The joy of jazz 

Round & About

Guildford Jazz and Soul Festival is in full swing with marvellous music throughout September 

Guildford Jazz and Soul Festival is back after a successful debut last year welcomed thousands of music lovers to venues across the borough. 

This year, the festival run by Guildford Jazz, features another stunning line up of jazz and soul musicians ready to entertain. The headline events include Matt Skelton’s Blackhawk Quintet: A Celebration of Shelley Manne, pictured, on September 17th at Guildford Pavilion, with a tribute to one of the greats of the West Coast scene of the 1950s. 

The Stoke in Stoke Road welcomes Janette Mason with ReWired on September 26th with “a basketful of all the tunes that mean the most to her” and range from timeless standards to modern chart classics. 

Closing the 2025 Guildford Jazz and Soul Festival, Guildford Jazz presents Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory Sextet with Magnum Opus on October 1st at Guildford Pavilion. Kavuma aims to preserve jazz heritage while also inspiring the next generation. 

Other events to look out for are an acoustic soul and jazz night at Rogues with the Emily Windham Quartet on 5th, Tom Wild Trio on 6th, lunchtime jazz with Sarah Jane Eveleigh celebrates Irving Berlin on 8th, catch the Sam Parker Quartet at Cosy Club Jazz & Soul Night on 12th, take your seat for the Big Swing Showcase on 13th, there’s New Orleans jazz with The Alvar Tree Frogs on 21st, the Varley Parker Quartet on 29th and the free Festival Jazz Jam on 30th.