What's on in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

Jul - Aug 2010 (annual)

Every year the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival presents top-quality performers in venues around the city. Founded in 1978 when jazz guitarist Mike Hart booked a weekend of bands, it is now the longest-running jazz festival in the country.

Hart is still the artistic director of the festival, overseeing an impressively eclectic programme to kick-start Edinburgh's festival season. Regular free features such as Mardi Gras on the Grass Market and Jazz on a Summer's Day at the Ross Theatre in Princes Street Gardens are sure to be popular, as usual.

Highlights in 2009 included Grammy award-winning US trumpeter Roy Hargrove leading his quintet, Courtney Pine's homage to the New Orleans clarinet/soprano sax maestro, Sidney Bechet, Tradition in Transition, leading Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith appearing with Swedish pianist Jacob Karlzon, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.

There are around 100 concerts over the ten days of the event as well as jam sessions, barbecues and a full programme of free outdoor events.

Edinburgh