HEADLINERS have been announced for the 2024 Swanage Jazz Festival.

Running from July 12 to 14, the 33rd festival – the largest since 2018 – features a host of big names.

Meanwhile, a second marquee has been added on Sandpit Field, increasing capacity, while Arts Council funding has helped fund a new bands and new audiences programme.

Headline names in the 50 Band programme include the Liane Carroll Trio, The Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra, Ian Shaw and Tony Kofi performing a tribute to Billy Strayhorn, Zoe Rahman’s Colours of Sound Octet, Gary Crosby’s Mingus Moves Band, The Wonder of Stevie with Derek Nash and Noel McCalla and The Printmakers with Nikki Iles and Norma Winstone.

Paul Kelly, chair of Swanage Jazz Festival, said: “Following the success of our 2023 festival, we are delighted to be bringing an even bigger programme of top-quality artists to Swanage in 2024.

Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra

“We are grateful to Arts Council England and Dorset Council for helping us build the festival capacity.

“We are probably the largest festival on the South Coast of England programming just jazz and nothing else and we are one of the largest jazz festivals in England with a unique and wonderful setting.

“We are so much looking forward to July and hearing such a wonderful and diverse array of sounds and styles.”

Other acts include legends such as Dave Newton and Alan Barnes, Norma Winstone, performing with The Printmakers, The Clark Tracey Quintet, Art Themen’s Organ Quintet, American alto saxist Greg Abate and the return of Henry Lowther’s Still Waters.

They are complemented by rising stars including Emma Rawicz, who performs with her quintet and her 20 piece Orchestra, trumpeter Henry Spencer and his band and singer Noemi Nuti and her quintet.

Liane Carroll

Swanage Jazz Festival has secured funding from Arts Council England and Dorset Council to attract new bands and new audiences in a programme titled ‘The Sound of Things to Come’.

This programme will mostly be housed in a 250-seat marquee on Swanage’s Sandpit Field, with more details to come.

Advance tickets for the festival are on sale for £140 for a weekend stroller, £43 for a Friday-only stroller and £82 for a Saturday or Sunday Stroller.

Stroller tickets give purchasers access to all ticketed venues, subject to capacity. Advance tickets are on sale until May 31, with prices set to rise from June 1.

For more details, and to purchase tickets, log on to www.swanagejazzfestival.co.uk/tickets.

Art Themen. Picture: David Burgess