Rising costs have forced organisers of this year’s Bridgnorth Jazz Festival to seek sponsors for the first time.
Those behind Jazz Bridgnorth have admitted they are struggling to meet the costs of staging the three-day event and have called on local businesses to help.
Organiser Tim Lord said the event, which is in its 10th year and attracts more than 500 people to the town, said last year’s event recorded a loss and added it needed support to help keep it running.
And he said a number of sponsorship packages would be on offer, including four tickets for the event being sponsored, the chance to display company banners and logos and free advertisement in the Jazz Bridgnorth 5,000 events programmes.
The festival will run from October 26 to 28 and events will be held at a number of locations in the town.
Mr Lord said: “The cost of staging such an event, which draws large visitor numbers to Bridgnorth, has increased in recent years and so the organising committee has taken the decision to offer a limited number of sponsorship opportunities to local business who would like to support this year’s Jazz Bridgnorth festival.
“We started struggling because it had always been precarious to run the festival, last year we actually made a loss.
“We’ve also lost valuable funding from local authorities so we’re really struggling this year.”
Mr Lord said this year’s festival would feature more than 25 artists, including internationally acclaimed trombonist Roy Williams, violin virtuoso Mike Piggott, Digby Fairweather, Laura Collins and many more.
As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations there will also be a tribute to Louis Armstrong and the Allstars, Bateman Brothers Band, a French evening and a jazz trail throughout the bars in the town.
The festival will take place at venues around the town, including the Bassa Villa, the White Lion, the Old Castle Inn and the Kings Head.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a gig at the festival is urged to contact Mr Lord on (01746) 765737 or 07710 242446 or e-mail him at tim.lord01@btinternet.com