News

The programme of Birmingham Jazz festival has six concerts by the Lithuanian musicians.  On 5 and 6 July three concerts of the trio “Sheep Got Waxed” (Simonas Šipavičius – saxophone, Paulius Vaškas – guitar, Adas Gecevičius – drums) performed at  „The Brasshouse“, „The Mailbox“and „The Arcadian“clubs. The name of the trio derived from the artists’ family names Šipavičius – Sheep, Gecevičius – Got, Vaškas – Waxed. From 9 to 11 July, the Lithuanian vocalist Giedrė Kilčiauskienė and pianist Andrejus Polevikovas will perform at „The Brasshouse“, „Marco Pierre White“ and „The Lord Clifden“ clubs.

During the visit to Birmingham, Ambassador of Lithuania Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė congratulated the Lithuanian participants of the festival and wished them every success in their performances.  “I encourage you to use this opportunity to showcase our country and the great responsibility given to all of us to preside over the EU and help your listeners to discover modern, open and creative Lithuania”, said the Ambassador.

The idea to include the Lithuanian Jazz performers into the programme of Birmingham Jazz festival was discussed during the international music fair MIDEM2013 in Cannes, where Jim Simpson, director of the festival met with representatives of the Lithuanian Jazz federation.  Director J. Simpson (who, by the way, had been long standing manager of the legendary rock band “Black Sabbath”) was mostly impressed by the vocal uniqueness of Giedrė Kilčiauskienė (according to Jim, he had never heard anything like that before) and the energy and expression of the band „Sheep Got Waxed“, who do not keep to the strict jazz canons.