Scarborough Jazz Festival

The Grand Hall | Scarborough Spa

The 18th Scarborough Jazz Festival will now take place across the weekend of 24-26 September 2021 at Scarborough Spa.

Original Tickets from September 2020 & February 2021 remain valid for the September 2021 Festival.

Alongside some of our favourite festival performers we have many new faces: the ground breaking pianist Fergus McCreadie; violinist John Pearce and gypsy jazz from Djanco.

Three of our performers have recently received Parliamentary Awards: Nikki Iles with the Jazz Education Award; Fergus McCreadie for “Turas” the Jazz Album of the Year: and a Scarborough Jazz Club favourite Zoe Gilby as Jazz Vocalist of the Year.


We are also excited to have jazz giant Julian Joseph with his trio & Tony Kofi returns to front his loving celebration of the jazz giant (in every sense) Julian ‘Cannnonball’ Adderley. 

And here’s what national critic Ron Simpson has to say about the Spa: ’The excellence of the venue – and the enterprising use that Mike Gordon and his team make of it – has much to do with the success of the Scarborough Festival. The Spa is an elegant Victorian pile, with the North Sea breaking on the other side of the road and a fine concert hall surrounded by bars and restaurants.’

Due to the date change our Earlybird Weekend Ticket offer has been extended and are back on sale!

Our Line Up!

Friday Afternoon Session:

Rafe’s Dilemma
Celebrating literature, music and theatre. This young quartet brings together an eclectic mix of jazz, electronic music and rock to create an excitingly fresh and intriguing sound. Visit Artist Website

Dave O’Higgins & Rob Luft Quartet

Young 'firebrand' Rob Luft teams up with an established giant of the UK Jazz scene as their Quartet perform Thelonious Monk compositions and tunes played by John Coltrane. Visit Artist Website

The Oxley-Meier Guitar Project
The exceptional musicianship of all members is unquestionable. The music is sensational, played with great energy and the incredible rapport between the three members is something that definitely sets this band apart. Visit Artist Website

Friday Evening Session:

VEIN featuring Stan Sulzmann
Combining the complexity of European classical chamber music with the thrills and energy of jazz improvisation at its most sophisticated. Visit Artist Website

Julian Joesph Trio

Virtuoso pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, broadcaster and educator, Julian Joseph is the undisputed heir to the global house of jazz and he performs at The Scarborough Jazz Festival for the very first time this September. Visit Artist Website

Hans Koller - Bird Migration Big Band-A Celebration of the Centenary of Charlie Parker
A 13-piece ensemble exploring and celebrating musical ideas and imagined movements of Charlie 'Bird' Parker. Visit Artist Website


Saturday Afternoon Session:

Djanco featuring Andy Aitchison
The spirit of gypsy swing with the flair of flamenco to create a distinctive jazz flavour

Karen Sharp Quartet
World class musicians who also happen to be great friends. Together they create a unique sound that is warm, spontaneous and exciting! Visit Artist Website

Ian Shaw, Iain Ballamy, Jamie Safir -What's New
3 leading solo artists collaborating to share the best of popular songwriting as they launch their new album.-What’s New (Released on 7 February) Visit Artist Website

Saturday Evening Session

Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra
'A pianist of extraordinary imagination who thrives on fugitive melodies” Dave Gelly. Visit Artist Website

Zoe Gilby – Aurora
Winner of Parliamentary Jazz Awards Jazz Vocalist of The Year 2019.  Visit Artist Website

Jean Toussaint Allstar 6tet
A genial presence on the UK jazz scene for 30 years, Jean presents his all-star 6tet which has been put together to mark what would have been Art Blakey’s 100th birthday. Visit Artist Website

Sunday Afternoon Session:

The Fergus McCreadie Trio
Winner of Jazz Album of the Year at The Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2019. Visit Artist Website

Tony Kofi's 'A Portrait of a Cannonball'
‘Quite splendid … the kind of ensemble groove that seems like hard-bop heaven.’ Jazz Wise Magazine Visit Artist Website

John Pearce & Dave Newton
A Scarborough Jazz Festival regular joins 'A violinist of immense virtuosity’ (London Jazz News) to perform his ‘fine record’ (Jazz Rag) Just Friends. Visit Artist Website

 

Sunday Evening Session:

Phil Robson's Organ Trio
An award-winning, incredibly versatile and creative guitar player as well as celebrated composer, joins forces with the Hammond virtuoso Ross Stanley and the inspiring and powerful drummer Gene Calderazzo to bring this all-star band to the Scarborough Jazz Festival. Visit Artist Website

Alan Barnes Octet plays Jazz Portraits
Alan returns alongside his long established octet, as usual, the music is swinging and accessible as well as serious and is always presented with humour, peppered with anecdotes. Visit Artist Website.

Compere: Alan Barnes

Tickets:

Offer Extended! Earlybird Weekend Tickets (available until 31 July 2021): £105 (plus facility fee)

Day Tickets & Session Tickets are now on sale!