Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival

24/05/2026

🎉🎷The countdown begins — 10 weeks to go until Lady Sings the Blues comes to The Core Theatre, Solihull .🎷🎉

Presented in partnership with Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, this acclaimed live production celebrates the timeless music and legacy of Billie Holiday through an unforgettable evening of jazz, storytelling and atmosphere.🎤

Featuring the extraordinary Val Wiseman alongside six award-winning jazz musicians, audiences will be transported back to the golden age of Harlem jazz clubs with authentic arrangements and iconic songs from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.🎸🎶

Legendary jazz musician and broadcaster Benny Green praised the show saying:
“What is happening here might even be a shade better than what was being played all those years ago.”

From soulful ballads to beloved jazz classics, Lady Sings the Blues is more than a tribute concert — it is a celebration of one of the most influential voices in jazz history.

📍 The Core Theatre, Solihull, Homer Road & Touchwood, B91 3RG
📅 Friday 31 July 2026
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 Tickets: £20 + transaction fee
⏱ Running time: 2 hours including interval

Click the link below to book your tickets now.
https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/lady-sings-the-blues/27961

13/05/2026

NEW ON SALE - Lady Sings the Blues at The Core Theatre on Friday 31 July, in partnership with .

Lady Sings the Blues is a six piece band featuring the finest of British jazz musicians, every one of them on top of their game. Former Humphrey Lyttelton Band arranger Pete Strange brings a repertoire direct from the Billie Holiday bands of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. This is a rare opportunity to hear these songs played in the way they were in the clubs and cafés of jazz age Harlem, New York - sung by the remarkable Val Wiseman.

Book now at https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/lady-sings-the-blues-birmingham-jazz-and-blues-festival/27961

12/05/2026

Step into the world of Billie Holiday as Lady Sings the Blues brings the sound, soul and atmosphere of jazz-age Harlem to The Core Theatre, Solihull 🎷✨

Presented in partnership with Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival, this critically acclaimed production celebrates the music and legacy of one of jazz’s most influential voices through an unforgettable evening of live performance, storytelling and timeless songs.

Leading the show is the extraordinary Val Wiseman, widely recognised as one of Britain’s finest interpreters of Billie Holiday’s music. Joined by six outstanding award-winning jazz musicians and featuring authentic arrangements by former Humphrey Lyttelton Band arranger Pete Strange, the production recreates the spirit of Billie Holiday’s legendary recordings from the 1930s, 40s and 50s with stunning authenticity.

Legendary Jazz musician and broadcaster Benny Green described the show saying:
“What is happening here might even be a shade better than what was being played all those years ago.”

Digby Fairweather, described her as “Britain’s Greatest Swing Singer”

Iconic British jazz Cornettist and broadcaster, Digby Fairweather described her as “Britain greatest singer”.

More than a tribute concert, Lady Sings the Blues is a rare opportunity to experience the music of Billie Holiday performed with intelligence, passion and deep respect for the golden age of jazz.

📍 The Core Theatre, Solihull, Homer Road, & Touchwood, B91 3RG
📅 Friday 31 July 2026
🕢 7.30pm
🎟 Tickets: £20 + transaction fee
⏱ Running time: 2 hours including interval

Click the link below to book your tickets now!
https://www.thecoretheatresolihull.co.uk/whats-on/all-shows/lady-sings-the-blues/27961

09/05/2026

A glimpse of last year’s Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival 🎷✨
This photo film captures just a snapshot of what the city came alive with packed venues, unforgettable performances, and incredible energy across 10 days of live jazz & blues.
Across the city venues and stages, this is what the festival looked like when the music took over Birmingham.
And this year? It’s set to be even bigger, better, and louder 🎶🔥
Don’t miss it.
Watch the photo film via the link below 👇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_IEyC_i1RI

This year's Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival was amazing! Our photofilm will give you a taste of the talented musicians who performed, bringing people together.

07/05/2026

The official home of the festival, the historic Plough & Harrow Hotel 🏨, dates back to 1704 and has hosted everyone from royalty 👑 to writers ✍️ now it’s welcoming our artists for 10 days of jazz 🎷, blues 🎶 and late-night festival energy 🌙.
Make the most of the 42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival by staying at this hotel from 23rd July to 2nd August 📅. Perfectly positioned in Edgbaston and close to the city centre, it offers a relaxed, characterful base with excellent transport links to festival venues across the city. For guests arriving by car 🚗, on-site parking is available, allowing you to come and go with ease throughout your stay.
As the host hotel, the Plough & Harrow becomes part of the festival experience itself 🎷✨. Live jazz performances will take place inside the hotel, with additional sessions planned in the gardens, weather permitting ☀️.
Guests can enjoy comfortable rooms 🛏️, inviting public spaces 🛋️ and a bar and restaurant 🍽️🍸 ideal for unwinding before or after a day of music. Whether it’s a one-night stay or a full festival break, the Plough & Harrow brings together heritage 🏛️, convenience 📍 and live music 🎶 in one unforgettable experience.

&harrow

06/05/2026

After an incredible 2025 festival, powered largely by you, we are truly grateful for your support. The energy, generosity and passion of our festival-goers is what keeps this event alive and thriving year after year.
We’re once again asking for your help to make the 42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival happen in 2026 🎷💛

Despite ongoing funding challenges, the festival continues to grow thanks to the strength of the community behind it. Last year alone, your support helped us deliver 179 performances across 101 venues, with 166 completely free shows and over 64,000 festival-goers enjoying music from around the world 🌍🎶

With limited confirmed funding so far for 2026, we are turning once again to the people who make this festival what it is you. Every donation, no matter how big or small, helps us keep the vast majority of performances free, support incredible musicians and bring live jazz & blues to venues across the West Midlands.
If you believe in keeping live music accessible, vibrant and open to all, please consider supporting the festival today.
👉 Donate here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/birmigham-jazz-and-blues-festival-2026
Your support doesn’t just fund a festival, it keeps a cultural movement alive.
GIVE A LITTLE – GROOVE A LOT 🎶💛

06/05/2026

📅 SAVE THE DATE!
The 42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival is BACK 24th July – 2nd August 2026 🎷🔥
And this year… it’s going to be BIG.
We’re talking 100+ bands already confirmed, 59+ venues (and rising!) across Birmingham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Solihull and beyond, plus a brand-new festival hub at the iconic Plough & Harrow Hotel.
From international stars to homegrown legends, the city will come alive with 10 days of non-stop jazz & blues and the best part? Over 95% of it is completely FREE.
Expect packed venues, buzzing streets, unforgettable performances, and that unbeatable festival energy from start to finish.
👉 Don’t miss a single moment, sign up to our mailing list:
https://www.birminghamjazzfestival.com/

👉 Love what we do? Support us here:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/birmigham-jazz-and-blues-festival-2026
GIVE A LITTLE – GROOVE A LOT ❤️
Your support, no matter how big or small, makes a massive impact.
Here’s to another entertaining, groovy and FREE Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival - let’s make 2026 the biggest one yet!

20/04/2026

SUPPORTING THE FESTIVAL has never been easier!! 🥳✨

Sign up with easyfundraising, and when you shop with one of the 8000+ partner retailers, they will donate a small amount to the festival - at no cost to you! 💸

Even though the donations are small, they add up - with only THREE active supporters (plus a further 6 who have recently joined), we have already raised over £26. 😍

Now imagine if we had 30 supporters... or 300!

Sign up today and spread the word: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/birmingham-jazz-and-blues-festival-cic/

For help and more information, email us at [email protected].

12/09/2025

We're proud to announce that the Birmingham Jazz and Blues festival is a finalist for the Birmingham Awards!

Please vote for us by following the link below and going to the 'Best Festival' section. Thank you!

https://www.birminghamawards.co.uk/

29/07/2025

And just like that, the 41st Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival is done and dusted.

We’d like to extend a heart-felt thank you to everyone who came to a Festival performance between 18th to 27th July. The city was alive and buzzing with Hot Jazz and Cool Blues, in spite of troublesome inclement weather, and it’s all down this region’s residents, visitors and workers!

We presented 177 performances, 165 of those being free admission, throughout Birmingham, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Solihull and Coventry in pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafés, shopping centres, open spaces, public places, libraries, museums, art galleries, gardens, stately homes - and even a furniture store!

A special thank you must go to our sponsors Sandwell MBC, West Midlands Combined Authority and Musicians' Union for providing invaluable financial support and our official hotel partner Aloft Birmingham Eastside for accommodating visiting artists.
Without whom, none of this would have been possible.

Thank you to all of our remarkable performers, our participating venues and Paradise Birmingham, Southside, Birmingham, The Jewellery Quarter BID, Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID and Erdington Bid who enabled many of the performances in this year’s festival. This really is a unique celebration and collaboration of business, retail, hospitality and entertainment industries within the Midlands.

Lastly, thank you to everyone who has donated to and shared our GoFundMe campaign. We have made a good start on achieving our target of £15K, but there is still a way to go. Any donations, big or small, will make a significant difference. If you are unable to financially support the festival, perhaps you would consider sharing the link to your friends, colleagues and family.

If you are uncomfortable using GoFundMe for whatever reason, there are plenty of other ways to donate. Simply call the Festival hotline on 0121 454 7020 and we can take a card payment over the phone, or send a cheque addressed to Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival to PO Box 944, Birmingham, B16 8UT.

Our provisional dates for 2026 are July 24th to August 2nd - let’s make sure we return for our 42nd consecutive year, bigger and stronger than ever!

https://gofund.me/7a064a25

📸: Merlin Daleman