Watford Jazz Junction Festival 10-18 May 2025

Start: Saturday, May 10, 2025 7:30PM
End: Sunday, May 18, 2025 7:00PM

The Watford Jazz Junction Festival runs 10-18 May 2025.

Tickets are sold individually for each show and are available at www.watfordjazzjunction.com from £20-£40.

A packed and varied programme includes: 

Opening weekend, 10-11 May

Vanessa Haynes (Incognito) presents her acclaimed show Aretha Franklin - Queen of Soul, plus support from Harry T Pope
10 May, Watford Palace Theatre, 7.30pm. £22.50-£32.50  

Elaine Delmar performs live and chats through her career with icon of the UK jazz airwaves, Ruth Fisher, all served up over a delicious brunch
11 May, Halsey Hall, 10.30am. £40 inclusive of brunch

Festival week, 13-17 May

Janet Evra + Ilario Ferrari Trio perform a double bill of original live jazz
13 May, Watford Pump House Theatre, 7.30pm. £20

Tim Garland and Gwilym Simcock, plus support from Nico Widdowson Trio
14 May, Watford Pump House Theatre, 7.30pm. £30

Mark Kavuma Quartet, plus support from Oscar Lyons Quartet
15 May, Watford Pump House Theatre, 7.30pm. £27.50

Errol Linton, plus support tbc
16 May, Watford Pump House Theatre, 7.30pm. £30

Alice Zawadzki presents Imagined Folklore, plus support from dancer Petra Haller
17 May, Watford Pump House Theatre, 7.30pm. £30

Final day, 18 May

The week rounds off with a completely free to attend family-friendly event on Sunday 18 May with Jazz Steps, featuring 10 stages and more than 200 musicians playing jazz, ska, blues and more across Oxhey in Watford. Attendees will be able to hear big bands with tutor-led dancing, along with 25 more acts including New Orleans street jazz funsters The Ten Bells Rag Band, modern-jazz sax supremo Toni Kofi presenting A Portrait of Cannonball, maverick entertainers The Fabulous Red Diesel, fusion makers Neil C Young Trio, blues sensations The Biscuit Brothers, and many more acts rounding off with a party performance for all from The City Funk Orchestra.

The WJJ 2025 festival is supported with funding from Arts Council England.