FREE GIGS ...around town

in association with Cheltenham BID

Enjoy unmissable gigs as jazz takes over the streets, pubs and clubs of Cheltenham

Dance your way into the Bank Holiday weekend as Cheltenham turns into one big jazz party. From pop-up performances and open-air stage sets to partying in Cheltenham’s pubs, bars and clubs late into the night, Cheltenham Jazz Festival …around town is back with more jazz, blues, soul, rock and everything in between – for free.

Bringing you up-and-coming national artists over the Festival, including the best local talent, expect an eclectic mix of free performances from morning til’ late in venues across the town centre.

In association with

Spotlight is Cheltenham Festivals’ year-round talent development programme. It offers a wide range of opportunities for all ages to engage with jazz and provides an invaluable platform for up-and-coming talent, helping to inspire and support performers throughout their career.

Emerging jazz artists receive invaluable career advice from industry professionals at the Festival.

Jazz Exchange

Our annual Jazz Exchange concert at Parabola Arts Centre welcomes students from the prestigious Siena Jazz-Accademia Nazionale Del Jazz in Italy, collaborating with players from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – two top institutions for studying jazz performance.

Encounters

Jerwood Jazz Encounters supports jazz musicians to develop and create new work in unusual spaces, encouraging them to expand their practice and take new risks. This year’s Festival includes the premiere of Waves II, a ten-metre-long sound sculpture, created by Andrew Woodhead. See page 18 for further details.

Showcase

Opening doors for emerging artists who have previously taken part in ...around town, we offer them a gig in our Jazz Arena as well as a six-month package of career support, including a mentoring session with key music industry figures.

…around town

Every year, we invite dozens of local and national artists to perform on stages across Cheltenham throughout the Festival, providing a platform to showcase their work.