Gregory Porter, Steve Winwood, Zoe Rahman and Soweto Kinch for livestreamed Cheltenham Jazz Festival programme

The organisers of this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival have confirmed it will be a free-to-view livestreamed online event running throughout the May Bank Holiday weekend of Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 May on the festival’s YouTube and Facebook pages. However, with social distancing restrictions set to be lifted by 21 June, plans are also underway for a series of ticketed in-person live gigs over three nights in July at Cheltenham Town Hall, with dates to be announced soon with government guidance permitting.

Last year’s festival had to move into a livestreamed format at the last minute as the pandemic began to close down the UK economy but thanks to swift decisions by the festival organisers and its loyal, international following, the livestreamed programme was a success and gained a large audience on the web.

The organiser’s have now confirmed the weekend will be hosted by BBC 6Music presenter Cerys Matthews and the Festival’s Artistic Curator Gregory Porter. Among the newly announced names on the programme are British rhythm and blues star Steve Winwood, and the aforementioned multi-million-selling US jazz vocalist Gregory Porter. Winwood will be premiering brand new material recorded during lockdown while Porter will be performing a set especially created for Cheltenham. Winwood and Porter’s streamed concerts will top the bill on Saturday 1 May and Sunday 2 May respectively.

Further names confirmed for this year’s programme include Mercury-nominated saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch (pictured above), improvising beatboxer/live-looper SK Shlomo and distinguished British vocalist Cleveland Watkiss. There are also shows from rising star saxophonists Rachael Cohen, Faye McCalman and Lara Jones; acclaimed sibling piano/sax duo Zoe & Idris Rahman, and a premiere of music from guitarist Chris Montague, who will unveil his new trio Warmer Than Blood featuring ECM-signed pianist Kit Downes and leading bassist Ruth Goller.

Also performing will be ensembles from the innovative jazz development organisations Tomorrow’s Warriors and Birmingham Town Hall’s Rise Up scheme – which is championing new female jazz artists – who have been chosen by the scheme’s panel of experts Trish Clowes, Alica Gardener-Trejo and Yazz Ahmed. Further names appearing include UK-based Cuban trumpeter Yelfris Valdes, punk-jazz sounds from The Rite of Trio and imaginative French singer Leïla Martial  and her Baa Box group with Eric Perez on drums, percussions, guitars and vocals and Pierre Tereygeol on guitar, bass ukulele and vocals.

Commenting on the line-up the festival’s Head of Programming David Gaydon, said: “This weekend reflects the breadth that Cheltenham Jazz Festival offers, giving a platform to some fabulous young upcoming artists as well as international stars, and with more exciting announcements to come."

The festival’s live programme in July, which will be taking place following the proposed easing of lockdown restrictions, will feature a selection of the leading lights of the UK scene, with acts to be announced in May. Jazzwise are festival media partners.

For full details of the programme visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz