Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is back for 2024, ready to light up Edinburgh. For 10 groove-packed days, EJBF presents a super-charged line-up that will delight festival regulars and first timers alike. From Friday 12 to Sunday 21 July, venues across the capital will play host to the finest jazz and blues talent from all corners of the globe. From bop to blues-rock, from samba to swing - there’s something in our programme to suit every mood and musical taste.
From Fri 12 – Sun 21 July, the festival will feature:
• More than 120 events taking place across the city
• 10 livestreamed and pre-recorded concerts
• Mardi Gras – a celebration of music live from the Grassmarket
• Edinburgh Festival Carnival – Edinburgh’s largest multi-cultural event
• 18 concerts supported by the Scottish Government’s EXPO fund
• Edinburgh Napier University Jazz Summer School
No other festival covers jazz and blues, across all the styles, with such depth and quality, and with so many unique events. American trumpeter Theo Croker, acclaimed singer Niki King, American blues star Mr Sipp, Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith, and cover star Nik West – just a few of the names within this year’s programme who are set to bring their unparalleled artistry to stages across the city.
We welcome back some familiar faces to the Edinburgh stage with names like Jools Holland, Davina & The Vagabonds and Jerron Paxton, and Fergus McCreadie presents two projects – one a Scottish premiere.
Award-winning British trumpeter Laura Jurd curates a special programme ‘From Folk To Freedom’ - celebrating a host of world-class jazz musicians who are inspired and influenced by folk music. The programme features Norman Willmore, Ruth Goller, Chris Batchelor, Simone Seales, Christos Stylianidies and Glasshopper, as well as Laura’s own band.
This year’s international showcase introduces some exciting new names to the festival. At the heart of the programme is SPARK, which presents the best in jazz from Czechia with a programme curated in association with Veronika Friedlová of Mladí ladí jazz festival. Part of the Year of Czech Music, and organised in collaboration with the Czech Centre, we will welcome a host of new generation artists who are at the forefront of modern jazz in Europe. We look forward to introducing Endemit, Kristina Barta Trio, Nela Dusová, Treetop, Trio Henya, and Undo Redo to Edinburgh audiences.
EJBF will also continue the partnership with i-Jazz, and the programme also includes artists from Belgium, the USA and France, among others.
The Scottish Jazz EXPO artists are the beating heart of our programme, and feature an array of new and exciting bands, projects and commissions including Helena Kay, kitti, Colin Steele and Anoushka Nanguy. The EXPO series also gives voice to the new wave of Scottish jazz including Rosalind Orr, Simon Herberholz, and Kimberley Tessa.
We continue the success of our digital concerts with the EJBF24 ONLINE programme, hosted in the EJBF Digital Hub. Across the 10 days of the festival, online audiences can enjoy some of the UK’s finest jazz and blues artists from the comfort of home for free. The full programme will be announced on Monday 3 June.
On top of the programme of concerts is the much-loved Mardi Gras on Saturday 13 July. This free event brings non-stop entertainment and a party atmosphere to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket as a host of bands perform on multiple stages. The full line-up will be announced on Friday 28 June.
The Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Scotland’s largest and most flamboyant multicultural event, returns to the city centre on Sunday 14 July with over 1000 participants from across the globe and from the heart of Edinburgh. The Carnival programme will be released on Friday 14 June.
The festival presents two shows for young music fans. Tenement Jazz Band present their Cabinet of Curiosities – an interactive show for families. Sound Explorers courtesy of Sue McKenzie will have two outings as part of a programme of events covering every ward in the city. Our Around Town concerts include award-winning blues artist Doug MacLeod in Oxgangs and Hungarian pianist Cili Marsall in Meadowbank. We also present two concerts at Port of Leith Distillery, a brand-new venue for the festival.
Chair of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Councillor Jason Rust said: “I am delighted to see the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival return for 2024 with an exciting programme that spans a huge range of styles and specialisms, from familiar faces to new names and everything in-between. I am also thrilled to see us present our events at iconic venues right across the city as we celebrate the history of the artform in Edinburgh while supporting the brightest and best young talent in Scotland.”
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The festival has been a fixture on the Capital’s calendar for over 40 years and it’s a pleasure to see it continue to grow and evolve. I’m proud that our residents and visitors can take advantage of such an internationally acclaimed and exciting festival.
“This year’s programme showcases some exciting new names as well as established jazz musicians from around the world. I’m particularly excited about the Mardi Gras event which will transform the Grassmarket and have something special for everyone to enjoy. Congratulations to everyone involved in putting together yet another fantastic city festival.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland commented: “There’s no doubt that the eyes and ears of the world are currently focused on what’s happening in Scotland’s jazz sector. Wave after wave of new talent has joined our leading musicians, creating a distinctive voice for Scottish jazz that spans genres and generations. Those artists will be out in force at the 2024 festival, showcasing their skills and pushing jazz in new directions, enriching a programme that also brings incredible international acts to Scottish stages.”
Culture Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “We are delighted to support the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, and the 2024 programme contains an exciting and diverse line up with events being held in venues right across the city. I am particularly pleased to see such an array of Scottish talent on show, as well as artists from around the globe, making this a truly innovative programme.”
