Watford Jazz Junction is back this May

The Watford Jazz Junction Music Festival is back this Saturday 10 May to Sunday 18 May in venues across the town.

The Watford Jazz Junction was established in 2020 with the goals of promoting inclusivity, enhancing everyone's mental health by allowing them to enjoy live music, and showcasing the best jazz performers in the UK.

This year the festival starts with a Gala Night show on Saturday 10 May at the Watford Palace theatre featuring the lead singer of the 10-piece band Incognito, Vanessa Haynes. Vanessa will be supported by a funk & soul performer from Croxley, Harry T Pope. He will be performing with his 7-piece band, for a night of classic hits.

Throughout the week, music lovers can look forward to performances from celebrated and award-winning artists. There are shows from singer Elaine Delmar, Grammy-winning saxophonist Tim Garland, trumpeter Mark Kavuma, Errol Linton, and a double headline from US-bassist & singer Janet Evra and locally based pianist Ilario Ferrari.

One of the week’s standout highlights will be the world premiere of a new work titled Invented Folklore by celebrated vocalist, violinist, and composer Alice Zawadzki. Taking place on Saturday, 17 May at the Pump House Theatre. Zawadzki, a Jazz FM Awards 2025 Vocalist of the Year nominee composed this program specifically for the festival and it includes a number of songs about Watford residents. 

The festival concludes with Jazz Steps on Sunday, 18 May, in Oxhey Village. This free festival offers an afternoon of music and celebration with 25 live performers spread across nine stages, including Oxhey's family-friendly pubs, Oxhey Bowls Club, St. Matthew's Church Hall, and a major platform on Oxhey Green. The City Funk Orchestra will be the main act, making it the ideal way to cap off a week of live performances.

The dates and locations for the performances are as follows: 

• Vanessa Haynes: 10 May 2025 at Watford Palace Theatre
• Elaine: Sun 11 May at Halsey Hall
• Janet & Ilario: Tue 13 May at Watford Pump House Theatre
• Tim Garland & Gwilym Simcock: Wed 14 May at Watford Pump House Theatre
• Mark Kavuma: Thu 15 May at Watford Pump House Theatre
• Errol Linton: Friday 16 May at Watford Pump House Theatre
• Alice Zawadzki: Sat 17 May at Watford Pump House Theatre
• Jazz Steps: Sun 18 May at Across Oxhey Village

Tickets for Vanessa Haynes are available direct from the Watford Palace Theatre box office: https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/watford-jazz-junction-gala-performance/

Tickets for all other performances are available from www.watfordjazzjunction.com