Just as Nigel Jarrett laments the dilution – even hijacking – of the word “jazz” by festivals featuring pop and increasingly resting on “inclusion” as a justification, Swanage in Dorset lays claim to hosting “‘the largest and purest jazz festival on the south coast of England”. Whatever jazz is or may be, the festival’s 2025 programme tends to bear out the proposition.
Running three days, 11-13 July, the event is strong on swing, bop and even trad, including Andy Panayi, Elaine Delmar, John Etheridge, Georgia Mancio, Liane Carroll, Pete Long, Craig Milverton’s Tribute to Oscar Peterson and Ian Bateman’s Tribute to Louis Armstrong and his Allstars. The full ticketed programme is listed below and will be augmented by free Festival Fringe and Jazz Village shows, expected to be finalised in early June.
Last year over 11,500 people enjoyed the Swanage festival, with 74% of the ticket-buying audience coming from outside Dorset. Nearly 50% of the audience came from Bristol, the Midlands, London and the north.
Advance prices are £145 for a weekend stroller ticket, £45 for a Friday-only stroller and £85 for a Saturday or Sunday stroller. Stroller tickets give purchasers access to all ticketed venues, subject to capacity. Advance tickets are on sale until 30 June and prices will rise from 1 July. Tickets can be bought at swanagejazzfestival.co.uk/tickets.
In addition, residents of the BH19 postcode can get a 10% discount on the above prices. These tickets will only be available to purchase in person from Swanage Information Centre, Shore Road, Swanage.
The full Swanage programme
Friday 11 July from 2pm
Andy Panayi and Chris Coull’s Blues and The Abstract Truth
The Jazz Defenders
Hexagonal
The B.D. Lenz Trio
The Tara Minton Trio*
*in association with Swanage Jazz Club
The Adrian Cox Trio
The Elaine Delmar Quartet
Soothsayers
Saturday 12th July from 11.15am
The Josh Thorn Quartet
The Sound Cellar Five
Wee Four The History of Jazz 1918-1940
Terry Quinney’s Tribute to Benny Golson with Mark Nightingale
Craig Milverton’s Tribute to Oscar Peterson
Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends
Threeway with special guest John Etheridge
Atlanticus
The Dart Valley Stompers Legacy Band – Tribute to Jeremy Huggett
Ribbons with Sara Coleman and Rebecca Nash
The Kevin Figes Sextet – You Are Here
Ian Bateman’s Tribute to Louis Armstrong and his Allstars
Hejira
Andy Sheppard Quartets
Sunday 13 July from 10am
‘Praise Be!’ The Jazz Church Service with Chris Walker’s Pedigree Chums
The Maddie Martin Quartet
Tony Waller’s Prohibition Jazz
The Keanu Ienco Quartet
Chris Walker’s Pedigree Chums
Mr and Mrs with Georgia Mancio and Liane Carroll
The Neil Burns Trio – with Roger Beaujolais and Alec Dankworth
The Emily Masser/Alex Clarke Quintet
Moscow Drug Club
The Jazz Couriers Revisited – with Pete Long and Simon Spillett
The Misha Mullov-Abbado Sextet
The Jon Lloyd Quartet
The Sultan Stevenson Trio
Rainey’s Revue
Pete Long’s Jazz at The Mowlemonic 10 piece band with Simon Spillett, Alex Clark, Nigel Price, Pete Long plus others to be announced.
