‘Cool catz’ assemble! Get set to soak up the sun (here’s hoping), sit back and relax with the soothing sounds of jazz on the breeze! The Cheltenham Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 2, returns for our pleasure with a host of free mellifluous delights and pop-up performances dotted throughout our streets, bars and nightlife venues.

Thousands of music lovers will flock to Cheltenham Jazz Festival over the May Bank Holiday (1st - 6th May) for the annual programme of free gigs taking over the streets, pubs and clubs of Cheltenham in association with Cheltenham BID. Up-and-coming local acts and national artists will perform on three free stages as well as in clubs and bars across the town, and in surprise pop-up locations, offering musical inspiration between Jazz Festival gigs all day and late into the night.

Looking for jazz + dining? The Ivy Brasserie has live Jazz on 4th and 5th May. More details

Both new and esteemed names on the jazz scene take to the stage for this internationally recognised celebration of the musical genre. With almost 70 concerts expected over a six day span, our regency town is set to attract lovers of jazz from far and wide - best bring your autograph books!

Cheltenham Jazz Festival features headline acts, cutting-edge jazz and unique collaborations including Level 42, Kandace Springs, Jamie Cullum, Madeleine Peyroux, The Bad Plus Joshua Redman Soweto Kinch Alfa Mist David Sanborn Fred Hersch Kansas Smitty’s House Band Incognito Friday Night Is Music Night Abdullah Ibrahim Swing Out Sister Curtis Stigers Charenee Wade, Carmel, Yazz Ahmed John Surman Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and many more!

Jazz in the Gardens; the Free Stage on Montpellier Gardens is at the heart of the Festival, and the best place to relax between events. Hear some of the best acts from across the country and enjoy Festival food traders, the Festival bar, bottlegreen Garden bar, Chase Distillery Horse Box Bar, Neptune Rum Bar and Nyetimber Garden (from 5.30pm on Thursday 2nd May to 7.45pm on Monday 6th May).

The Cambray Place Stage provides an opportunity to get a glimpse of future stars, (running Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th May 12pm - 5.45pm). A day of great music combined with outdoor food and drink is at The Brewery Quarter Stage (Sunday 5th May 1pm – 6.45pm.)

Official Hospitality Partner No 131 is offering a bespoke Festival menu and two late-night gigs featuring soul-drenched remixes with DJ Sam Redmore and Alchemical with Aisling Iris, plus more late-night sounds at sister venue The Tavern. The Bottle of Sauce has live events all weekend including a Tropical Tea Party takeover with The Fontanas and a set from beatboxer SK Shlomo. The Cosy Club has three nights with Ben Cipolla and The Nouvelle House Band and there’s a special Speakeasy Sunday at The Botanist. Gigs can also be heard in Harry Cook Free House, John Gordons, The Strand, Smokey Joe’s and The Firestation, while longstanding Festival late-night jam sessions at Hotel du Vin keep the jazz party going until the wee small hours of the morning.

Puddles are forecast during the Festival, but no wellies are needed because these are Jazz Puddles – magical sound installations by artist Mike Blow. They will be found in the Festival Village, The Brewery Quarter and The Promenade. Jazz Puddles are part of the Festival’s Musical Encounters strand which brings jazz to a wide audience by putting it in unusual and quirky places. For families there are free hands-on sessions for all ages in the Yamaha Discovery Space and The Chatterbox.

A display of archive gems and photographs from iconic BBC show Jazz 625 will be on show at Cheltenham Ladies’ College Parabola Arts Centre foyer from 3rd - 5th May. A one-off live broadcast of Jazz 625 will come from Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Friday 3rd May.

Festival Director Ian George wants us not only to embrace and enjoy new talent, but to find our own inner jazz cats! “We’re turning the town into one big jazz party with the very best local and national talent – there will be loads of new voices to discover..and the chance to get involved yourself and inspire your inner musician in the Yamaha Discovery Space in Montpellier Gardens.”

Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) has been working with festival organisers to ensure this an equally beneficial opportunity for Cheltenham’s businesses, shops, bars and hotels, continuing to welcome lovers of jazz to our creative corner of the Cotswolds. Over 70 local businesses, including Festival Partners, Festival Champions, and various food traders, venues and production companies are involved with the festival - so expect big things!

To browse the events taking place during Cheltenham Jazz Festival, browse Cheltenham Rock's top family picks here.

#cheltjazzfest Around Town Venue Map

Cheltenham Jazz Festival …around town line up

Thursday 2nd May

Time	Venue	Artists
5:30pm – 9pm	Free Stage Montpellier Gardens GL50 1UW	TREE // HAUS; The Patsy Gamble Band, Swing From Paris
8pm	Smokey Joe’s GL50 4ED	Red Hot Riot
8:30pm	Harry Cook Free House GL50 1SD	Stolen Chocolates
10:30pm till late	No. 131 GL50 1NW	DJ Sam Redmore

Friday 3rd May

Time	Venue	Artists
12:45pm – 9:30pm	Free Stage Montpellier Gardens	Jazz Rouge, LEAH, Pixie And The Gypsies, Dave Elmer DJ
7:30pm	John Gordons GL50 1SU	Caddick And Parkes
8:30pm	The Strand GL50 3NX	The Moody Tuesdays
9pm	Cosy Club GL50 3FF	Ben Cipolla And The Nouvelle House Band feat. Nick Robinson
9pm	The Firestation GL50 3PU	Patsy Gamble Quartet
10:30pm till late	The Tavern GL50 3DN	LATIMO and George Montague
10:30pm till late	Hotel du Vin GL50 3AH	Late Night Jam Sessions

Saturday 4th May

Time	Venue	Artists
10:30am – 10pm	Free Stage Montpellier Gardens	Jazz It Up with Gloucestershire’s best school jazz bands; Decca Recommends: Amahla; Rosie Tee, RBC Township Band, Thrill Collins; Echo Juliet DJ
12pm	Cambray Place Stage GL50 1JX	The Joey Bill, Lindsay Martin Group, Tunehead; LEAH, Late Night Juice, Argle Bargle
3:15pm - 7:30pm	Yamaha Discovery Space. Montpellier Gardens	Hands-On Sessions
7:30pm	John Gordons	Chloe Et Al
9pm	Cosy Club	Ben Cipolla And The Nouvelle House Band feat. Grove
9pm	Bottle of Sauce GL50 1HE	Tropical Tea Party Takeover with The Fontanas
10:30pm till late	Hotel du Vin	Late Night Jam Sessions

Sunday 5th May

Time	Venue	Artists
10:30am – 10pm	Free Stage Montpellier Gardens	Jazz It Up with Gloucestershire’s best school jazz bands; wilkins / harris; Shems Bendali Quintet; RBC Sextet; Lady Nade; Josh Scofield Quartet; Adannay; Georgia And The Vintage Youth;
12pm	Cambray Place Stage	Funky Business; The Sandwich; Sorry Grace; BossMagnet; Mustard Brass Band; The Rosa Gray Band;
1pm	Brewery Quarter Stage GL50 4FA	Stolen Chocolates; Rory McNeill; Albino Frogs; The LM Project; Charlton Blues Kings;
3pm	No 131	Joanna Cooke
3:15pm - 7:30pm	Yamaha Discovery Space	Hands-On Sessions

6pm	The Strand	Natasha Seale And Sam Montero
7:30pm	The Botanist GL50 4FA	Speakeasy Sunday
9pm	Bottle of Sauce	SK Shlomo
9pm	Cosy Club	Ben Cipolla And The Nouvelle House Band feat. Eleanor Lang
10:30pm till late	Hotel du Vin	Late Night Jam Sessions
10:30pm till late	The Tavern	Trampette and Odd Soul
10:30pm till late	Hotel du Vin	Late Night Jam Sessions
10:30pm till late	No 131	Late Night At No. 131 with Alchemical featuring Aisling Iris

Moinday 6th May

Time	Venue	Artists
9am 11:15am & 3:15pm - 7:30pm	Yamaha Discovery Space	Hands-On Sessions
10:30am – 10pm	Free Stage Montpellier Gardens	Jazz It Up: youth and adult jazz ensembles from across Gloucestershire; Charlie + Jake; Decca Recommends: Bad Honey; ALINA3; Teotima; Alice Auer
1pm	No 131	Cool Jazz Collective

Listen out for free performances around the town - come rain or shine, it's on! Follow #cheltjazzfest @cheltfestivals on social media for updates, search 'Cheltenham Jazz Festival' on Cheltenham Rocks for specific events, or visit the website for further details: www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz.