Soul Food, Free Live Music and more
As 2025 begins, the organisers of the fourth Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival are excited to announce a vibrant new addition to this year’s event, set to take place from Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26, coinciding with the end of the May Bank Holiday weekend.
This year, the festival will introduce the Soul Food area and the Love Local stage, offering an exceptional experience for festivalgoers. Situated on Peacock Lawn, adjacent to the main festival arena in Blackmore Gardens, these areas will provide a mouthwatering selection of food from around the world, as well as vegetarian and vegan offerings. In partnership with Greendale Farm Shop, visitors can enjoy locally sourced meats and fish while listening to emerging musical talent from across the region, with performances on the Love Local stage.
Access to the Soul Food area and the Love Local Stage will be free for both the public and ticket holders attending performances in Blackmore Gardens. Festivalgoers can also purchase exclusive festival merchandise, including jazzy T-shirts and tote bags, along with merchandise from artists playing at the festival.
Festival Director Ian Bowden shared, “The addition of the Love Local Stage will provide an incredible platform for up-and-coming musicians to showcase their talent. We are thrilled to offer four performances each day between Saturday May 24 and Monday May 26, featuring jazz and blues music. This new element contributes to the vibrant atmosphere of the festival, and we are especially proud to champion regional and local talent.”
The festival will also highlight local food producers, reinforcing its commitment to collaborating with East Devon partners. The Soul Food offerings will feature an impressive range of global cuisines, from mouthwatering BBQ delights by Greendale Farm Shop to vegetarian, vegan, and world flavours that cater to all tastes.
The festival’s ticket sales are already seeing high demand, with exciting headline acts confirmed for the weekend. The legendary Soul II Soul, known for hits like “Keep On Movin’” and “Back to Life”, will kick off the festival on Friday May 23. Gabrielle will follow on Saturday May 24, with acclaimed American jazz singer and saxophonist Curtis Stigers performing on Sunday May 25. The festival will conclude with a performance by American blues icon Eric Bibb on Monday May 26.Other performances on the main stage, running from Saturday to Monday will feature an exciting blend of jazz, swing, blues, soul, funk, Latin, and Cuban music. Confirmed acts include Nubiyan Twist, blending jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, soul, reggae, and dance music; the James Taylor Quartet (JTQ), famous for their funky renditions of classic tunes; award-winning jazz guitarist Zayn Mohammed; and blues guitarist Laurence Jones, among others.
