Nik West, Theo Croker, Laura Jurd and new Scottish talents for Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2024

The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival returns to the Scottish capital from Friday 12 to Sunday 21 July 2024 with a wide ranging programme featuring jazz and blues talent from all corners of the globe across 10 days and nights. With over 120 events taking place around the city chief among the names announced are American trumpeter Theo Croker, acclaimed singer Niki King, American blues star Mr Sipp, Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith, and dynamic bassist/vocalist Nik West, and Mercury nominated pianist Fergus McCreadie who presents two projects, one of which is a Scottish premiere. Also appearing are favourites such as Jools Holland, Davina & The Vagabonds and Jerron Paxton.

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 Jurd’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 at the heart of the programme, and feature an array of new and exciting bands from the wave or new bands emerging across the Scottish scene. Projects and commissions including Helena Kay, kitti, Colin Steele and Anoushka Nanguy and newcomers Rosalind Orr, Simon Herberholz, and Kimberley Tessa. 

Digital concerts will be available virtually via 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 1,000 participants from across the globe and from the heart of Edinburgh. The Carnival programme will be released on Friday 14 June.

The festival also presents two shows for young music fans in the form of the Tenement Jazz Band who 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. The Around Town concerts include award-winning blues artist Doug MacLeod in Oxgangs and Hungarian pianist Cili Marsall in Meadowbank.

For more info and tickets visit ejbf.co.uk and the brochure can be viewed HERE