Music / News

Venue teams up with festivals to boost world music offering

By Ursula Billington  Wednesday Jul 17, 2024

The Jam Jar has lined up a pair of high-profile festival collaborations this summer.

The global music venue based in St Jude’s is partnering with WOMAD, the annual celebration of all things world music, to bolster their Support the Jam Jar campaign.

Afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi is one of several WOMAD favourites that have performed at the Jam Jar – photo: Eddy Hubble

The venue will receive 15 per cent of each ticket to the festival sold through their unique link. Funds raised will help tackle the rising operational costs and artist fees that caused 125 independent venues to close in 2023 alone.

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WOMAD, the world of music, arts and dance set up by Peter Gabriel that has been running for over 40 years, welcomes 40,000 festival goers each year to its site near Marlborough, an hour outside Bristol.

Over its ten years of programming, the Jam Jar has hosted many WOMAD acts including afrobeat star Dele Sosimi and Gnawa rockers Bab L’Bluz.

“Being long time fans of WOMAD, we are humbled by the team’s kind offer of support during the hard times we currently find ourselves in,” said Hadie Abido, the venue’s cofounder & director.

“We have so much gratitude for all those who have supported us thus far. Thanks to them we will continue to give up and coming musicians the platform they deserve in Bristol long into the future.”

Bristol  folk hair-raisers Sheelanagig are performing at WOMAD this year and will also be appearing on the Jam Jar x Ear Trumpet Valley Fest takeover – photo: Sheelanagig

The Jam Jar has suffered recent setbacks including a fire in 2022 that resulted in a three-week, peak season closure, followed by an 18-month insurance battle.

They launched a fundraising campaign in April 2024 to avoid financial destitution, rapidly raising thousands of pounds to save the venue. The partnership with WOMAD will build on this foundation of support.

“We’re pleased to be raising funds and awareness for Jam Jar,” festival director Chris Smith said.

“WOMAD is a proudly independent festival and we feel it is particularly important at the moment to support this grassroots, independent venue which is helping provide a valuable platform for musicians from all over the world.”

The Jam Jar is also joining forces with folk specialists Ear Trumpet Music on a Valley Fest takeover that will bring an eclectic lineup to the Chew Valley festival.

Their Yard Stage programme features Afro-House duo Raz and Afla and Ghanaian Frafra soul artist Florence Adooni alongside locals China Bowls, Sheelanagig, Ichi and Omega Nebula.

“We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to platform artists and musical styles from the far reaches of the globe to an audience in the south west,” said Abido.

“We strongly believe that experiencing the finest examples of culture can help break down barriers between people & bring us closer to a position of mutual understanding & respect.”

Main image: Garry Jones

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