Artists announced for Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025

David Gray is set to perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Cheltenham Jazz Festival has announced the first five artists due to perform at next year’s event.

David Gray, Jools Holland, Nubya Garcia and Corinne Bailey Rae with Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra will perform as part of festival's 80th anniversary celebrations.

The event will take place in Montpellier Gardens and other pop up venues across the town from 30 April to 5 May.

Ian George, head of programming for the Jazz Festival and co-CEO of parent charity Cheltenham Festivals said: "Bringing together the finest contemporary jazz from across the globe, we celebrate every genre that pulses with jazz’s vibrant DNA."

Amadou & Mariam are set to take to the stage

He added: "We're thrilled to share a taste of what festival-goers can expect from Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025."

The festival includes large-scale concerts, intimate club shows, world premieres as well as masterclasses and family-friendly shows.

Next year's event will be the first time that British singer-song writer David Gray has performed at the festival.

He is set to perform songs from his highly anticipated new album Dear Life, as well as his back catalogue.

Nubya Garcia will be returning to the festival after a sold-out show at Cheltenham Town Hall back in 2022 to perform her widely-acclaimed studio album Odyssey.

Multi-GRAMMY-award-winning singer Corinne Bailey Rae will perform her hits with Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra for an exclusive Cheltenham Jazz Festival show.

Also announced is pianist and broadcaster Jools Holland who will be joined by former Squeeze band member Gilson Lavis.

Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, who combine traditional Malian sounds with everything from brass-heavy funk to reggae, Delta blues and Afro-Cuban jazz, will play a headline set at the Festival’s 2000-capacity Big Top tent.

2025 will also see the return of the Parabola Arts Centre programme, which is dedicated to new, innovative music.

Alex Carr, contemporary music programmer at Southbank Centre and Jazz Programmer for the festival, said: "Festival-goers can look forward to an exhilarating and diverse programme that reflects a slice of the brilliant music that's being created in the UK with a sprinkle of international magic."

The full programme for Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025 will be announced early next year.