Aberjazz 2024: Jazz Music Festival in Pembrokeshire
Fishguard's annual music celebration over the August Bank Holiday
If you’re a music aficionado, clear your diaries for August Bank Holiday. One of Pembrokeshire’s most well-known and highly regarded music festivals invades one of the region’s prettiest harbourside towns for five days of music celebrations that you do not want to miss. We are of course, referring to Aberjazz 2024.
Celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2024, it is safe to say that Aberjazz is one of the longest-running events in West Wales and it’s clear to see why it comes back year after year. Hosted by the North Pembrokeshire town of Fishguard, once famed for being the location of the last invasion of Britain in 1797 (an unsuccessful attempt by the French under the guide of Napoleon), Aberjazz guarantees a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable weekend for all who attend.
What is the Aberjazz Festival?
Aberjazz is a five-day celebration of world music with a strong emphasis on jazz and blues sounds. The event aims to spread joy through the medium of music, with live performances taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
As with any music festival, you’ll be able to attend an entire array of performances - some of which are ticketed concerts and some are free “pop-up” events. You’ll also be able to attend workshops where you might even expand your knowledge of the Welsh language, learn dance, discover how to play guitar and more.
Where does Aberjazz 2024 take place?
Musicians, performers, bands and music listeners descend on the small but mighty town of Fishguard in North Pembrokeshire. You can purchase event tickets in advance for the ticketed concerts where prices range between £10 and £25.
You’ll also be able to attend free performances in some of your favourite pubs and restaurants throughout the town as they host special music nights as part of the town-wide festival. Expect musical numbers at the likes of Ffwrn, Peppers, St Mary’s Church and Cresswell’s.
Almost Modern Jukebox at Aberjazz 2022 © Phil Blackmore
When is Aberjazz in 2024?
The 2024 Aberjazz jazz and music festival takes place between the 22nd and the 26th of August, the August Bank Holiday Weekend. It will kick off with an opening party on Thursday before culminating with a closing party on Monday 26th - after a weekend of music, of course.
About Aberjazz 2024
Visitors to this year’s festival are in for a real treat as with some excellent talent lined up for Aberjazz 2024. Plus there's a fantastic calendar full of other exciting events to keep the whole family entertained all weekend.
Ffwrn, a quaint restaurant and bar on Fishguard's Main Street, is hosting the kick-off event with a duo of musicians performing from 1pm on Thursday 22nd August. Jonathan Nicholas, a vocalist and guitarist, will be joined by harmonica player and vocalist, Ted Crook - both of whom have appeared at Aberjazz festivals of years gone by.
The first day will also see performances by Matthew Frederick, the Moscow Drug Club, Dave Ferra & Katie Bradley, The Gin Bowlers and The Sharon Clancy Trio take place at Ffwrn, Theatr Gwaun and Peppers.
The headliner act for Aberjazz 2024 is Lady Nade Sings Nina Simone at 6pm on Friday 23rd August at Theatr Gwaun. Boasting one of the most distinct voices in UK music, Lady Nade is honouring the late, great Nina Simon with a high-energy performance dedicated to the musical legend. Expect a fantastic band and an even better atmosphere.
Throughout the weekend, you’ll be able to take in dozens of performances from the likes of guitar and blues harp duo, The Bluesome Twosome as well as The Chalk Outlines who are a brass-fuelled ska roots 8-piece band. The James Oliver Band is practically a regular to the Aberjazz Festival stage and is best known for being crowned as the 2020 UK Blues Award Emerging Artist of the Year; he'll be playing in Ffwrn on Saturday 24th whilst singer, Lowri Evans will be performing later that day in St Mary's Church.
Take in a concert from Welsh quintet Coltrane Dedication, enjoy the music of Cardiffian singer-songwriter Bella Collins or take in gypsy-jazz and attend the Billy Thompson gig during this Pembrokeshire music festival. Irish songsmith Jack O'Rourke will be performing with his piano whilst The Boogaloo Babes will be showcasing their 1940s swing style with a little bit of Mowtown and modern thrown in, with their signature vintage twist.
If swing is your thing, you won't want to miss King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and you should carve out some time across the weekend to see the local Pembrokeshire band, The Numbers Racket, who are guaranteed to get you on the dancefloor with their swing sounds. Catch a performance from pianist Adrien Brandeis, take in music from The Bluesters or book tickets for local trumpeter, Ben Thomas, who will be performing with pianist Jim Barber.
At 4pm on Bank Holiday Sunday, take to the streets to sightsee The Aberjazz Parade led by the Aberjazz mascot dragon and Les Zoings, a London-based fanfare brass marching band. This walking procession will march through the town to the Aberjam open mic area where you'll find further live performances, workshops, street food vendors and a bar.
Aberjazz 2024 comes to an end with a Closing Party at Ffwrn led by multi-instrumentalist, Suntou Susso. Expect an enchanting performance as he shows off his talent on the kora, a harp-lute with 22 strings. Mixing in further percussion instruments and singing beautiful vocals, this end-of-festival party is sure to be a hit.
Billy Thompson at Aberjazz 2022 © Phil Blackmore
How to buy tickets and get involved
Head over to aberjazz.com to purchase your tickets in advance and see the full line-up for the weekend. You can also stay updated via the Aberjazz Facebook page.
History of Aberjazz, Fishguard
It might be hard to imagine nowadays, but Aberjazz began in 2004 when a group of local jazz enthusiasts took it upon themselves to arrange a musical event in the small harbour town of Fishguard. Originally it was held in the last weekend of October and was primarily all about jazz.
A couple of years later in 2006, the event was moved to its new home of August Bank Holiday and the organisers decided to broaden the appeal by introducing blues music to the line-up. Cut to 2008 when the event was taken over by new management and Aberjazz as we know it was born, with a fuller event calendar that expanded into the rest of the year.
The last twenty years or so of the Aberjazz Festival have seen some incredible world-famous musicians play including the likes of Jacqui Danworth MBE, Courtney Pine, Paul Jones and Andy Fairweather Low. We can’t wait to see what the next twenty years of the festival has in store!
Coastal Cottages Holiday Cottages in Fishguard
Fishguard, previously a Viking settlement, is a small and friendly coastal town which comes to life on market day (Thursday). The small shops, galleries and restaurants are of particularly high quality and the town also hosts a fantastic annual international music and arts festival in July.
Thanks to Phil Blackmore for the Aberjazz photos used in this article.
