Deepdale Jazz and Real Ale Festival

Burnham Deepdale

> Burnham Deepdale

Fine beer and music connoisseurs were out in force at the weekend.

For the first time in its seven-year history the EDP-sponsored jazz festival included more than 30 real ales thanks to the involvement of Heacham's Fox Brewery.

Music kicked off at midday on Saturday with a selection of classy ballads peppered with Latin moments courtesy of London's Sarah Bennett Quartet.

Following the quartet came the eccentrically-named Konkoma Maximum Love Garden Orchestra, whose pumping African rhythms had sections of the crowd dancing shortly after they took to the stage.

And as the tempo rose so did the audience's thirst, with the beer stall selling out of summer favourite Heacham Gold - a light pale brew - after barely two hours.

The pulse was kept up by Glasgow's white-suited Fusion Experience, who had driven through the night from their Scottish base to play at the festival.

Unfortunately for Saturday's final act, world-music inspired Rainbow Nation, the opening of the heavens meant much of the audience drifted away as their set was beginning.

As the festival got off to a slow start yesterday, revellers were happy to have their hangovers nursed by the trad sounds of the Sole Bay Jazz Band, the majority of whose tunes were strictly pre-war.

Newcastle balladeers Jazz Girl followed with another selection of jazz standards, the trio's pared-down arrangements putting emphasis on singer Louisa Jones's voice.

And the day drew to a close in style with acid jazz stars FuDJe sending the crowd home with their feet still tapping.

The festival will do well to beat this year's line-up next time round.