Southport Jazz Festival

31 Jan 2025 - 02 Feb 2025

The Grand, Southport

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The 2025 Southport Jazz Festival is bringing 10 superb shows to town this winter for three days and nights of the best jazz around. 

Here is your full guide to what you can enjoy at The Grand on Lord Street from Friday, 31st January 2025 to Sunday, 2nd February 2025. 

See performances by Liana Carroll and Friends; Jeremy Sassoon’s Ray Charles Project; Swingtime Big Band ft Anthony Strong and more. 

Tickets are available for each show, each day or for the whole festival. 

The Grand is offering a special Jazz Festival Menu. 

1 – The Weave

Friday 31st January 2025

Show starts – 1pm

Admission – £16

Making a very welcome return to Southport, we have The Weave led by trumpeter Martin Smith. This show coincides with their new album release and so this will be the official new album launch show.

The Weave represents the finest of Liverpool’s established jazz scene. After a hiatus of some 7 years their newest project, SNISHOO, sees these talented musicians return to create an exciting collaborative journey. 

2 – Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock

Friday 31st January 2025

Show starts – 4pm

Admission – £20

Southport Jazz Festival is delighted to bring you a very special collaboration featuring the incredible Emma Rawicz and Gwilym Simcock.

This new duo brings together the talents of celebrated pianist and composer Gwilym Simcock and rising star saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz. This musical collaboration has a special depth and freedom that has blossomed in just a short space of time, maturing rapidly into a unique and exciting musical force. 

3 – Swingtime Big Band feat. Anthony Strong & Emma Holcroft

Friday 31st January 2025

Show starts – 8:30 pm

Admission – £26

The Festival rounds day one of SJF2025 off in blockbuster style with the mighty powerhouse that is the Swingtime Big Band with special guests Anthony Strong and Emma Holcroft.

Singer-pianist Anthony Strong’s swaggering vocals and swinging piano style are matched by an energy that has entertained audiences at his live shows worldwide.

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.

4 – The Emily Masser Quintet

Saturday 1st February 2025

Show starts – 11:45am

Admission – £16

Emily Masser is a 20-year-old jazz singer and saxophonist from Wigan currently studying at London’s Guildhall School of Music.

Emily gained attention and encouragement from jazz luminaries Claire Martin and Liane Carroll and also, during the time she spent honing her craft in the Clark Tracey Quintet. Their acclaimed album, “Introducing Emily Masser” also showcases her arranging skills, making them sound newly minted and excitingly different. 

5 – The Gaz Hughes Trio

Saturday 1st February 2025

Show starts – 2pm

Admission – £16

Starting at 12.30pm is the festival’s most requested show, The Gaz Hughes Trio. 

Organisers have invited Gaz back again this year due to the demand from their audience, such was the reception their show received in 2024.

Gaz Hughes’ contributions to the UK Jazz scene were recognised when he ranked 5th Place in the British Jazz Awards in 2019.  

Gaz and the band will be performing his latest compositions ahead of the new album launch later in 2025.

6 – Ben Holder Quartet

Saturday 1st February 2025

Show starts – 4:30 pm

Admission – £16

Finish the Saturday day sessions off in style with the outstanding Ben Holder and his trio. 

This incredibly high energy show with outstanding skill and musicianship will leave you breathless and thoroughly entertained.

Ben Holder is the most acclaimed and exciting jazz violinist in the UK. 

Often playing across the UK, Europe and further afield, he is a first-call jazz violinist for many of the country’s top venues, line-ups and studios.

7 – Jeremy Sassoon’s Ray Charles Project

Saturday 1st February 2025

Show starts – 8:30 pm

Admission – £26

Jeremy Sassoon’s tribute to the music of Ray Charles captures the imagination of Jazz, Blues and Soul audiences alike. The show has headlined Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club, The Jazz Café, Pizza Express Live Soho, Wigan International Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival and Manchester Jazz Festival.

The Ray Charles Project showcases the UK’s finest jazz blues and soul musicians.

8 – Wigan Youth Jazz Orchestra

Sunday 2nd February 2025

Show starts – 12:30 pm

Admission – £12

This multi-award winning band aims to train and develop the musical skills of its members through the performance of big band music from the 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. 

9 – Chris Ingham’s ‘Jazz at the Movies’

Sunday 2nd February 2025

Show starts – 3pm

Admission – £20

A unique show from an acclaimed jazz group who put an irresistible spin on movie music and soundtrack songs from silver screen sources both familiar and obscure. 

With anecdotes and themes from many films including The Pink Panther, Gilda, Butch Cassidy, The Aristocrats and The Fabulous Baker Boys, and songs by Burt Bacharach, John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Stephen Sondheim, John Dankworth, and others, Jazz at the Movies is a delightful and surprising show.

10 – Liane Carroll & Friends

Sunday 2nd February 2025

Show starts – 8pm

Admission – £26

The honour of closing Southport Jazz festival 2025 falls to outstanding performer, Liane Carroll. 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).