The venue for the first edition of the festival was on the ground floor of Bongate Mill,[3] where Neil Ferber lived, with a concert by the Stan Tracey Quartet. The second edition was again at Bongate Mill in May 1990, with performances by Don Weller and Bryan Spring. Due to some licensing difficulties, the venue for the following festival was moved to the Appleby Castle.There was a performance by the Stan Tracey Octet.[4]
Due to the increasing number of visitors, in the following years the festival was held in marquees along the banks of the Eden river, also using the redundant church of St. Michael[5] for smaller, free improv. concerts recorded for the Free Zone Appleby series.[6] The main genre was straight-ahead jazz, with the cream of British jazz such as Alan Barnes, David Newton, Stan Tracey, Peter King, and the likes of Evan Parker, Barry Guy and Phil Wachsmann in the free improvisational Free Zone.[7]
Discography
Live at Appleby by Don Weller Quartet (Appleby Jazz Festival 1999)
Quiet Moments - Ballads from Appleby Jazz Festival 2000 (various artists) - Friends Exclusive CD
Free Zone Appleby series (Appleby Jazz Festival 2002–2007)[6]