Cheltenham Jazz Festival has announced its full line-up for 2024, with some massive names taking to the stage this year.
Hot off the back of Saltburn success, Sophie Ellis-Bextor takes to the Big Top on Sunday 5 May; while Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant returns with Saving Grace and Suzi Dian on Saturday 4 May; South African sensation Ladysmith Black Mambazo bring their incredible energy to the Big Top on Monday 6 May; with soul and R&B royalty Dionne Warwick opening the festival on Wednesday 1 May.
Festival favourite Gregory Porter performs twice under the Big Top during this year's event, first with Blues House of Fame inductee Bettye LaVette and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra on Saturday 4 and again for his own headline show on Monday 6 May. Fun Lovin' Criminals frontman and BBC 6 Music DJ, Huey Morgan, performs at Cheltenham Town Hall on Sunday 5 May, with jazz superstar Clare Teal and fusion artist Snarky Puppy also on the bill.
The Parabola Arts Centre programme returns for 2024 with just one of the highlights including a special set from Mercury Music Prize nominee Kit Downes and celebrated singer Norma Winstone; and new for 2024, the festival will be hosting events at Dunkertons Tap Room, with Giacomo Smith performing on Friday 3 and Saturday 4, as well as food critic Jay Rayner taking to the stage with his sextet on Sunday 5 May.
They join the first wave of headline acts announced in December 2023, which included Jack Savoretti, UB40, Morcheeba, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Courtney Pine and Nubiyan Twist.
The festival is proud to be showcasing a huge array of talented female artists and has signed up to the Keychange programme to ensure an equal gender balance across the line-up this year.
Music fans looking to enjoy free performances will also be thrilled that the '... around town' programme is back, too, bringing top local talent to venues across town including legendary grassroots venue The Frog and Fiddle; The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum; whisky and wine bar John Gordons; and popular pub The Bottle of Sauce.
Festival director, Ian George, said: 'We’ve worked incredibly hard for this year’s programme to reflect the full breadth of the jazz spectrum. We have jazz legends and crossover stars nestled between an incredible array of up-and-coming talent and it could well be our broadest line-up to date.'
Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from Wednesday 1 to Monday 6 May 2024.
Tickets for the latest acts go on general sale on Wednesday 6 March 2024.
