Cheltenham becomes one big jazz party …around town
Thousands of music lovers will flock to Cheltenham Jazz Festival over the May Bank Holiday (1-6 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.
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 2 May to 7.45pm on Monday 6 May).
The Cambray Place Stage provides an opportunity to get a glimpse of future stars, (running Saturday 4 & Sunday 5 May 12pm - 5.45pm). A day of great music combined with outdoor food and drink is at The Brewery Quarter Stage (Sunday 5 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 3 to 5 May. A one-off live broadcast of Jazz 625 will come from Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Friday 3 May.
The Festival has worked with Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) to highlight Cheltenham’s food, retail and hospitality offer. BID Director Kevan Blackadder said: “Cheltenham’s hospitality sector is second to none – we have some of the best restaurants, bars and hotels in the region and Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a great opportunity to show off the town’s wonderful night life. The stages at Cambray Place and The Brewery Quarter will be another reason to enjoy the town centre during the daytime and early evening across the weekend of May 4 and 5.”
Festival Director Ian George said: “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 in the streets and the chance to get involved yourself and inspire your inner musician in the Yamaha Discovery Space in Montpellier Gardens.”
Full details can be found on the around town pages on Cheltenham Festivals website (sse link below).
Explore Gloucestershire
17 April 2019
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