DAVID GRAY AMONG FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025

Cheltenham Jazz Festival has unveiled the first five artists lined up to perform at next year’s event as part of Cheltenham Festivals’ 80th Anniversary celebrations, which will take place in venues across the historic spa town between 30 April – 5 May. The full programme, which will incorporate large-scale concerts, intimate club shows, world premieres, masterclasses, family-friendly shows and an array of free events, will be announced in the new year. 

Making his debut at the Festival will be multi-million-selling British singer-songwriter David Gray. Gray will perform tracks from his highly anticipated new album Dear Life alongside classics from his extensive back catalogue, which includes 1998’s record-breaking, 7-million-selling White Ladder. Having recently been described by The Guardian as “one of the top-line names to emerge from the past decade’s explosion of young London jazz talent”, and following the release of her widely-acclaimed studio album Odyssey, Nubya Garcia is set to return to the Festival after a sold-out show at Cheltenham Town Hall back in 2022. Multi-GRAMMY-award-winning singer Corinne Bailey Rae will perform her hits and classic big band material with the esteemed Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra for an exclusive Cheltenham Jazz Festival show.  

Also announced today is revered pianist and broadcaster Jools Holland whose peerless 50-year career has included chart-topping albums, collaborations with some of music’s biggest stars, and an array of awards including an OBE for services to the British music industry. He’ll be joined by former Squeeze band member Gilson Lavis who works regularly alongside Holland including at his annual Hootenanny celebrations. The thrilling Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, who’ve gained global attraction for their unique style combining traditional Malian sounds with everything from brass-heavy funk to reggae, Delta blues and Afro-Cuban jazz, are also on the 2025 line-up and will play a headline set at the Festival’s 2000-capacity Big Top.  

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025 will take place in the Festival Village in the town’s central Montpellier Gardens featuring the Big Top stage, Jazz Arena, Free Stage and a variety of food and drink traders. The Festival is also set to pop-up across the town, incorporating several additional venues including Cheltenham Town Hall, Parabola Arts Centre, Dunkertons Tap Room and late-night jazz jams held at Hotel Du Vin. 

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

Tickets for the first wave of acts go on sale on Friday 22 November for Members and Monday 25 November for the public. View the line-up at www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/whats-on.