Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2024: Get with the beat 

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2024: Get with the beat 

1^st-6^th of May 2024

This May, all corners of Cheltenham will come alive with the swinging sounds of the beloved jazz festival. With just a month to go, it’s time to start planning your itinerary. Be this booking out rows in the Big-Top, lounging in Montpellier Gardens, or burning the midnight oil at Hotel Du Vin, we’re here to guide you to the must-see moments of Cheltenham Jazz 2024.

Headline Highlights

Elaine Del Mar – Wednesday 1^st May @ Hotel du Vin  

With her powerful voice and polished stage presence, Ronnie Scott’s regular, Elaine Delmar, performs the highlight tracks of her career in this intimate venue, for a uniquely personal show.

Sophie Ellis Bextor – Sunday 5^th May @ Big Top  

In the wake of the recent reboom of hit track ‘Murder on the Dance Floor’, we can expect a sell-out show, so get in fast with tickets!

UB40 – Monday 6^th May @ Big Top 

UB40 bring the sounds of Birmingham-born reggae to the Big Top, featuring hit tracks ‘Food for Thought’, ‘Red, Red Wine’ and ‘One in Ten’.

Bettye LaVette featuring Gregory Porter with Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra – Saturday 4^th May @ Big Top  

Catch two jazz legends on the same stage alongside the acclaimed Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra for a doubly memorable night of Big Band classics.

Gregory Porter – Monday 6^th May @ Big Top 

Once again Gregory Porter gifts the Cheltenham Jazz Festival with valuable support as curator and dulcet tones as a world-renowned performer. This year he brings an exciting repertoire full of twists and turns on his bestselling songs and jazz classics.

Free Events – ‘Around town…’

There’s no need to splash the cash to experience the Jazz Festival… the ‘Around Town’ programme hosts free performances showcasing local talent all week long.

Main Around Town Venues:

• The Free Stage @ Montpellier Gardens. This is the centre of free events during the jazz festival, with a packed set list of top-quality soloists and ensembles daily.

• The Sober Parrot – A trendy, charity-run, alcohol-free cafe and evening music venue.

• The Frog and Fiddle – A grungy pub on the lower high street with a great venue space.

• Bottle of Sauce – A beloved neighbourhood pub bringing great food and great music under one roof.

• The Tavern – A prominent pub in Cheltenham’s music scene, hosting regular open mic nights and live bands.

• Cheltenham Promenade and High Street – This year, the music is taking to the streets too!

• Discovery Space – An unreserved venue on the main Festival site in Montpellier Gardens

Late night

Hotel Du Vin

This free-entry, not-so-secret Jazz Festival after-party and jam session runs from 10pm-late (and we mean late) from Friday 3^rd May – Sunday 5^th May at Hotel du Vin. Featuring the talented jazz students from Birmingham Conservatoire, the jam session and vibrant atmosphere frequently attract main stage performers to pay a visit.

Young Talent

The Cheltenham Jazz Festival creates invaluable opportunities for rising talents to gain performance experience and exposure. Audiences flock to hear the fresh sounds of the younger generation and catch a glimpse of where jazz is heading.

See for yourself at the following:

GS Collective, featuring 15 of Gloucestershire’s young emerging artists – Friday 3^rd May 7:45-8:30 pm @ Free Stage

Birmingham Conservatoire and Siena and Hamburg Exchange – Saturday 4^th May 11 am @ Parabola Arts Centre

Jazz it Up: Schools – Saturday 4^th and Sunday 5^th May 10am-1:30pm @ Free Stage

Tomorrow’s Warriors Youth Ensemble – Sunday 5^th May 3-4 pm @ Free Stage

Gloucestershire Youth Jazz Orchestra – Sunday 5^th May – 5-6 pm @ Discovery Space

Upgrade your Cheltenham Jazz Festival experience with luxury accommodation just a few steps away from the heart of the festival, Montpellier Gardens.

24 Montpellier Spa Road – A bright, spacious 1-bedroom flat with views stretching over Montpellier Gardens.

Glensanda – Listen to the hustle and bustle of the Festival from the private garden of this luxurious 4-bedroom property, situated on the edge of Montpellier Gardens.