With the Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival just six weeks away, preparations and final planning are moving up a gear.

The festival takes place between Thursday, May 23 and bank holiday Monday, May 27. Headline evening concerts take place on the dedicated outdoor stage at Blackmore Gardens, with an eclectic line-up of artistes including Tony Hadley, FM Robots, Roachford, Roberto Fonseca, Ruby Turner, Elles Bailey and Mica Millar.

The programme also includes three days of high-quality live music performances on the outdoor stage in Blackmore Gardens, with five acts performing each day between Saturday and Monday. These include Ian Shaw, the UK’s number one male jazz singer, Afro Cuban jazz giants Snowboy and The Latin Section, and Acantha Lang with her unique blend of New Orleans soul and funk. Tickets for the three days are £25 and are called the ‘count me in’ festival ticket.

Sidmouth Conservative Club will be the venue for two evening ticketed performances, the first being a special intimate evening on Friday 24 May with the American blues harmonica player Johnny Mars and his band. Johnny is one of the most respected blues harmonica players in the world and has performed across the globe at many of the biggest international festivals. He will tell some fascinating life stories and play the absolute best of Chicago and Delta blues.

The second ticketed event at the club will be an evening of outstanding jazz with the South West based pianist and composer Craig Milverton. The show, titled ‘An Oscar for Ella’, celebrates the music of two American jazz greats, pianist Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald. Craig is joined by his fabulous band of top-drawer musicians and guest singer Joanna Eden.

Festival director Ian Bowden said: “We have most certainly raised the bar higher in respect of the quality and variety on offer at this year’s festival.

“Music unites us together from all backgrounds and I am extremely proud that we have managed to provide such a wide choice of events for festival attendees to enjoy and to appreciate.

“The reaction to the overall festival has been fantastic and I encourage music fans and families to make that special journey to Sidmouth to enjoy and support live music as much as they can.”

This year the festival includes a three-day inclusive and accessible free education programme between Saturday, May 25 and Monday 27, taking place at the Sidmouth Parish Church and Sidmouth Methodist Church. The programme includes jazz and blues jams, drumming, jazz composition workshops, a vocal workshop with acclaimed UK jazz singer Ian Shaw, a free gospel choir performance with Soul of the City on Sunday 26 May, a seminar on the history of the blues, a trumpet workshop, a blues harmonica workshop and much more.

Free music events will also take place at fringe venues across the town during the festival including the Swan Inn, the Marine, Dukes, the Volunteer Inn, the Radway Inn, 14 Miles East, GandO, the Balfour Arms, and many others.

For general information, to book a place on the education programme or to purchase tickets for any  of the festival performances, visit www.sidmouthjazz.com