One of Cheltenham’s biggest festivals has revealed it’s star-studded line-up for 2016. Visitors can expect to hear the finest jazz from the likes of songstress Corinne Bailey Rae, the queen of UK soul, Beverley Knight, and audiences will be treated to a closing concert from the festival’s artistic curator, Jamie Cullum.

The event, which is now in it’s 20th year, will run from Wednesday 27 April to Monday 2 May in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens. BBC Radio 2 will continue in it’s partnership with Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and will be broadcasting live on-site from their stations throughout Cheltenham during the week. There will be live show commentary from Clare Teal, and an exclusive interview with Lianne La Havas about her successful career so far.

Other acts will include reggae music group Jazz Jamaica, vocalist Ian Shaw, jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies and blues legend Taj Mahal.

Renowned pianist Alexander Hawkins will also perform a world premier, while visitors will be making their own music as part of a new project by Sarah Nicolls and Kit Downes.

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival is just one of the festiva
ls held throughout the year- others include the Science, Music and Literature Festivals. Thousands attended last year’s festival and there are high hopes for even more attendees this year. Emily Jones, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival manager, thinks that things will only get better for the event: “It’s always exciting, but with such a fabulous line-up we predict a very early sell-out. We’re really lucky to have such brilliant acts this year, and I think in such a beautiful setting, the only way is up.”

Tickets go on sale for members from Wednesday 24 February and to the public from Wednesday 2 March 2016, and are available online at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz.

For more information call (01242 850270) or email boxoffice@cheltenhamfestivals.com