After a four year break, Bristol Jazz Festival is back and celebrating its 10th anniversary! Taking over Bristol Beacon’s foyer spaces for three days, Bristol Jazz Festival opens with a star-studded tribute to the late Pee Wee Ellis on Friday evening.
Over the weekend catch straight ahead jazz with The Jazz Defenders, dance grooves of Afro-beat big band No Go Stop, exquisite indie songstress Hannah Moule, the super talented Bristol keyboardist Rebecca Nash, and the premiere of Bristol supergroup 6161 featuring members of Get the Blessing and Run Logan Run plus much more.
Running on various stages throughout the weekend, the weekend tickets give you access to the very best of British, and the crème de la crème of Bristol jazz.
Presented by Bristol Jazz Festival
Format: Standing with a limited number of unreserved seats.
Age: All ages
What’s On
Ticket Information
Tickets to this event include 16 concerts.
Friday (2 concerts from 18:00): £24.42 to £30.52
Saturday (7 concerts from 14:00; including evening): £47.96 to £59.95
Saturday Evening Only (2 concerts from 19:00): £19.62 to £23.98
Sunday (7 concerts from 14:00; including evening): £47.96 to £59.95
Sunday Evening Only (2 concerts from 19:00): £19.62 to £23.98
All ticket prices are inclusive of booking fee.
Ticket offer
Book for Saturday and Sunday and get 20% off
Add tickets for Saturday and Sunday at Bristol Jazz Festival 2023 to your basket and get 20% off your booking.
Line-Up
Friday 19 May
Jack Calloway Quintet
18:00, Bridgehouse Stage
Jack Calloway brings his all new A-List Quintet to kick off the festival in full swing.
Pee Wee Ellis: A Life of Music
20:00, Bridgehouse Stage
A very special concert to open the 10th anniversary of the Bristol Jazz Festival. Pee Wee was both a Patron and a great supporter of the Jazz Festival and this concert will celebrate Pee Wee Ellis’ life and music.
Join the key members of the legendary Pee Wee Ellis Assembly, plus fabulous musicians and friends from the local music scene, to remember his amazing career of more than 60 years as a composer, arranger, band leader and inspirational tenor player.
Saturday 20 May
Bristol Community Big Band
14:00, Bridgehouse Stage
Led by Bristol’s own trumpet legend Jonny Bruce, expect high energy big band bangers from the golden era of swing, from Duke Ellington to Dizzy Gillespie.
Victoria Klewin Quartet
15:00, Level 1 Bar
This renowned local vocalist brings her new quartet, featuring some exciting young players from the Bristol scene; Guy Shotton, Bill Frampton and Alex Goodyear. Marking the launch of their new EP ‘Loverboy’, the performance will mix Victoria’s outstanding original jazz tunes together with well-loved standards.
Iain Ballamy with YETII
16:00, Bridgehouse stage
An intimate set featuring the original music of both UK jazz great Iain Ballamy and Bristol piano trio, Yetii.
Hannah Moule & the Moulettes String Ensemble
17:00, Level 1 Bar
Cellist and singer, Hannah Moule brings Xenolalia: creative, wide ranging and impressive, this off-kilter electro, folk, jazz pop with shades of Hildur Guðnadóttir, Scott Walker & Johnny Greenwood and the virtuosic exuberance of ensembles like the Danish String Quartet.
The Jazz Defenders
18:00, Bridgehouse stage
Led by one of the UK’s most formidable jazz pianists, George Cooper, The Jazz Defenders are a group born from a deep love for Blue Note Jazz.
Joe Wilkins & Henry Slim Quartet
19:00, Level 1 Bar
Henry Slim & Joe Wilkins have worked together for the past 3 years playing a broad mixture of Blues – from Country to New Orleans, Jump & Chicago, and exploring all the nuances of the genre. Playing the music of artists such as Slim Harpo, Little Walter, Fats Domino, Lonnie Johnson and many more.
For this special show they’ll be joined by the incredible Jonny Henderson (Matt Schofield, Robben Ford, Kirk Fletcher) on B3 Organ and Matthew Jones (The Brackish, Phantom Limb) on Drums.
No Go Stop
20:00, Bridgehouse stage
With driving percussion, ancestral funk and heady improvisations NO GO STOP celebrate Afrobeat at its finest, featuring Marie Lister’s powerhouse vocals.
Sunday 21 May
The Good Stuff Gospel Choir
14:00, Bridgehouse stage
A brand-new gospel and soul group featuring some of the best singers and musicians in the South West – a joyful live performance full of uplifting material to kick off the Sunday of Bristol Jazz Festival.
Jonny Bruce Quintet
15:00, Level 1 Bar
Festival regular Jonny Bruce has put together a hard-bop and Blue Note style set for his Hammond organ based line-up, including tunes from Horace Silver, Roy Hargrove and Stan Getz.
Sarsen Drift (Rebecca Nash & Nick Walters)
World premiere of The Sanctuary
16:00, Bridgehouse stage
A world premiere of new music by acclaimed pianist Rebecca Nash and trumpet player/producer Nick Walters.
Sisanda Myataza
17:00, Level 1 Bar
With her rich, soulful voice Myataza’s sound offers mellow jazz rhythms intertwined with Afrobeat influences.
Matt Brown’s 6161
18:00, Bridgehouse stage
World premiere. 6161 is an Alt-Jazz Horn led band for the 21st century and Bristol super group, fronted by Bristol drummer Matt Brown (Run Logan Run).
Hopkins Hammond Trio
featuring special guest Gary Alesbrook
19:00, Level 1 Bar
These four incredible musicians define the Bristol Jazz Funk sound. Superb musician’s individually, something happens when they play together that is magic. Be prepared to groove!
Hannah Williams and The Affirmations
20:00, Bridgehouse stage
One of the UK’s most powerful soul voices returns after her awesome performance at the last Bristol Jazz Festival in 2019, and having wowed the nation as a finalist in The Voice 2021.
Bristol Jazz Festival Workshops
Sat 20 – Sun 21 May 2023
Kick start your festival with our fun and interactive music workshops for all abilities.
Accessible workshops are a key part of every year’s Bristol Jazz Festival – providing a wide range of learning activities and events led by a selection of Bristol’s finest jazz musicians and educators.
Bridgehouse stage
Bridgehouse stage
Lower Ground Floor
The Bridgehouse stage is right in the heart of Bristol Beacon’s iconic foyer space. Watch with aerial views from the balconies or get front row action.
Level 1 Bar
Level 1 Bar
Level 1
Nestled in the bar area on our first floor, this stage will present artists in between performances on the Bridgehouse stage, so you never miss a moment of music.
Support Bristol Jazz Festival
Bristol Jazz Festival is a charity and relies on the generous donations from audiences to continue to present the best in British jazz every year. Show your support and donate today.
Amount to donate: £
The venue
Bridgehouse
at Bristol Beacon
Our foyer space located within Bristol Beacon where we host events, performances and conferences.
Getting to the venue
Location: Bridgehouse is located within Bristol Beacon with entrances on Colston Street and Trenchard Street.
Address: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR
Bicycle
Bicycle racks can be found in front of the main entrance on Trenchard Street, Colston Street, and on the city centre promenade. Find your nearest cycle routes using Cycle Planner.
Car parking
Trenchard Street multi-storey car park is 50m away directly behind Bristol Beacon.
Bristol Clean Air Zone
Bristol Beacon is inside the Bristol Clean Air Zone. Check if your vehicle will be charged and how much you’ll have to pay.
Bus
The city centre bus stop is 250m from Bristol Beacon where most bus services stop.
Access
Mobility
Bridgehouse has level access from street level with lifts to all levels. For unallocated seated performances, seats can easily be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.
Assistance Dogs
Registered assistance dogs and emotional support animals are allowed in the venue.
Hearing Facility
There is an induction loop at the box office. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting. There is no hearing loop facility for the foyer stage.
Eat & Drink
Eat & Drink
We’ve got plenty of places for you to relax and refill. From coffee and cake, to delicious sharing boards, to full menus.
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