00:03Welcome to The Mailbox and I'm currently with legendary Jim Simpson.
00:08Jim, how do you feel today and what can our viewers expect to see and experience over the next 10
00:15days?
00:16What I feel is relieved that the thing has started.
00:21There's been so much music over the next 10 days.
00:24I advise anybody to get a festival programme, it's a free 64 page A5 booklet.
00:29It's absolutely free, there's so many shows.
00:31Go and see a band of a style you've never seen before.
00:34There's so much great music out there which doesn't get exposed on mainstream media.
00:38You can only discover it by hearing the guys live.
00:41I'll tell you what, when musicians are at the best in a live gig with a real audience appreciated,
00:47the cross flow between the audience and the band and the audience, that's what makes it so exciting.
00:51And there's certainly lots of performances, around 170 odd perhaps?
00:57179, yes.
00:57That's quite a lot of performances over the next 10 days.
01:02Tell me, are you looking forward to a particular performance?
01:06Do you have your favourites at all?
01:08For me, seeing the old jazzers coming up to town.
01:13The cream of the old jazz stars of the 60s and 70s are still around and they're legends.
01:19Dave Green, for instance, a double bass player, a childhood friend of Charlie Watts.
01:22He grew up with Charlie, he played in 26 albums of Charlie Watts.
01:27He's here as our house bass player in the rhythm section back in the stars.
01:31He just loves being here.
01:32Wow.
01:32And it's like the old boys reunion at the hotel afterwards.
01:36We're at the Clown Harrow, it's a festival hotel.
01:40The after-hours sessions are terrific.
01:42They go on well into the night.
01:44I bet they do.
01:45I bet they do.
01:46And how can viewers find out a little bit more?
01:48Where can they access information from?
01:50Our website www.bigbearmusic.com
01:55Our phone number is 0121 454 7020.
02:01That's fantastic.
02:02And for someone that's considering coming along to this year's festival and has never been,
02:07what words of encouragement would you say to them?
02:10Do you like having fun?
02:11Your life fun?
02:13Do you like having your whole lifestyle interrupted and suddenly discover records
02:17and spend your whole life at the Discreate buying old-fashioned jazz records?
02:20You can't.
02:21Good words indeed.
02:24And just in closing, the launch was a really fantastic event.
02:29Do you get emotional at these events?
02:30I get very proud to see all you important people there.
02:33No, seriously speaking.
02:36I feel humbled by it all.
02:39There's so many people who I respect who are really just enjoying the music.
02:43They just help you to go forward.
02:45Jim, on that note, thank you so much and good luck with the festival.
02:49You're very kind.
02:50Good to see you.
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