Well folks it’s finally happening! After much planning (and still plenty more to do) we are delighted to announce, that following the continued success of the Highworth Jazz Festival, we are going to do it all again!!!!!
Saturday 6th June 2026!
Spread across 5 venues centred around the High Street, we will be bringing 19+ Artists from across the UK performing Live jazz across the spectrum from swing to modern and everything in between. It’s going to be awesome.
It will be a ticketed event, with stroller wristbands allowing access to all events. ON SALE NOW
The headline acts will be staged in St Michael’s Church, with other performances being held in the Wine Bar, The Highworth, The URC Chapel and of course the Podium in the market square.
We welcome any support from local business and we are actively seeking sponsors. So please do get in touch. It will be a great opportunity to promote your business, be featured in the event program and take part in something truly momentous.
Save the date folks!
Meet the organisers
Martin Wellsted
As a lifelong music lover, I always had an ambition to play an instrument; after all, my mother was a music teacher!
Eventually taking the plunge just over 6 years ago, I found a local saxophone teacher to help achieve this initial aim.
During an initial 2 years of lessons, a great appreciation for Jazz in all its forms was born, leading to regular attendance at the Swindon Jazz clubs which lead to following a number of local and national Jazz musicians.
As my understanding and appreciation of Jazz and the hugely talented musicians that deliver incredible performances grew, I came to realise that I had an opportunity to give something back to these under-appreciated artists. In a discussion with my fellow committee member Ray Stephens, we decided to arrange a Jazz Festival with the expressed intention of generating revenue for the musicians. In essence, the festival is not-for-profit with all monies going to the performing artists and any spare cash sent to a musician’s charity. The festival lineup is also designed to offer a wide range of Jazz styles with the intention of helping non-believers to the art. (Everyone loves Jazz; although you may not know it)
Ray Stephens
Ray has a deep passion for jazz music. Spending his free time playing sax with with his own band Shades of Silver, or with local amateur jazz outfits, and for many years as the baritone sax player with Swindon’s oldest big band; The Mid-West.
When not playing, Ray is attending live gigs, jazz dance DJ events, or collecting and listening to his favourite jazz LPs.
Ray also runs his own tech business, Reuben Digital, with the offices located on the High Street, Highworth, which has by default, become the Highworth Jazz Festival HQ.