Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival 2025
at Blackmore Gardens, Sidmouth
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The 2025 Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival takes place from Friday 23 to Monday 26 May incorporating the end of May bank holiday weekend.
We promise you four days of exceptional live music with a stellar line-up of World-Class internationally acclaimed artistes. This year’s programme includes an evening concert to open the festival on the Friday followed by three days of incredible live music performances between Saturday 24 to Monday 26 May on our dedicated outdoor performance stage, a wonderful free educational programme of workshops, masterclasses and performances, plus fantastic free live music events at many local venues.
Friday 23rd May
Saturday 24th May
- Gabrielle
- Nubiyan Twist
- Laurence Jones
- Synthonic
- Malavita
- Senna Weeks
Sunday 25th May
- Curtis Stigers
- James Taylor Quartet (JTQ)
- Joanna Cooke
- Zayn Mohammed
- Sambroso All Stars
- Martin Harley
- Harry Dowell Group
Monday 26th May
- Eric Bibb
- Wolfgang Valbrun
- Allysha Joy
- Jonah Hitchens
- Kyla Brox
- Annika Skoogh
- John Prescott & Capital Swing
Curtis Stigers
Platinum-selling singer, songwriter and saxophonist Curtis Stigers has one of the most distinctive voices in music and as an artist has pushed the boundaries of contemporary jazz. Putting his own original take on classics by the likes of Willie Nelson, Sting and Tom Waits, he has become known as one of the most innovative interpreters of his time. ‘... a mainstream jazz artist who has worked hard to expand his repertoire without departing from the solid groove of straight-ahead swing.’ (Los Angeles Times)
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Eric Bibb
Blues meets gospel and soul when Eric Bibb sings from a beautifully realised repertoire of soulful, gospel-infused folk and blues; a melding of traditional rootsy American style with a subtle contemporary sensibility. Originally from New York, Eric Bibb has been described as 'the heir to the roots / blues throne created by Richie Havens and Taj Mahal'. Or more succinctly put from The Times ' A voice to die for!' Those who have followed Bibb's career, know that Bibb owes much of his success to the subtle balance he has achieved between tradition and modernity. This is true of his music, and even more so of his lyrics, as he treats themes such as love, the universality of man, and his belief in mankind with a sincerity that never sounds jejune, a simplicity that’s never trivial, an empathy that carefully avoids pathos.
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Gabrielle
Through the first chapter of her career – from her emergence in 1993 through to 2007 – Gabrielle was a near constant presence in the UK charts. She landed two #1 singles, a further eight Top 10 hits and five Top 10 albums, including the #1 hit Rise. Gabrielle has spent a combined total of over four years on the Top 40 of the Official Album and Singles Charts, exceeding 5 million sales in the process. In addition, she was part of the BBC’s all-star version of Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’. Highlights of her numerous awards include the prestigious Ivor Novello for Outstanding Song Collection; two BRIT Awards for British Breakthrough Act and British Female Solo Artist; and both Best Album (Rise) and Best Single (Give Me A Little More Time) at the MOBO Awards. 2019 saw Gabrielle build on the success of her 2018 album, Under My Skin, by playing a near sold-out UK Headline Tour, BBC’s Proms In The Park (40,000), Blenheim Palace with Gladys Knight, Kingsholm Stadium with Nile Rogers as well as a summer full of festival dates.
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Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul have been producing memorable quality music since the late eighties. They've sold over 6.8 million albums in 35 territories across the globe and appeared on over 100 compilation albums. Their Club Classics Vol. 1 album was named one of the top 50 British Albums Ever by Q Magazine. They began as a sound system in the early 80s, playing at various house blues parties, street parties and local youth clubs, adopting a unique style which became known as 'Funki Dred'. Soul II Soul signed to Virgin Records, and the rest is history. Tracks such as 'Keep On Movin' and 'Back To Life' have stood the test of time.
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Wolfgang Valbrun
Wolfgang Valbrun, a New York native, is a talented singer-songwriter heavily influenced by a blend of musical genres thanks to his mother's eclectic taste and his own diverse experiences. His early exposure ranged from reggae to soul, and Kompa - a Haitian music style. Leaving the US as a teenager he eventually settled in Paris, where he broadened his musical palette to include soul, jazz, hip-hop, and Brazilian music. A period living in Venezuela further enriched his musical diversity, introducing him to salsa, merengue, and other Latin rhythms. Upon returning to France, Wolfgang's career took off after he joined the funk band ‘Marvellous’, and later, the avant-garde jazz/soul band, ‘ephemerals’. The first album from 'ephemerals', ‘Nothin Is Easy’, became an instant hit, most notably the track ‘You Made Us Change’, achieving worldwide success. Wolfgang released three more albums and toured worldwide with ‘ephemerals’ alongside collaborations and touring with French hip-hop legend ‘GUTS’ and Dutch labelmates ‘Kraak & Smaak’. During the challenges posed by 2020, Wolfgang embarked on a solo journey and created ‘Flawed by Design’, an album set for release in 2024 on Jalapeno Records. The album features intensely personal songs co-written and recorded with the members of his touring band.
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James Taylor Quartet (JTQ)
The legendary UK funkmeister and Hammond guru, playing rare groove and jazz funk, mixed in with a little soul. His quartet are guaranteed to tear the roof off with their '60s & '70s-tinged funky-jazz instrumentals.
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Nubiyan Twist
Nubiyan Twist are a blend of virtuosic players, skilled producers and inspired composers who have joined forces under the leadership of multi-instrumentalist & producer Tom Excell. Drawing on jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae and dance music, expect ultra-tight musicianship and an infectious and powerful 10-piece big band sound. Their 2021 album Freedom Fables features special guests Ego Ella May, K.O.G., Pat Thomas, Cherise, Ria Moran & Soweto Kinch and was heavily playlisted on 6Music alongside live sessions with Gilles Peterson, Mary Ann Hobbs and Jamie Cullum on Radio 2 plus their UK TV debut on Later...with Jools Holland.
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rated excellent
Blackmore Gardens
Blackmore Drive
Sidmouth
EX10 8LQ
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on Fri 23 May 2025
