Durham Hits All The Right Notes With The Launch Of A New Jazz Festival

L-R John Lyons, Richard Turner and Alan Patrickson

Durham is set to swing as a major new jazz festival is announced for the city. 

The inaugural Durham Jazz Festival will take place from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25, transforming venues across the city with a vibrant programme featuring top-flight artists from the world of jazz. 

From intimate club-style performances to headline concerts, the three-day festival will celebrate the music and performance of national and northern jazz artists, bringing together established names and the next generation of talent. 

The event has been founded by Alan Patrickson, John Lyons and Richard Turner, who believe Durham’s unique setting – with its historic venues and thriving cultural scene – makes it the perfect home for a landmark event. 

“We are an emerging festival and have big ambitions to put Durham City on the map for showcasing the very best of talent from the national jazz scene. 

“At the same time, we also aim to provide performance opportunities for up and coming local and regional talent – working in partnership with education establishments, grassroots promoter networks and music-focused arts organisations to develop our programme,” said Mr Lyons, renowned music photographer and jazz aficionado. 

Performances will take place across a range of venues, from smaller spaces through to headline shows at the Gala Theatre and the historic Redhills Durham Miners’ Hall.

Opening the weekend on Friday afternoon will be Emma Fisk’s Hot Club du Nord in Gala Studio, bringing vintage swing and Gypsy jazz inspired by Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli to Durham audiences.

The evening’s headline show at Redhills will see musicians from London’s world-famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club Present: The Ronnie Scott’s Soho Songbook – promising big tunes, virtuoso solos and the unmistakable buzz of one of the world’s most iconic jazz venues.

Saturday and Sunday offer a packed programme, including pianist Dean Stockdale leading his quartet in a celebration of the legendary Oscar Peterson at Durham University Music School.

Jazz vocalist Marvin Muoneké - who was recently announced as one of the nominees for Vocalist of the Year 2026 by JazzFM - will join forces with the North East’s very own Strictly Smokin’ Big Band for Saturday evening’s headline act at Durham Gala Theatre. 

“This is one unique show that is not to be missed,” said Mr Patrickson, an experienced co-promoter of gigs around the country. 

“The festival has been designed to bring together major artists with the best of the region’s thriving jazz scene. We are really excited about the programme we are curating for the 2026 festival - and many more artists are set to be announced,” he added. 

Visitors will also get the chance to see the Abbie Finn Quintet. Led by one of the UK’s most dynamic drummers, audiences can expect bold contemporary jazz filled with groove, energy and improvisation.

Alongside the main programme - where more artists are set to be announced - organisers are also working with bars, restaurants and businesses across Durham to stage pop-up performances throughout the weekend, helping bring a festival atmosphere to the whole city.

“The long-term ambition is to establish the event as an accessible annual festival for audiences across the region.

“Our focus is on creating a welcoming festival that appeals to a broad audience,” said Mr Turner, who is a well-known North East music promoter and curator of events at the Old Cinema Launderette, in Gilesgate, Durham. 

“We want to bring the joy of live music to people who might not otherwise experience jazz, while also exciting seasoned fans of the genre,” he added. 

Further programme announcements will be made very soon, along with the launch of ticket sales, which will be available at durhamjazzfestival.co.uk