All-new jazz festival to launch in Watford this May

A new music festival celebrating the very best of local and international talent is coming to Watford this Spring.

The Watford Jazz Junction will take place across different venues between 19-22 May.

Headlining the live event is award-winning musician and electric bass master Shri Sriram.

The jazz and drum ‘n’ bass pioneer will lead a  gala concert at Watford Palace Theatre on Thursday 19 May, in a musical collaboration with UK funk trombonist, Dennis Rollins MBE (from acts such as Jamiroquai and the Brand New Heavies).

Shri Sriram. Credit: Watford Jazz Junction.

Also appearing at the Watford Jazz Junction is former local school pupil and international singer Emma Smith – who has performed with Michael Bublé, Goldie and Robbie Williams, as well as being one third of the Puppini Sisters.

Other musicians set to perform include the National Youth Jazz Orchestra featuring Grammy-winning saxophonist Tim Garland, and global blues and jazz guitar legend John Etheridge – who is playing a set alongside blues star Jo Harrop.

Emma Smith – Member of the Puppini Sisters, who will be performing at the festival in May. Credit: Watford Jazz Junction.

Festival Director, Chris Newstead, said: “There are so many talented musicians who live in and around Watford. Bringing lots of them together to play locally alongside other UK and international talent is long overdue.

“Putting on a festival gives us the chance to showcase lots of music that people might not have heard before with new collaborations and fresh acts.

“It’s just great to be putting on jazz and blues of this quality here in Watford with loads of opportunities to get involved with a range of accessible ticket prices right through to completely free gigs.”

Attendees can look forward to enjoying a mix of individual shows on Saturday 21 May, starting at 10:30 am with Jazz FM's Ruth Fisher who will host a Prosecco brunch at the Mercure Watford Hotel, featuring new singing sensation Immy Churchill.

In the afternoon, Archipelago (Jazz FM Nominated Act of the Year 2021) will join-up sets with singer-songwriter Jelly Cleaver and saxophonist Samuel Sharp, for an electro-acoustic show at the Pump House Theatre.

Saturday’s festivities round off in Steinbeck & Shaw for a club night takeover hosted by Tomorrow’s Warriors – starring Sultan Stevenson Trio, trumpeter Mark Kavuma and DJ Jelly Cleaver on the decks.

The Watford Jazz Junction will then conclude on Sunday (22 May) with a free fringe event of more than a dozen family-friendly gigs, across the pubs of Oxhey Village.

For further information about The Watford Jazz Junction visit:

 www.watfordjazzjunction.com