Blackpool Blues and Jazz Festival's first day a 'success'

With acts from all over the world performing at the town’s Winter Gardens yesterday and today, creative director Stephen Pierre says he was overwhelmed with the turnout.

“I think at its peak there was around 500 people here, which I’m very happy with,” he said. “It has been a great success and we’ve got acts from Budapest, Scotland and London who just come to the festival for the love of music.

“What we want to do is try to help Blackpool attract a wider demographic. Other places have surpassed us when it comes to arts and culture so we want to change that.”

The free festival began yesterday and continues today with any donations being given to Trinity hospice in Bispham.

And Stephen says he wants the festival, which is in its second year, to grow to the size of Blackpool’s Rebellion Punk Music Festival.

“Rebellion has grown and grown and we want to do the same,” Stephen said. “The next thing we need is some real financial backing and someone who can get our website up to standard. However, I’m quite happy to keep putting it on however big it gets because the hospice is such a worthy cause and I have a great team of people who help me, who I couldn’t do it without.”

Like yesterday the event runs 11am until 11pm at The Winter Gardens today, with acts such as Ann Nolan performing who toured with Frank Sinatra in the 70s as part of the The Nolans.