It seems ages since I posted about Swansea International Jazz Festival, so it’s good to see it’s back this year.

Featuring local, national and international talent, the festival takes place from 13 to 16 June, now hosted by Swansea Council  in partnership with the festival’s founders Swansea Jazz Club.

After using various venues over the years, the 2024 edition sees all the ticketed concerts taking place in the Festival Pavilion on Museum Park.

Highlights include:

Thursday 13 June, 6pm: Opening gala concert and dinner with the festival’s patron Sir Karl Jenkins and the Nigel Hitchcock/ Mark Nightingale Quintet.

Friday 14 June, 6pm and 8.30pm: Back, Down Another Road – The Jazz music of Sir Karl Jenkins with the Laurence Cottle All Star 16-piece big band.

Saturday 15 June, 12pm: The Power of Gower Festival Big Band – 17-piece big band with the Dave Cottle Jazz Trio and guests.

4pm: The Adrian Cox Quartet

8.30pm: Denny Illet’s Electric Lady Big Band plays Jimmy Hendrix

Sunday 16 June, 2.30pm: Moscow Drug Club, combining elements of Berlin Cabaret, Latin tinge, French musette and storytelling.

8pm: The Royal Scammers, Steely Dan tribute.

For more info and tickets, see the Visit Swansea website here. And the Swansea Jazz Club summer brochure here.

Here are some of my reviews of past editions of the festival:

2016 – Swansea Jazz Festival, far from average

2017 – Hot weather and cool sounds at Swansea jazz fest

2018 – Swansea Jazz Festival triumphs again (with or without Herbie)

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