Cheltenham Jazz Festival – Unveils Star-Studded Line-up for 2025 

World Class Performances in the Big Top 
 
Since launching in 1996, Cheltenham Jazz Festival has built a reputation for hosting world class acts spanning jazz, blues, pop, soul and beyond, and will this year present globally celebrated performers including legendary Scottish singer Lulu whose “Champagne with Lulu” show is inspired by her life during the 1960s; co-founder and lead singer of The Who and Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inductee Roger Daltrey who performs the final date of his UK tour; one of the all-time great soul singers Beverley Knight; British pop singer Katie Melua with a special jazz-themed Festival show; the US soul star Macy Gray with her Cheltenham Jazz Festival debut; chart-topping Scottish singer-songwriter Tom Walker; soul-inspired three-time BRIT award winner Lisa Stansfield; multi-GRAMMY-award-winning Corinne Bailey Rae with the Ronnie Scott’s Orchestra; revered pianist and broadcaster Jools Holland; and multi-million-selling British singer-songwriter David Gray who recently released an acclaimed new album Dear Life. 

The Festival continues its long-standing partnership with the BBC and will this year present a special edition of its Soul Jazz Summit show presented by the Guy Barker Big Band and BBC Concert Orchestra with special guests Emeli Sandé, Vanessa Haynes, Lisa Stansfield, Lulu, Tommy Blaize, Lucy Anne Daniels and Curtis Stigers. 

Global Music Stars and Contemporary Jazz Icons 

An array of contemporary jazz luminaries from across the globe will once again descend on Cheltenham including GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter Keyon Harrold, Miles Davis collaborator and the quintessential fusion drummer Billy Cobham, blistering US saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, andmulti-million-selling US singer and saxophonist Curtis Stigers,along with the Buena Vista All Stars featuring original members of the multi-million-selling Buena Vista Social Club project, legendary gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama, and the thrilling Malian duo Amadou & Mariam. 

Championing and Celebrating the Finest UK Jazz 

The Festival underlines its continued commitment to championing emerging and established homegrown talent with performances by the trailblazing saxophonist Nubya Garcia, Leeds based seven-piece jazz electronica group Submotion Orchestra, the Neil Cowley Trio, who return after eight years to perform music from their new studio album Entity, London-based afrobeat octet KOKOROKO, boundary-pushingEzra Collective pianist Joe Armon-Jones, singer/songwriter and Blue Note recording artist Maya Delilah with award-winning British neo-jazz singer Ni Maxine, rising star blues singers Elles Bailey & Alice Armstrong, the consummate vocalist Claire Martin, neo-soul singer Elli Ingram, and localsaxophonist Kim Cypher featuring Ashley Slater from 80’s jazz big band, Loose Tubes.