Venue announces latest high-profile festival collab

Premier independent world music venue The Jam Jar has notched up another world-class festival collaboration.

Shambala is the latest to support the St Jude’s venue’s fundraising efforts by donating a portion of ticket sales to their Support the Jam Jar campaign.

The venue welcomed a similar ticket-sales support scheme with renowned world music festival WOMAD and, in a collaboration with stellar folk promoters Ear Trumpet Music, brought a high-calibre eclectic mix of local and global performers to the Yard Stage at Valley Fest.

Over the last decade The Jam Jar has become the go-to venue for world-class global artists, both local – such as Sisanda Myataza – and from further afield – photo: Paul Lippiat

It’s the latest way that Shambala, the beloved August bank holiday weekender that takes place in Northamptonshire, have solidified their local roots.

The brainchild of Bristol’s Kambe Events, the festival runs a guided cycle ride from Bristol to the site each year in an effort to reduce audience use of carbon-heavy transport, where the footprint from audience, crew and artist travel was nearly 500 tonnes of CO2e in 2023, equating to over 50 per cent of the entire event’s emissions impact.

They also typically feature a host of Bristol artists, and this year is no different: British-Norwegian alt-pop outfit Ålesund; soulful Portuguese singer Diogo; doom act Empires of Dust; emerging indie new-jazzers Frau Nima; electronic jazz act G.T.Q; east-meets-west producer Indian Man and beatbox-backed Murmuration Choir all hail from Bristol.

They join local sweet indie-folk outfit Kitwhistle; danceworthy quartet La Lune; and trad folk heroes Fitty Gomash; while kora wizard Suntou Susso is backed by a high calibre band of well-known local musical faces, and much-loved lyricist Dizraeli is well connected with the city. That’s before even giving a nod to the Bristol-heavy DJ list.

 

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The pair also share a love for world music, as evident in Shambala’s ever-more diverse lineup which this year is headed up roots reggae royalty The Congos but also includes zamrockers Mokoomba; Ghanaian Frafra singer Florence Adooni; extraordinary violinist Akram Abdulfattah and conservatoire-trained oud player Saied Silbak, both from Palestine; and the hypnotic Moroccan psyche of the Gnawa Blues Allstars.

There’s also Estonian looping duo Puuluup; Iranian percussionist Mohammad Reza Mortazavi; feminist voodoo powerhouse Nana Benz du Togo; Moonchild Sanelly’s irresistably riotous beats and bass; Senegal-to-Berlin techno collab Ndagga Rhythm Force; and global soundsystem Arrival Sounds bringing reggae and dub from Jamaica, Brazil, Nepal, Finland and Mexico.

Shambala’s Becka Whiteley says the venue and festival have always had an affinity.

“The Jam Jar is one of our favourite grassroots venues, and they play a crucial role in platforming fantastic, emerging artists, many of whom have since appeared on Shambala’s stages,” she says.

“Music venues and festivals are crucial parts of the same ecosystem, and are facing the same challenges. We believe that strengthening our ties and supporting each other is the only way through this difficult economic climate.”

Shambala, which was born in Bristol, is much-loved for its stellar music lineup, environmentally sustainable ethos and second-to-none atmosphere – photo: George Harrison

The Jam Jar, founded ten years ago in a disused industrial unit, launched its fundraising campaign after suffering a fire in 2022 and an insurance battle in 2024. These events, coupled with financial challenges facing the grassroots music scene post-covid and Brexit, and exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, forced the venue to reckon with financial destitution.

Since announcing their campaign, they have successfully raised thousands of pounds, which has put them on a secure footing, though more is needed to render the venue’s future sustainable.

Co-founder and director Hadie Abido said: “We at The Jam Jar are overwhelmingly grateful for the support offered to us this summer by our friends at Shambala Festival.

“It is heartwarming to see independent festivals leading the way when it comes to ticket kickbacks in support of grassroots venues.

“We have discovered many amazing bands at Shambala, and are humbled to see their stalwart commitment to the venues where they have discovered artists themselves.”

There are still tickets available for Shambala – buy one via this link to contribute to the Support the Jam Jar campaign.

Main photo: George Harrison

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