Introduction

In the 1950's, Ken Ramage, a young Glaswegian was doing his National Service. He liked the Moray/Nairn area and when he was de-mobbed, he started up a wholesale fruit and vegetable business. He was very successful, got to know a lot of people which was to prove invaluable in later years.

In 1957, there was a concert in Glasgow with Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Petersen, amongst others. Ken went and enjoyed it so much that he wanted to share this music with others. Many years later having sold the main part of his business, through hard work and his extensive network of contacts, he set up the Nairn International Jazz Festival.

The very first concert was in Inverness, with Herb Ellis, Ruby Braff and Carol Kidd and was combined with a cookery demonstration - there were thirty-five people in the audience. The next year Scott Hamilton, the world-famous tenor saxophonist, played at Brodie Castle. The media publicised this never-before news item - a jazz concert in a Scottish castle - this gave the Festival a great boost. In 2002, the 13th, ticket sales were up by 1500.

For extra venues, Ken persuaded a Forres shop, MacKenzie and Cruickshank (a old fashioned ironmongers shop on High Street), to have a single guitar player perform in their staff break room for about an hour. This made a marvellous small venue, with a relaxed atmosphere. However, not everyone was keen enough to listen to a third session of jazz in one day! The keen jazz afficionados probably prefer the Newton Conference Centre, where the sound is really good.

Many prefer the concerts held at Findhorn, in the Universal Hall, an apt name as Ken's aim is to share the joy of jazz with everyone. For Ken, there are three main elements to jazz - the excitement, the surprise and the beauty and joy of the music. Regulars would add friendliness and the accessibility for all ages.

Some venues are upstairs, but the two main venues - the Newton Hotel Conference Centre in Nairn and the Universal Hall at Findhorn, have facilities for wheelchairs and people who have difficulty in walking. Ken has negotiated a deal with the Newton Hotel where a jazz supper, bed and breakfast, costs £65 per night. There are also plenty of cheaper Bed and Breakfasts establishments in the local area.

Attendees can either buy a complete festival ticket or purchase individual tickets, if you don't want to go to everything. Musicians and the public mingle and converse.

Adapted from an original article by Maggie Black

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Contact Information

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Telephone: +44 (0) 1309 674221 (Office)
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Address: Ramage Jazz (Nairn) Ltd, 136 High Street, FORRES, Scotland, IV36 1NP
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