A Weekend of Jazz, Photography, and Community
What a weekend! The wall2wall Jazz Festival 2025 in Abergavenny was three days filled with music, energy, and unforgettable moments.
The festival kicked off on Friday afternoon with a warm reception in the bar, followed by a lovely set from Debs Hancock and Newman Tai. After that, I found myself on the other side of the lens for once — in conversation with Fiona Ross from Women in Jazz Media, with questions from the wonderful John Hellings. It was nerve-wracking at first (my very first live interview!), but such a rewarding experience. The evening carried on with the incredible Misha Mullov-Abbado Group, who set the tone for the whole weekend.
Saturday brought the soulful Siglo Section featuring Kat Rees, and then Sunday evening closed with Ian Shaw’s stunning tribute to Joni Mitchell and David Bowie. But before that, the festival spilled out into the streets and venues of Abergavenny. The town was alive with jazz: from the Abergavenny Hotel to the Tithe Barn, and even in the open air. There was a real sense of community, joy, and music everywhere you turned.
Another highlight for me was seeing the Her Frame, Her Sound exhibition installed at the Melville Theatre. This project, created by Women in Jazz Media, celebrates the role of women in jazz, both on stage and behind the camera. I was so proud to see my photographs taken at Black Mountain Jazz included as part of the exhibition. After a successful run earlier this year in London at the Karamel Club, it was amazing to see it travel to Abergavenny as its second stop on tour.
As the resident photographer for Black Mountain Jazz, it’s always a privilege to capture these moments. Here’s a link to the gallery with photos from the weekend — more to come soon once I’ve had a chance to go through the many, many images!
A huge thank you to all the performers, volunteers, and of course the team at Black Mountain Jazz for making this festival happen. You make Abergavenny sing with jazz every year, and I’m grateful to play my part in it.
