Swanage came alive with music in the summer of 2001, as the town’s jazz festival reached a high point.
For one weekend, the quiet seaside resort pulsed to the sound of New Orleans jazz.
In mid-July, the 12th Swanage Jazz Festival sold out and cemented the town’s reputation as a jazz centre.
A record 30 bands took over the town, while twin marquees filled Sandpit Field.
The festival opened with a musical boat trip, but Saturday’s parade was the highlight, filling the narrow streets with musicians and brightly coloured New Orleans-style umbrellas.
Jazz FM’s Campbell Burnap and the Bob Hunt Ellington Orchestra mingled with fans in local pubs, creating an intimate atmosphere.
All 750 daily tickets sold out, proving the festival had put world-class jazz firmly on Dorset’s map.
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By 2025, Swanage Jazz Festival was described as having a 33-year tradition of showcasing world-class talent.
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