Drybroughs Dixieland Jazz Jamboree @ Newcastle - Sept. 4 - 6, 1983

Jazz Festivals come and go. Some last forever others less so whilst others flicker, burn brightly only to disappear as quickly as a candle on a table after the punters have left.

Such an event was the The First (and last) Drybroughs Dixieland  Jazz Jamboree that took place in, and around, Newcastle in Sept. 1983.

The Edinburgh brewery sponsored the Edinburgh Jazz Festival that year and it seemed a good idea to give the American bands the opportunity to pick up some extra bucks across the border.

Director of operations south of the border down Bigg Market way was local pianist Dick Straughan.

American bands: High Sierra Jazz Band; Natural Gas Jazz Band and Buck Creek Jazz Band along with Bob Barnard's Jazz Band from Australia and the West Midlands based Tommy Burton Trio played gigs as did local bands such as the River City Jazzmen, Savannah Syncopators, Savoy Jazzmen, Black House Ragtime Orchestra, Heritage Hall Stompers, New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, Vintage Jazzmen and the Panama Jazzmen.

It should have been a roaring success but, unlike Edinburgh with its floating population of tourists, Newcastle fans had to adjust their lunch hours where possible and I don't think many did.

It would be interesting to hear from those local musicians who did take part - Lance.