Ealing’s Walpole Park is the scene for a number of summer festivals, including those dedicated to jazz, blues and comedy. In fact, Ealing claims to be the birthplace of British blues, its connections with the British blues boom including The Ealing Club, opened in March 1962 by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies, and the nearby presence of Jim Marshall’s music shop in Hanwell, where the Marshall amplifier was conceived. The blues fest this year takes place 1-2 August.
Ealing’s jazz festival dates back to 1984, and this year takes place on the weekend of 25-26 July. The Saturday programme is rooted in groove-led acid jazz, crossover sounds and what the festival calls “heritage influences”. Among those announced so far are Galliano, the Steve White trio, and New Street Adventure. On Sunday the focus shifts to a more contemporary “global and forward-looking sound”, with a bill including Pete Horsfall & Electric Relaxation, Artie Zaitz‘s Hammond Combo and “a showcase of the new London jazz movement” devised by trumpeter Mark Kavuma and his Banger Factory Records.
Ealing’s jazz festival takes place at Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, London, W5 5EQ. More details of all Ealing’s summer festivals – and tickets – can be found at ealingsummerfestivals.com.
