Newcastle Jazz Festival returns for its eighth edition, and it promises to be its most ambitious yet. Taking place on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June at the Live Theatre on Newcastle’s Quayside, the festival once again brings together some of the UK’s finest jazz voices and most accomplished instrumentalists for a weekend defined by rich musicality, collaboration and improvisation.
Now firmly established in the North East’s cultural calendar, the festival continues to grow in both scope and reputation while retaining its intimate, artist-focused ethos. Across two days, audiences will be treated to a carefully curated programme that highlights both established names and rising talent, reflecting the breadth and vitality of the contemporary UK jazz scene.
Headlining this year’s bill is Clark Tracey, one of Britain’s most respected jazz drummers and a multiple winner of Best Drummer at the British Jazz Awards. His musical lineage runs deep, with his father, the legendary pianist and composer Stan Tracey, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to shape generations of musicians within British jazz.
Joining him is Laura Jurd, a trumpet player, composer and improviser widely regarded as one of the most distinctive creative voices in contemporary UK jazz. Her career includes a Mercury Prize nomination, performances at the BBC Proms, collaborations with the Northern Sinfonia, and appearances with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, making her one of the festival’s standout attractions in such an intimate setting.
Also appearing is Rory Ingham, a Yorkshire-born trombonist, composer and educator. A Rising Star at the British Jazz Awards, named ‘One To Watch’ by Jazzwise, and a finalist at the International Trombone Festival in California, his inclusion underlines the festival’s ongoing commitment to showcasing exceptional emerging and established talent.
Rounding out the line-up are Alexia Gardner, a Grammy-nominated international jazz vocalist and recording artist, and Mark Toomey, a North East saxophone powerhouse with more than three decades of performance experience. Also featured is OUTRI, the solo project of bassist Ian ‘Dodger’ Paterson, which blends organic looping, jazz and folk harmonies, and glitch-infused electronica into raw, single-take performances that add texture, spontaneity and unpredictability to the programme.
Across the weekend, audiences can expect a dynamic mix of improvisation, technical brilliance and spontaneous collaboration, reinforcing the festival’s growing reputation as a key fixture on the UK jazz calendar.
For further information and tickets, visit newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk.
