On International Women’s Day 2024, the Grand and Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues are showcasing a triple bill of inspirational talent including great women musicians, band leaders, composers, and teachers.

RVJB are delighted to be presenting Alina Bzhezhinska’s HipHarpCollective to lead our International Women’s Day concert for Ukraine. Alina is undoubtedly one of the world’s leading harpists today. She is a one-woman powerhouse, on a mission to bring the harp to the fore of contemporary sound. A jazz harpist, composer, band leader and a founder of the digital platform HipHarpCollective.

Since the beginning of the war on 24 Feb 2022 the Hip Harp collective, led by Alina, have raised over £38,000 for Ukraine. We salute Alina’s courage and continuing determination to support the people of Ukraine.

Downbeat magazine has recently hailed Alina as one of the acts redefining European Jazz. Her unique approach to the harp and her compositions are captivating in the studio but take on a whole new level when experienced live.

This is a band not to be missed.

Find out more on the HipHarpCollective – click here.

HipHarp draws from a variety of influences,” explains Alina, “Drawing from the likes of Dorothy Ashby’s ‘Afro-harping’, Alice Coltrane & Joel Henderson’s free form jazz experimentation; as well as 90s Triphop and Afrobeat…

Alina Bzhezhinska … throws a spellbinding party to awaken the senses

London Jazz News

… Bzhezhinska shares with Alice (Coltrane) a mastery of the jazz harp.

***** The Times

Elbow Room

Elbow Room were instrumental in creating the Triple Bill for International Women’s Day 2023 and we are delighted to welcome them back in 2024.

Elbow Room are a community ensemble of twelve musicians who emerged from the RVJB Women in Jazz project.  

The project provides regular rehearsal and development sessions especially designed to help women increase their musical skills in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere. Based in Clitheroe and nurtured by the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club, the group are mentored by the inspirational teacher Trish Ferrarin.

Youth

The opening of the triple bill will feature young musicians from the local area. This will be an opportunity for young women to gain experience, within a supportive environment, performing on the stage of The Grand Venue. Line-up: The amazing Petrovska Sisters. A special performance by Masha and her twin sisters, Solomiia and Sofia, who all play the bandura, a traditional Ukrainian multi-stringed instrument. 

LOCAL SUPPORT & COLLABORATION

We thank the United Reformed Church and Trinity Hub at the Trinity Methodist Church for all their help and support and we especially want to highlight the work of CUSP (Clitheroe Ukrainian Support Project) and the Ribble Valley Food Bank.