SWINDON Jazz Society has stepped into the breach and saved the annual jazz festival and it's only costing a fraction of what the council estimated it would need to go on.

In January, Swindon Arts was wound-up by the council and the jazz festival was put at risk, although it attracts thousands of people to the town. At the time, the council said it would cost £140,000 to stage, but now Swindon Jazz Society says it can put on the festival for just £6,000.

The event will run from June 22 to July 4 alongside the Old Town Festival, with stars such as Max Brittain, John Coverdale, Peter King, the Stan Tracey Quartet with Bobby Wellins and Alec Dankworth, Cleo Laine's son.

The jazz society has been involved with the past

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three festivals, run by Swindon Arts, in an advisory capacity.

It has been working hard to drum up funds and gained sponsorship from Nationwide, which has have backed the festival for the past two years.

Dave Knight, chairman of the society, said: "We were invited by the Old Town Festival committee to organise a couple of jazz nights and it rapidly developed. We decided to take on the jazz festival and felt we were capable of doing it within three per cent of what the council estimated it would cost.''

The Swindon Jazz Society is well qualified for the task as it has been running successfully since 1962 first in the Arts Centre and for the last three years at the Kings in Wood Street.

Each month the society holds a concert booking artists from all over the UK and abroad.

Dave said that the festival is aimed at all music fans and all ages.

"We have everything from classic 1920s jazz, Orleans, trad jazz and right up to date with ska, funk and fusion,'' he said.

The sixteen artists will be playing at a variety of venues throughout Old Town including The Kings, Picklejohns, and Panache, in Wood Street, Fusion in High Street and Pizza Express in Bath Road.

The grand finale of the festival is at the Phoenix Theatre in New College when the legendary pianist Stan Tracey will round off the festival.

This year's festival will be going back to its roots as a less formal event more of a stroll from pub to pub rather than centred in one venue, and a marching jazz band, The Adamant Band who will parade through The Lawns from 11.30am to 2pm on Saturday July 3.

The original Swindon jazz Festival was organised by Ray Butt from Fretless and Friends in 2000 and took place in the pubs of Old Town.

Some events are free and others are between £5 and £8 with a special advance jazzer ticket for £20 which gives entry to the five main events excluding the Stan Tracey finale. Tickets are available from (01793) 826856 or 791043.

fharrison@newswilts.co.uk