The 2024 Watford Jazz Junction Festival runs 12-19 May
ABOUT US
The Watford Jazz Junction was founded in 2020 with a focus on inclusion, improving mental well-being for all through sharing in live music, and presenting the greatest jazz musicians working in the UK.
2020 and 2021
The first 2 editions of our festival took a bit of a knock from Covid but we still managed to crowd-fund and deliver a fabulous online performance from Emma Smith during lock-down and launch a 54-part podcast that was one of the UK’s most popular jazz-casts.
Our first festival: 19-22 May 2022
Shri Sriram, Dennis Rollins, National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Tim Garland, Ilario Ferrari, Sultan Stevenson, Mark Kavuma, Pete Churchill, Immy Churchill, Nikki Iles, Archipelago, Samuel Sharp, Jelly Cleaver, Emma Smith, Jo Harrop, and John Etheridge, plus 15 more grassroots & local bands.
Our second festival: 18-21 May 2023
Zara McFarlane, Omar, Xhosa Cole, John Altman, Emma Rawicz, Oscar Lyons, Cleveland Watkiss (The Great Jamaican Songbook), Art Themen, John Watson, Esther Bennett, and Leon Foster Thomas, plus 15 more grassroots & local bands. We also delivered memorable workshops for young people and a live 4-hour broadcast on Jazz FM in 2023.
Our third festival: 12-19 May 2024
Featuring Ray Gelato & The Giants with Xantoné Blacq, The Ronnie Scott's All Stars, LoKkhi TeRra, Jean Toussaint, Imogen Ryall, Fergus Quill, Maddy Coombs, Charlie Pyne, Tom Ridout and many more.
Support
We have been kindly supported by the Arts Council England, the National Lottery Community Fund, the Watford Cultural Support and Development Fund, Watford Council, Watford Business Improvement District, Sovereign Network Group, Watford Community Housing Trust, Magic Little Grants, Watford Community Lottery, dozens of local individuals, and councillors Tim Williams and Stephen Giles Medhurst. We have also received sponsorship from Lit Fibre, Ronnie Scott's, London Square, Classic Motor Events and Future Office Interiors, as well as many wonderful local businesses.
Volunteers & Venues
We couldn’t do what do without the tireless work of our Governance Teams, our fabulous venue partners including the Watford Palace Theatre, Pump House Theatre & Arts Centre, and 6 pubs in Oxhey Village (The Railway Arms, The Villiers Arms, The Load of Hay, The Royal Oak, The Rifle Volunteer, The Victoria, as well as Oxhey Bowls Club), and of course our amazing volunteers, sound engineers, production crew, and every one of our audience members.
Ongoing Shows
In addition to the May festival, we also continue to put on shows across the year looking to showcase the most appealing and exciting jazz, soul and blues music around.
All photographs taken by and credited to Robert Crowley ©.
