Swansea is gearing up for its annual International Jazz Festival, running September 3 to 6 across venues throughout the city.
Started in 2014 as a partnership between Swansea Jazz Club and the local council, the festival has grown into a four-day event mixing ticketed shows with more than 50 free gigs at cafes, bars and venues around the city center. "It's a celebration of creativity and talent that brings people together in the heart of Swansea," festival director Dave Cottle said.
The festival opens Thursday with Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier, best known for touring with the Jeff Beck Group, playing the Swansea Grand Theatre with a set blending Turkish and Middle Eastern influences with flamenco, tango and contemporary jazz.
Friday brings Claire Martin and Laurence Cottle's new project Bass to Face to the National Waterfront Museum, while Georgina Jackson brings her "Sass and Brass" show, pairing vocals with powerhouse trumpet, to Swansea Minster.
Saturday's lineup includes bassist Aidan Thorne and guitarist Jason Ball reimagining traditional Welsh folk melodies, the Power of Gower Festival Big Band, and saxophonist James Allsopp's quartet paying tribute to Stan Getz. Dave Cottle himself turns up throughout the weekend, playing in the big band, leading a late-night jam session, and performing with the Cottle Brothers All-Star Dixieland Band.
Beyond the stages, the festival runs Copper Jack Jazz Cruises along the River Tawe, giving audiences an intimate, water-borne alternative to the city's more traditional venues. The festival closes Sunday night with a performance from Hejira.
The facts
- Runs Sept. 3-6, 2026, across venues throughout Swansea
- Over 50 free gigs alongside ticketed shows
- Opens with Swiss guitarist Nicolas Meier at the Swansea Grand Theatre
- Includes Bass to Face, a new Claire Martin and Laurence Cottle project
- Runs jazz cruises on the River Tawe during the festival
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