent and established acts.”

JAZZ RE:FRESHED is nominated for both Digital Award sponsored by Oanda and Innovation Award sponsored by Arqiva at the 2020 Jazz FM Awards.