This event brings together distinguished international academics and dynamic Northern artistic and musical performers for a truly unique event. Leading Civil Rights scholar and author of the landmark text, Just My Soul Responding: Rhythm and Blues, Black Consciousness and Race Relations, Professor Brian Ward from Northumbria University will give the keynote address on “Freedom Sounds: Music and the Civil Rights Movement”. The other academic speaker will be Dr. María Rocío Cobo Piñero from the University of Cadiz whose paper will look at 1920s Jazz and Spanish flappers. Our performance element will showcase the links cotton establishes in the nineteenth century between enslaved Africans and the Lancashire working class using song and dance. This will be delivered by the ballad singer and clog dancer, Manchester-based Jennifer Reid and the black British performance artist Jade Montserrat from Scarborough.

Line-up: Coordinator: Prof. Alan Rice. Participants: Professor Brian Ward (Northumbria) & Dr. Maria Rocio Cobo Pinero. Lancashire Clog Dancer: Jennifer Reid. Performance artist: Jade Montserrat.

Preston Jam is a brand new music festival curated by the University of Central Lancashire in partnership with the Ribble Valley Jazz Festival. The festival will be delving into jazz, exploring all its diverse forms from rap to hip-hop to electronica. Whether you are part of a band or just passionate about music, come along and experience the feeling of freedom music can create by exploring the different styles and genres that the 21st century has to offer.

The festival will run from Saturday 25 March to Saturday 1 April, with a variety of musical and academic events including community events, seminars and gigs with an opportunity to get involved in the local music scene.

Supported by Arts Council England Lottery Funded Grants for the Arts

For enquiries contact Rosie on 01772 894106 or RLulat1@uclan.ac.uk