Kelham Jazz Festival is set to arrive in Sheffield for its inaugural year on 21 March, bringing a one-day celebration of live jazz to nine bars and pubs across Kelham as the area comes alive with music.
The main stages will be hosted at Yellow Arch Studios, Peddler Warehouse and Tool Maker’s Brewery, while a strong fringe programme will take over Church, Factory Floor, Alder, Neepsend Social Club & Canteen, The Harlequin and Shakespeare’s.
The bars will each have a unique vibe. While Harlequin will stick to something more traditional, there’ll be modern DJ-led tunes at Peddler, and Alder will be playing experimental jazz beats. Plus, Church will host the student performers including TRACKS Music School, University of Sheffield and Leeds Conservatoire students.
Danny Tenant, Managing Director for Kelham Jazz Festival, shared how the Kelham bars became inspired to start the event. “We just felt as if it was something that the city deserved.
“Often Sheffield can get overlooked. We have the talent here, locally, we just needed to provide a platform”.
After realising Sheffield was sorely lacking a jazz festival – an event that many northern cities already have – the venues began preparing. They’ve already hosted three successful fundraising events, ready to make Kelham Jazz Festival as fun as it can be.
For the big day, the venues and organisers are dedicated to promoting local talent. Out of all of the performers, 47% are from Sheffield and 97% are Northern.
Danny hopes to see the festival become an annual event that could include an outdoor location and a summertime date.
“Our true hope for it is to be a part of Sheffield’s annual cultural calendar.
“Fingers crossed it will become a staple of Sheffield with people travelling from everywhere to come and see Sheffield talent.”
The festival will run from 12pm – 3am on March 21, with an afterparty at Factory Floor. For specifics of the line-up and to purchase tickets, check out their website here.
