Jazz festival boosts summer of music

Hertford can now boast three annual music events following the announcement of a jazz festival taking place at the start of the summer.

The first Hertford Jazz Festival will showcase an eclectic mix of world-class jazz artists, emerging talent, and local favourites. From soulful standards to cutting-edge contemporary sounds, the programme offers something for every jazz lover, running over five weeks from 12th June to 16th July 2025 in venues around the historic county town of Hertfordshire.

Hosted in theatres, churches, hotels and pubs, highlights of the inaugural Festival include Martin Taylor, Voodoo Brass Band and Away From Home at BEAM, Hertford's newly refurbished stage and screen venue; quartets featuring Charlie Pyne, Dave Keech and Sam Chaplin at Hertford House Hotel; Russ Williams back at The Old Barge pub on Folly Island; and new on the scene bands Raw Odoni and Pocket Silver at the renowned Quaker Friends Meeting House, the oldest purpose built meeting house in the world still in use, built in 1670.

The Festival will also include jazz jams at the Hertford Club where players and singers of all abilities from beginner to pro will be welcome to step up and play with the house band. At BEAM, a jazz skills workshop open to intermediate performers and led by experienced tutors Ed Jones, Rebecca Nash and Brigitte Beraha, will culminate in an evening performance by the tutors, open to all.  

"We're excited to be bringing great jazz performers to Hertford,” says Chris Dixon, organiser of the Hertford Jazz Festival, and host of the monthly jazz jam at the Hertford Club. "It's a celebration of the town's vibrant, musical spirit - its creativity, its people, and its love of live music. The venues have welcomed us with open arms and helped us to create some unique jazz events."

The festival is run by volunteers and generously supported by Hertford Town Council's Community Grant programme, local sponsors and venues. After costs, all ticket revenue goes to the performers. Any money left in the pot at the end of the festival will be retained for the following year, with a proportion donated to Parkinsons UK, to honour a much-loved Hertford jazz musician, Harold Chaplin.

For more information, tickets and the full festival line-up, including free events, visit the Hertford Jazz website.