In the 10 days from July 19th to 28th, The Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival will celebrate its 40th consecutive year of bringing the finest and most entertaining jazz and blues to Birmingham, Sandwell, and the region.
Unique in its perseverance through the Covid years, the festival marks this milestone with an impressive lineup:
237 performances
228 of them free admission
in 115 venues
A Global Musical Extravaganza
Musicians and bands from Estonia, Spain, France, Italy, Singapore, Norway, and the U.S.A. will join those from the West Midlands and across the UK in the biggest and best free jazz and blues party in Europe.
Festival Highlights
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys
BBC presenter Paul Jones once described them as “The hardest act to follow since the parting of the Red Sea.” This jumping, jiving Rhythm & Blues attraction will hold sway at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.
The Swing Cats from Barcelona
Making their first-ever UK appearance, The Swing Cats will perform nine shows across the region.
Django Chutney vs. The Hot Club of Halifax
Leading Django Reinhart stylists will battle it out to be the festival’s top Gypsy Jazz combo.
Special Events and Performances
Dancing in The Street
Edgbaston Greenfield Crescent will be closed to traffic, kicking off at 11 am with a massed jitterbug dance lesson open to all, followed by band performances on the street through to 6 pm.
CBS Coventry Arena All-Dayer
Featuring a Jazz, Blues, and Beer festival across three rooms from 10 am to 10 pm with nine bands and free Jitterbug and Ukulele sessions.
Kidderminster Debut
Calypso Moon, Tipitina, Jamie Thyer & The Worried Men, Simon Spillet Quartet, Shufflepack, and Tenement Jazz Band will perform.
Sandwell’s Cultural Hub
Performances across all libraries, museums, and art galleries with a total of 30 performances, extending to Sutton Coldfield and Solihull.
Community Engagement
‘You’re Never Alone With A Uke’
Free ukulele lessons will be available in the Children’s Hospital, retirement villages, and public places.
‘Strictly Jitterbug’
Swing dance sessions open to everyone, regardless of ability or experience, will take place throughout the festival.
Workshops and Celebrations
Free Photography Workshop
Capturing the spirit of jazz and blues.
Chicago Birmingham Blues Brotherhood
Celebrating its 54th anniversary with Earl Pryor from Illinois, the grandson of the legendary Chicago Blues man.
Special Sessions
“My Kinda Blues” and “My Kinda Jazz”
Featuring leading jazz and blues musicians discussing their favorite recordings, overseen by Richard March, founder member of Pop Will Eat Itself.
Cigar Box Guitar Blues Sessions
Featuring Chicken Bone John, star of the BBC feature “Cigar Box Blues.”
New and Noteworthy
First-Timers to the Festival
Leading Estonian blues guitarist Andres Roots, and the all-girl combo The Traveling Janes from the USA, Singapore, Norway, and Scotland.
Join us for a spectacular 40th-anniversary celebration of the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, where the rich tradition of jazz and blues meets the vibrant community spirit of Birmingham. With an array of performances, workshops, and special events, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
For more information, visit our website at Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival.
