Tickets are selling fast for this year’s Sidmouth Jazz and Blues Festival – with the ‘early bird’ offer of lower-price tickets ending this Sunday, March 17.

The festival will take place from Thursday, May 23 until Monday 27, the spring bank holiday.

In addition to the headline performers each evening of the festival, fifteen acts have been announced for the daytime concerts in Blackmore Gardens taking place on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, offering jazz, blues, soul, funk, Latin and Cuban music.

In a change from the previous two years, there is a single charge of £20 for the three days of daytime music, called the ‘count me in’ festival ticket. Entry is free for children under 12.

Festival director Ian Bowden explained that the cost of putting on the event has risen, and by charging a small fee for the three days of music in Blackmore Gardens he could offer a wide range of top-class artists. The festival also includes several free workshops and masterclasses with musicians, which the daytime ticket fees will help to cover.

He said: “We’ve been delighted to be able to offer the free music for the last two years, but the economic climate has changed and it’s just become impossible to put on an event like this, with such a variety of artists, without charging something for it.

“Everyone has been very enthusiastic so far, no-one has complained about the ticket price, which is very reasonable for three days of live music.”

The Blackmore Gardens line–up includes jazz saxophonist Betty Accorsi, Moscow Drug Club, Phil Dawson Jazz Quintet, respected Plymouth-based blues band Russell Sinclair & The Smokin' Locos, multi–award–winning UK jazz singer Ian Shaw, Pete Josef Jazz Quintet, Kirris Riviere and The Delta du Bruit, Lade Nade, The Jazz Defenders, Afro Cuban giants Snowboy & The Latin Section, Orquesta Mambarito, the Jonah Hitchens Band, the blues guitarist Toby Lee and Acantha Lang serving up her unique blend of New Orleans soul and funk.

The six-piece band the Brass Junkies will perform their unique blend of New Orleans contemporary street jazz on Sunday, May 26.

The ticketed evening concerts start on Thursday, May 23 with Tony Hadley in a swinging performance, featuring classic hits from Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra as well as his own chart-toppers. On Friday, May 24, the double bill of Roachford and MF Robots will play soul, funk, and acid jazz, then on Saturday, May 25 the headline artists are jazz pianist Roberto Fonseca and his all-star band from Havana, Cuba.

On Sunday, May 26 the British-Jamaican soul sensation Ruby Turner MBE will take to the stage, and the final concert on Monday, May 27 will be British singer-songwriters Elles Bailey and Mica Millar.

For the first time, the 2024 festival is presenting a three–day free and inclusive education programme from Saturday 25 until Monday 27.

This includes a jazz vocal workshop, the Soul of the City Gospel Choir Concert, a Johnny Mars' Gift of Music Blues harmonica masterclass, a family African drumming workshop, a session on ‘composition, improvisation and the music industry’ with George Cooper of the Jazz Defenders, a ‘history of the blues’ seminar with Dan Shaw and a ‘rock versus jazz’ drumming masterclass with Ian Matthews of Kasabian. Places on these workshops must be booked in advance.

There will also be a ticketed concert at the Sidmouth Conservative Club with Johnny Mars and his Blues Band on Friday, May 24, when Johnny will be performing authentic Delta and Chicago blues and telling enthralling stories from his fascinating life.

On Sunday, May 26, Craig Milverton and Joanna Eden will be performing a special concert called ‘An Oscar for Ella’ celebrating the music of pianist Oscar Peterson and singer Ella Fitzgerald.

There will be an extensive programme of fringe music events taking place at various venues including Sidmouth Rugby Club, The Swan Inn, Dukes, The Marine, The Volunteer Inn, and many others.