Gregory Porter, Fergus McCreadie, Ruth Goller's Skylla, Lizz Wright and more confirmed for Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2023 line-up

The first names have been confirmed for the 2023 edition of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which will take place across six days and nights on 26 April to 1 May. Top international artists and the cream of the current UK scene will perform alongside a richly varied selection of exciting Europeans and stars from the US at the festival's venues that include the Big Top, Jazz Arena, Parabola Arts Centre, Town Hall, as well as the publicly accessible Free Stage in the Montpellier Gardens festival site and at participating venues around the picturesque Cotswold spa town.

Among the first names announced will be the return of the hugely successful vocal star Gregory Porter, who is back as Artistic Curator. Also confirmed is pianist Fergus McCreadie who will appear fresh from his 2022 Mercury Prize-shortlisted album nomination and wins for Scottish Album of The Year and JazzFM Instrumentalist of the Year, while another festival favourite returns with acclaimed American jazz-soul vocalist Lizz Wright set to perform. The festival’s left-field European programme is off to a strong start with compelling Norwegian guitar soundscaper Stian Westerhus performing twice, solo and with the CollapseUncollapse improv duo of drummer Mark Sanders and bass guitarist/effects man Chris Mapp.

Acclaimed vocal trio Skylla, led by bassist Ruth Goller and featuring Lauren Kinsella and Alice Grant, and the multi-faceted duo of Black Top, featuring Orphy Robinson on vibes and electronics and Pat Thomas on piano, with special guest (and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year winning saxophonist) Xhosa Cole are also on the bill. Further names will be announced soon – Jazzwise is festival media partner.

For more info and tickets visit www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz