Southport Jazz Festival is back this month with ten shows across three days

The 2026 Southport Jazz Festival is ready to welcome music lovers from across the UK later this month.

There will be ten shows you can enjoy. Headline acts include the Swingtime Big Band featuring Liane Carroll and Emma Holcroft; The Clare Teal 5; and iG4 with Claire Martin, Nikki Iles, Karen Sharp and Ewan Hastie.

The shows will take place across three jam-packed days and nights at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport town centre from 30th January – 1st February 2026.

Friday 30th January 2026

Trio JDM – 1:30pm

The name Trio JDM is a fitting choice for this project, led by Dave Walsh, known for his superlative drumming with countless jazz greats, award-winning singer-songwriters, and chart-topping pop acts alike (e.g. Enrico Pieranunzi, Arun Ghosh, Tom McRae, Matt Bianco).

Jamie Taylor, the “J” in the trio. Jamie is an experienced guitarist whose work has earned him recognition alongside some of the best jazz talent from both sides of the Atlantic.

Wonderful organist Martin Longhawn is perhaps best known to jazz audiences for his work with the excellent Svarc/Hanley/Longhawn group.

Amongst the trio’s many influences are Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart, Delvon Lamarr, and The Tony Williams Lifetime.

Bryan Corbett – 4pm

Having returned to playing from serious health issues and major surgery Bryan is back doing what he does best.

Renowned Birmingham-based trumpeter and flugelhorn player Bryan Corbett presents a new original project full of improvisation, hip grooves, beautiful melodies, unique musicianship, interplay and virtuosity.

Bryan’s musical journey is a tapestry of diverse collaborations and artistic pursuits. As a sought-after session musician, he has lent his talents to some of the biggest names and acclaimed artists across various genres. From The Brand New Heavies, Us3, Tony Christie, Sigala & Ella Eyre to featured soloists with the BBC Concert Orchestra and performing under his own name at jazz clubs and festivals around the globe.

Swingtime Big Band feat. Liane Carroll & Emma Holcroft – 8.30pm

Friday is rounded off in blockbuster style with the powerhouse that is the Swingtime Big Band with special guests Liane Carroll and Emma Holcroft.

Writers have exhausted the lexicon of superlatives to describe festival patron and special guest star Liane Carroll. The multi award winning jazz icon will be interpreting classics from the Great American songbook backed by the mighty Swingtime Big Band.

Liane is an award-winning jazz singer described by Jamie Cullum as “one of the greatest singers we have in this country”. Awards include ‘Best British Vocalist’ (BBC Jazz Awards), ‘Best Female Jazz Vocalist’ (Ronnie Scott’s Awards) and ‘Best Jazz Album of the Year’ (Parliamentary Jazz Awards).

Liane is aided and abetted by Emma Holcroft. As the featured vocalist with Swingtime Big Band, Emma has performed in a variety of shows, singing alongside the finest of jazz vocalists including Joe Stilgoe, Liane Carroll, Clare Teal, Ian Shaw, Matt Ford, Andy Prior and of course Liane Carroll. Emma’s smoky tones lend a natural elegance to crowd favourites like That Old Black Magic and The Look of Love.

Emma has a very successful solo and small band career as one of the UK’s leading vocalists, who sings a wide repertoire of classic jazz standards and has received superb reviews from past festivals.

Saturday 31st January 2026

O’Higgins & Smith Play Coltrane & Dolphy – 2pm

For this unique concert, Dave O’Higgins & Tom Smith (two of the UKs greatest exponents of tenor, alto, soprano saxophones, flute and bass clarinet), combine to play the music from the 1960’s of the US great jazz duo of John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy.

Tom Smith is an award-winning saxophonist, composer, and arranger, firmly established within London’s vibrant jazz scene. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and a two-time finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition (2014, 2016), Smith is recognised for his innovative projects, dynamic compositions, and commitment to pushing the boundaries of jazz.

Dave O’Higgins now has 26 albums as leader to his credit. His sax sound is very personal and recognisable, with a clear sense of melodic development and adventure.

He has relentlessly pursued artistic exploration and development with a deep respect for the tradition of the music. His latest project is Monkin’ Around, a co-operative with Greek drummer Billy Pod & Aussie bassist, Luke Fowler, exploring the music of Thelonious Monk.

Malcolm Strachan Septet – 4:30pm

Expect to hear a full set of original compositions by Malcolm and featuring material covering a broad spectrum of jazz styles. From modal jazz grooves to Brazilian samba beats, Latin rhythms to cinematic soundtrack vibes, and along the way, some beautiful ballads.

Malcolm’s last album Point of No Return was launched at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in late February to a standing ovation.

The Clare Teal 5 – 8:30pm

Expect exhilarating swing from award winning jazz vocalist and long-time Radio 2 & Jazz FM broadcaster Clare Teal, who returns with a fabulous new show.

The Clare Teal 5 is an exciting collaboration between award winning jazz vocalist and long-time Radio 2, Jazz FM and Radio 3 broadcaster Clare Teal and her magnificent band, featuring the UK’s finest jazz musicians.

Clare continues her 25th anniversary of touring, celebrating the occasion with further delves into her 22 album back catalogue with new arrangements of old favourites, including her breakthrough album Orsino’s Songs (2002) featuring California Dreamin’, plus material from her major label debut album Don’t Talk (2004) which reached the top 20.

Teal’s live shows are constantly evolving, and always interspersed with Clare’s warm and witty storytelling. A magical world where the talents of Cole Porter, Van Morrison, Sam Smith, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Blossom Dearie, Peggy Lee, Sarah Vaughan are heralded by Clare and her band, in addition to Clare’s own original songs.

Sunday 1st February 2026

Liane Carroll Vocal Workshop – 10am-12pm

Jazz legend Liane Carroll will be hosting a vocal workshop with a difference. It is a very low pressure inclusive event suitable for everyone wherever they are on their singing journey. Not only will you develop harmony, improvisation and performance skills, you will leave feeling uplifted and inspired.

So why not take a moment this weekend to connect with one of the most passionate and gifted performers and music teachers out there — and get inspired all over again!

Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra in Concert – 12pm

Formed in 1976 by Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council, this multi-award winning band aims to train and develop the musical skills of its members through the performance of big band music from 1930’s to the present day.

Over the years, WYJO has received many national and international honours, most notably from the BBC Radio Big Band Competition, the Daily Telegraph Young Jazz Competition and the National Festival of Music for Youth. The band is three times winner of the Great North Big Band Festival winning the top prize in 2014, 2015 and 2019 and they have been invited to perform at the prestigious National Festival of Music for Youth on many occasions.

Baiana featuring Snowboy and The Haggis Horns – 3pm

Baiana is the Brazilian-inspired project of Liverpool-born singer-songwriter Laura Doyle.

Refreshingly joyful and charismatic, the show will feature internationally acclaimed percussionist Snowboy, (Lisa Stansfield, Imelda May, Amy Winehouse, Rod Temperton, Airto Morreira) who produced their stunning debut album along with the trio from The Haggis Horns (John Legend, Mark Ronson, Corinne Bailey Rae, Amy Winehouse)

Dubbed “the band we are all obsessed about” (Deb Grant, BBC 6 Music), Baiana’s thrilling live shows have been described as “Outstanding” (Robbie Vincent Jazz FM) and having “a proper wow factor” (John Osbourne Solar Radio).

iG4 with Claire Martin, Nikki Iles, Karen Sharp and Ewan Hastie, 8pm – £28

To finish this year’s festival with a roar, iG4 featuring the talents of jazz superstars Claire Martin, Nikki Iles, Karen Sharp and Ewan Hastie. iG4 is a new intergenerational band of 4 of the UK’s finest jazz talent sharing their love of great songs and composers.

Vocalist Claire Martin OBE joins multi-award-winning pianist and composer Nikki Iles, much-in-demand saxophonist Karen Sharp and rising star bassist Ewan Hastie who won the BBC’s Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022.

Brand new arrangements written for this project by Nikki will shine a light on classic repertoire from Tom Waits to Burt Bacharach, Anthony Newly and Joni Mitchell as well as stylish reworkings from the great writers of the American songbook including Cole Porter and Johnny Mandel.

Recording artist Claire Martin has, to worldwide critical acclaim, established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene gaining many awards, including winning the British Jazz Awards eight times during a career which spans over three decades.

The 2026 Southport Jazz Festival will take place at The Grand, Lord Street, Southport town centre, from Friday, 30th January 2026 to Sunday, 1st February 2026.