IT'S a live music extravaganza this Bank Holiday weekend with an all day Jazz Jamboree, an eclectic Big Bash and a German oompah band kicking off ten days of music in Rochford.

Organisers at the Preview Club in Prittlewell, the Ecko Sports and Social Club in Southend and Blanchfields Bar in Rochford are all pulling out the stops with stages, top bands and hours of quality live entertainment.

ALL DAY SOUTHEND JAZZ JAMBOREE

The Original East Side Stompers will be headlining this event on Monday, August 27 which starts at mid-day and runs through till 11pm.

"After Southend Council withdrew funding for the Jazz Festival last year, I decided to put on something of my own," says Gary Glede who runs the jazz nights at the Social Club in Southend and at the Estuary View Jazz Club in Leigh.

"There's a big jazz following in this area so I wanted to give them something like the festival. Last year went really well, so hopefully this year will be just as popular."

The Liberty Hall Stompers will kick off the fun at 12pm, followed by Bob Allbut's Essex All Stars. The Washboard Syncopators will take over the stage at around 4pm, followed by the Worried Men Skiffle Group, Bill Freeman's Happy New Orleans Jazz Band and the Original East Side Stompers to close the show from 9pm onwards.

There will be dancing throughout the day, a raffle and food.

All Day Southend Jazz Jamboree

Monday, August 27

Ecko Sports and Social Club Thornford Gardens, Southend

12pm until 11pm Tickets: £12 01702 482683

ROCHSTOCK

Famous for its beer festivals, Blanchfields Bar, Southend Road, Rochford will become home to a ten day marathon of beer and music starting this Friday, in honour of 75 years of being twinned with German town, Halten.

"Chairman of Rochford Council, Keith Gibbs, asked me to brew a special beer to celebrate the anniversary," says landlord Steven Lunn.

"But we decided to give the whole festival a German theme and introduce some music."

Highlight of the event will no doubt be the German Oompah Band being brought in to kick start proceedings this Friday night. The band, featuring Dave Helmut' Cole, Herr Lip, Fraulein Karline and Heimi Winklestroker have previously performed on Channel 4's So Graham Norton and tickets are selling out fast for their Rochford debut.

Tickets are £2 and must be purchased in advance.

The entertainment continues Saturday with a free concert by country rock band the Hogs Head and a swing jazz band on Sunday. On Monday, August 27 and Thursday, August 30 the beer festival gets going when over 40 beers will be on sale to try.

On Friday, there will be more live music from jump jive band the Zoltans and on Saturday everyone can join in with the barn dance hosted by the Famous Potatoes.

On Sunday, September 2, Rochstock comes to a close with the Big Drink Up, where all beers are £1.75 all day and you can take some home.

The event will be held under a big marquee in the car park of Blanchfields and will be open from mid-day until 11pm from Friday, August 24 until Sunday, September 2.

Rochstock

Friday, August 24 until Sunday, September 2

Blanchfields Southend Road, Rochford

12pm until 11pm Tickets: Various prices - all tickets must be bought in advance 01702 544015

BIG BASH

It's been the home of live music for the past 23 years and this weekend the Preview Club will get a breathe of fresh air when it's taken outside for three days of top acts and quality artists.

The Big Bash starts this Friday, August 24 in the car park of the Spread Eagle, Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend and continues on both Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Once a year the club's live music goes al fresco and this year is no different, with a wide range of entertainment from Beatles covers to ballads, jazz to Latin, country to blues, country blues and blue grass.

The whole thing is completely free and performers include Dave Woodcock, Candelabra, Mum Duz Voodoo, Apache John, Mick and Anne, the West Brothers, Bob Collum, Simon Routh and Silver Needles.

Big Bash

Friday, August 24 until Sunday, August 26

Preview Club, Spread Eagle Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell, Southend

7.30pm until 11pm Admission: Free 01702 213674