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Bix Fan from UK Ready to Kick Up His Heels

One of Bix Beiderbecke's biggest fans traveled from Britain to enjoy the annual jazz festival in Davenport. 

26-year-old Jonathan Holmes is a BBC journalist based in Bristol, and Thursday, he stopped by the Bix Porch Party at the downtown library. 

The music of Don Estes and the Prairie Ramblers helped music lovers get in the mood for this year's Bix Beiderbecke Jazz Festival. But Jonathan Holmes is excited already. He's been looking forward to this trip for months.

His love of music from the 1920s and 30s started when he read The Great Gatsby in school, then watched the movie from the 1970s. Holmes has collected 1,800 records of Bix and others over the years. He even brought some for Josh Duffee, Music Director of the Bix festival.

"Bix's music has something for everyone. He wrote happy and sad songs. And I think people should really listen. It may sound a bit scratchy, but you have to get past that and hear what they're playing."

The Bix fan brought along his vintage suit, bow tie, and dancing shoes so he can dance while all the bands play during this year's festival. The schedule is posted below.

Bix Jazz Festival 2017 Band Schedule by Michelle O'Neill on Scribd

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.