MUSIC-lovers can jazz it up to their ears content in Broughton-in-Furness next weekend.

The biggest names on the north west jazz circuit will congregate in the pubs, restaurants, halls, the parish church and al fresco in the square to make the village swing.

From Dixieland to rags, stomp and blues all genres of the toe-tapping music will be on offer during the first festival of jazz from September 22 to 24.

Fun-loving scousers, The Blue Magnolia Jazz Orchestra, will be one of the highlights of the three-day event when they play a free concert in the square on Sunday afternoon - weather permitting.

Formed in 1968, the eight-piece ensemble are widely travelled around musical festivals picking up accolades on the way.

At the Den Bosch festival in Holland they beat off competition from 100 other European hopefuls to win the band of the year award.

Combining stylish music with quick Liverpool wit the emphasis is on entertainment.

The Magnolia's line up includes clarinet, trumpet, sax and trombone with drums, piano, banjo and double bass in the rhythm section.

The dapper Zenith Hot Stompers, one of the Midlands premier trad-jazz bands, will play with singer Judy Eames while The Rae Brothers New Orleans and Vieux Carre jazz bands bring talent from the North of England.

Matt Palmer jazz band will be marching into Broughton Parish Church on Sunday with a gospel singer for a service with a lively musical edge.

Paul Loftus, who has been organising the £6,000 event, said the bands were a coup for the usually quiet village and he hoped this is the first of many musical festivals to come.

On the Saturday night there will be a nostalgic 50s style dance in the Victory Hall, when Derek Jenkinson's 16-piece big band will be making big sounds to jive to with popular Les Bulls Festival Jazz Band also on the bill.

Tickets for the dance are £10 and an all-weekend stroller ticket, which allows access to all areas, is also £10.

Both are available from Broughton Village Bakery on 01229-716284.