Stuart Holmes Jazz Festival Fringe

All events are free and a variety of venues will be involved, ranging from local pubs and bars where you can have the benefit of jazz while you drink and restaurants where jazz can be enjoyed while you dine. There is even a Sun Ra day hosted by the University of Gloucestershire which will feature a workshop and live performance at the end of the day.

The Jazz Marquee sponsored by Budvar returns this year and will be hosting events throughout the weekend. The stage will provide a platform for local performers with highlights including the Budvar Prize winner's performance; Jazz It Up! and the Jazz services stage.

Thursday 1 May

Stuart Holmes, 5-7pm
Nia Lynn's 'The Bannau Trio'

The Stuart Holmes Fringe Festival launches with a beautifully crafted collection of songs from this talented trio.

Laze Daze, 7-9pm
Le Tatou Bleu

A London based jazz duo with a passion for fusing classical, jazz, improvisation and electronica.

Cowley Manor, 7-9pm
Swing From Paris

An excellent chance to enjoy this 4 piece jazz ensemble, specialising in Parisian swing. This event requires a ticket, please see www.cowleymanor.com for more details.

The Retreat, 8.30-10.30pm
Blue Soup

Fresh upbeat jazz is offered by this unique London group.

The Swan, 9-11pm
Monk's Milk

A young quartet offering a wealth of jazz from various genres including Latin grooves, funky numbers, and straight ahead swing.

Bentleys, 8-10pm
Strung Out

A Bristol based jazz-rock 5 piece with a new take on the genre. Strung out offer a variety of moods, from ballads, through funk and fusion styles, to rocky drive.

Friday 2 May

Hotel Kandinsky U-bahn, 2-4pm
Budvar Brewed Jazz Competition Finals

In association with Budweiser Budvar, Morning Advertiser and kindly supported by Arts and Business, Cheltenham Festivals has been running a pre-festival competition to find the very best pub Jazz band in the UK. Nationally pubs and bars have been sending in entries for their band to win the chance to perform at the Festival. The competition has been causing great excitement in the pub industry with some very exciting new performers.

Don't miss out on this Grand Finale, where three of the UK's best up and coming bands will compete to win a chance to play in our Festival marquee.

[Winning performance: Saturday 3 May, 3:30pm, Budvar Marquee.]

Stuart Holmes Salon, 12-4pm
Clint Denyer

Music from a local DJ of Warminster community radio.

Laze Daze, 7-9pm
Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz, The Dave Greatrex trio

Another chance to enjoy dinner and fine music from the talented Conservatoire jazz students.

The Swan, 9-11pm
Joe Summers & Rokhsan Heydari

Enjoy the acoustic delights of local singer songwriter Joe followed by the beautiful voice and charm of Rokhsan.

Slak, 9-11pm
Peter Hopcroft Quartet

Accessible contemporary jazz from this quartet.

Copa, 8.30-10.30pm
Step Change

A wide range of original jazz and improvised pieces are offered by this funky Quartet.

Hotel Kandinsky, 11 'til late
Late Night Jam Session

A late night treat of jazz jams from a combination of Birmingham Conservatoire students and festival musicians.

Saturday 3 May

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 11-2pm
Jazz It Up!

A chance to enjoy the chilled surroundings of Imperial Gardens and experience our education project, featuring gifted musicians from local schools and compered by Bond actor and jazz trumpter Colin Salmon.

Bang and Olufsen, Cheltenham, 1-3pm
Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz,
Sam Wooster trio

Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz. Some more fine jazz from the students at Birmingham Conservatoire.

Stuart Holmes Salon, 12-4pm
Ricardo Gazzini

Jazz, swing, latin and fusion from this jazz DJ!

Pittville Studios, Albert Road, 12-7pm, Xposed Club at Pittville Studios

Saturday 3rd May will be a special Sun Ra themed programme of music performance, open workshop, image, and film.

Xposed Club Workshop, 12-2pm

An open workshop/rehearsal preparing a tribute to the music of Sun Ra for a performance at 6pm. If you are a musician or singer (of any level of ability) and you would like to take part in a massive 50+ piece ensemble performance you will be very welcome.

Pittville Studios, Albert Road, 3-4.30pm
Alex Merritt Quartet

Fresh, contemporary sounds, where strong classical influences meet modern jazz sensibilities.

Pittville Studios, Albert Road, 4.30-6pm
Aida severo

A set of improvised and composed jazz.

Pittville Studios, Albert Road, 6-7pm
Xposed Club Performance

Performance of music from the earlier workshop paying tribute to the music of Sun Ra.

Gusto, 2-4pm
Edward Leaker Trio

Smooth Jazz standards and originals from this young trio.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 3.30-5.30pm
Budvar Prize Winners Performance

A performance by the winners of this countrywide search for the best pub jazz band.

Copa, 4-6pm
Moment's Notice

A six piece Malvern band playing a mix of standards and modern jazz.

Laze Daze, 5-7pm
Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz, Tym Jozwiak

Another chance to enjoy dinner and the fresh sound of the Conservatoire's young jazz musicians.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 6-7.30pm
Adam Sanders Quintet

A fresh take on some jazz gems along with some exciting new compositions.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 8-9pm
8-Fold

Expect the unexpected with this exciting young band's self made genre 'Gyp Hop' merging together hip hop, funk, jazz and drum & bass.

The Bayshill, 9-11pm
Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz, Ben Bryden

More music from one of the Conservatoires selected bands.

Slak, 9-11pm
Jamie Safiruddin Quartet

A young, energetic quartet from Manchester playing a mixture of Jazz/Funk and Soul.

Hotel Kandinsky, 11 'til late
Late Night Jam Session

Another night of fine jazz from students of the Conservatoire and the stars of the festival.

Sunday 4 May

Imperial Gardens, 11-3pm
Family Fun Day

A great way to keep kids of all ages entertained! Enjoy 4 hours of family fun with treats such as face painting, bouncy castles and Punch and Judy!

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 11-2pm
Jazz It Up!

A second chance to catch our education project featuring gifted musicians from local schools.

Gusto, 11-1pm
Espresso

Enjoy a jazz brunch with this young trio.

Hotel Kandinsky, 2-3.30pm
Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz

Enjoy a chilled afternoon with more music from the students at Birmingham Conservatoire.

Copa, 2-4pm
Patsy Gamble

While away your afternoon with a mixture of vocal jazz and some jazz/funk standards.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 2.30-3.30pm
Salsa del sol

A salsa performance and workshop.

The Vine, 3-5pm
André Canniere

Trumpeter and composer André Canniere's group play music combining jazz and other genres.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 3.30-4.30pm
Tommy Charles Quartet

Expect to find the Spirit of Jazz alive and thriving in this Cheltenham four-piece. Saxed-up jazz to nod your head to and make you smile.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 5-6pm
Melonious Funk

A performance of jazz-funk and original compositions exploring contemporary styles with some jamming in the middle!

The Railway, 5-7pm
IPSO Facto

A five piece instrumental jazz band playing high quality music with a smooth and funky sound.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 6.30-7.30pm
Big Brunch Band

An evening in the gardens with this big band playing a mixture of swing, Latin jazz, rhythm and blues.

Spice Lodge, 7.30-10pm
Steve Franks & Janey Ross

Enjoy fine Asian cuisine and the sounds of this local duo.

Slak, 8-10pm
Bunty and The Worm

Singing beat boxing and rapping; Bunty uses her unique voice to create music that is at once sexy, spacey, bouncy and beautiful. Followed by The Worm, bringing together influences from breaks, dub, reggae and jazz, this is lyrical storytelling at its best.

Monday 5 May

Gusto, 12.30-2pm
Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz, Tom Bunting quartet

A final chance to see talented students from Birmingham's Conservatoire.

Promoters Choice, Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens

Last year, Jazz Services, with the support of Serious, launched its Promoters' Choice Awards with great success. This year the Awards will enable three different bands who have never previously undertaken a national tour to be seen and heard around the UK.

12-1pm, Gareth Roberts Quintet - Gareth Roberts Quintet was nominated by Brian Pretty on behalf of the Lichfield District Arts Association. They first played together in 2001 and since then have built up a large following in the South Wales area with their own unique, exciting brand of jazz.

1.30-2.30pm, Alcyona Mick Quintet - Alcyona writes all original material for her quintet, 'Blink' trio, and has received commissions to write for other bandleaders. She was shortlisted for the Paul Hamlyn Foundation Composer's award 2007.

3-4pm, Free Spirits - These four virtuoso musicians bring together the worlds of jazz, rock, pop, folk and classical Indian music to explore the boundaries of Eastern and Western musical culture, resulting in rich creative composition and inventive improvisation.

Jazz Marquee, Imperial Gardens, 4.30-5.30pm
Royal Oak Brass

Dixieland, ragtime and standard jazz are played by this Brass Quintet.

Stuart Holmes sponsorship Jazz 2008

We are extremely proud to be supporting such a fantastic event this year.

The roots of music run deep with me as not many people will know that I studied music at the Royal Academy in London following in the footsteps of my Ivor Novello and Bafta awarded writer/composer Father!

However music was not to be my final chosen career and now I am enjoying running my own thriving hair salon in the heart of Regency Cheltenham.

I am always excited to see such great names in music and newcomers alike at such an intimate festival - this year will be no exception.
Enjoy!