Birmingham's 27th International Jazz & Blues Festival promises to serve up a feast of music – plus a few cooking tips.
Louisiana-born Sarah Savoy will mix Cajun tunes with a cookery demonstration when she performs with her band, The Francadians, at Star City in Nechells on July 3.
The three-piece French band play while Sarah shows how to prepare Cajun specialities like gumbo and sweet potato pie.
Then, while the food simmers, she joins them for a set of Zydeco favourites.
Sarah’s show is just one of over 150 free events taking place during the ten-day festival, which begins on Friday July 1.
Other highlights include Zingaros New Gypsy Tango from Argentina, who fuse Slavonic gypsy music with tango rhythms, Midlanders Strumpit, who will be unveiling their new line-up, and fast-rising Tipitina, who are preparing to record their second album.
Also appearing are Brummie stalwarts Steve Ajao, Ricky Cool, Brian Newton Big Band and King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys.
They’ll be alongside an array of international talent including Americans Brooks Williams, Sandi Russell, Greg Abate and Kacey Cubero, Djabe from Hungary, the New Orleans Jump Band from Spain and the Teens Jazzband Velke Losiny from the Czech Republic.
BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL
FRIDAY JULY 1
New Orleans Jump Band: 11am, Martineau Place 0121 236 1500
Simon Spillett Quartet: 12:30, Mailbox
The London Bebop Collective: 1.10pm, Barber Institute of Fine Art 0121 414 7333
New Orleans Jump Band: 4pm, The Crown, Corporation Street 0121 236 7318
Meckelfeld Swing Band, 4pm: The Malthouse, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
Teens Jazz Band Velke Losiny: 5pm: Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
The London Bebop Collective: 5.30pm: Waters Edge, Brindleyplace 0121 643 6866
Star City Swing Session – Digby Fairweather & Paul Eshelby/ Alex Garnett & Robert Fowler/ Mark Nightingale/ Brian Dee/ Len Skeat/ Neil Bullock/ Roy Forbes: 7pm, Star City, Nechells 0121 327 1140
Ricky Cool & The Hoola Boola Boys: 7pm, Warwick Castle (£12.50) 0871 265 2000
New Orleans Jump Band: 8pm, Crowne Plaza, Holiday St 0121 224 5000
Tipitina: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Detroit Soul, 9pm: The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq (Free before 8pm/ £5, 8pm - 10pm) 0121 200 3030.
SATURDAY JULY 2
New Orleans Jump Band: 11am, New Street, B’ham
Teens Jazz Band Velke Losiny: 12pm, The Mall, Sutton Coldfield
Digby Fairweather: 12pm, Museum of The Jewellery Quarter, Vyse St 0121 554 3598
Simon Spillett Quartet: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Zingaros New Gypsy Tango: 2pm, Waters Edge, Brindleyplace 0121 643 6866
The Jazz Ramblers: 2pm, New Street, B’ham
Tipitina: 2.30pm, Jazz On The Water, Gas St Basin (£8) 0121 236 7057
The Bennett Soundy Quartet: 3pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
New Orleans Jump Band: 6pm, Regency Wharf, Broad Street 0121 693 2566
The Grey Goose Blues Band: 6pm, Arcadian Centre, Hurst St 0121 622 5348
Teens Jazz Band Velke Losiny/ BB Swing/ Digby Fairweather Big 5: 6.30pm, Black Country Living Museum (£6.80/ £5.50/ £3.55) 0121 557 9643
Brian Newton Big Band: 7pm, Star City, Nechells 0121 327 1140
The Nicol Blues Band: 7.30pm, Garden House, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston 0121 454 8315
The Bennett Soundy Quartet: 7.30pm, Mint Hotel, Brindleyplace 0121 362 4974
Roy Forbes Quartet: 7.30pm, Crowne Plaza, Holiday St 0121 224 5000
John Paul Gard Hammond Organ Trio: 8pm, The Wellington, Bennetts Hill 0121 644 6464
Tipitina: 8pm: Great Barr Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Perrywood Rd (£4.50) 0121 357 3870
Zingaros New Gypsy Tango: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Richard Leach’s Clubhouse 6: Waterworks Jazz Club, Bishopsgate St (£8/ £9) 0121 445 5668
Detroit Soul: 9pm, The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq (Free before 8pm/ £5, 8pm - 9pm/ £8 after ) 0121 200 3030
New Orleans Jump Band: 9.30pm, Frederick’s Coffee Lounge & Bar, Frederick St, Jewellery Qtr 0121 233 0313.
SUNDAY JULY 3
The Bennett Soundy Quartet: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Teens Jazz Band Velke Losiny: 12.30pm, Hotel Du Vin, Church St 0121 200 0600
New Orleans Jump Band: 1pm, Bear Tavern, Bearwood Rd, Bearwood 0121 429 1184
Peter Carlton’s Jazz Strata: 1pm, The Malt House, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
The Dixie Ticklers: 2pm, O’Neills, Broad St 0121 616 1623
Will Blake Big Band: 2pm, Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston (£4.75 - £7.50) 0121 454 1860
Out Of The Blue Jazz Orchestra: 2pm, Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge
Digby Fairweather: 2pm, Sacks of Potatoes, Gosta Green 0121 503 5811
Zingaros New Gypsy Tango: 3pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Ricky Cool & The Hoola Boola Boys: 5pm, Brown Lion, Hall St, Jewellery Qtr 0121 236 0688
New Orleans Jump Band: 6pm, Bar Risa, Broad St 0121 632 4936
Sarah Savoy & the Francadians: 7pm, Star City, Nechells 0121 327 1140
Will Blake Big Band: 7pm, Walkabout, Broad St 0121 632 5712
The Dixie Ticklers: 7.30pm, Garden House, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston 0121 454 8315
Roy Forbes: 8pm, The Dog, Hagley Rd West, Warley 0121 429 2305
Teens Jazz Band Velke Losiny: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Zingaros New Gypsy Tango: 8.30pm, The Plough, High St, Harborne 0121 427 3678
Sambuca Diaries: 8.30pm, O’Neills, Broad St 0121 616 1623
New Orleans Jump Band: 9.30pm, Mint Hotel, Brunswick Sq, Brindleyplace 0121 643 1003.
MONDAY JULY 4
Teens Jazz Band Velke Losiny: 12pm, Victoria Square, B’ham
New Orleans Jump Band: 12pm, The Mall, Sutton Coldfield
The Dixie Ticklers: 12.30pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Digby Fairweather Big Four: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Will Scott: 4pm, Urban Coffee Company, Jewellery Quarter
The Dixie Ticklers: 5pm, The Malt House, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
Kacey Cubero: 5pm, Victoria Square [The Old Contemptibles]
John Patrick Trio: 7.30pm, Marriott Hotel, Five Ways, Hagley Rd 0121 452 1144
Kacey Cubero: 8pm, Walkabout, Broad St 0121 632 5712
Will Scott: 8pm, Nuvo, Brindleyplace 0121 631 1600
The Broombusters: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Brian Newton Big Band: 8pm, Triplex Sports Association, Eckersall Rd, Kings Norton (£5 ) 0121 458 4570.
TUESDAY JULY 5
Michael Sutton Quartet: 12pm, Victoria Square [Old Joint Stock]
Art Themen Quartet: 12.30pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Kacey Cubero: 12.30pm, Mailbox
The Swiss: 1pm, Mint Hotel, Brunswick Sq, Brindleyplace 0121 643 1003
Will Scott: 1pm, Number 9 The Gallery, Brindleyplace 0121 643 9099
C-Jam: 5pm, The Malt House, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
Becky Brine Band: 5pm, Victoria Square [The Old Contemptibles]
Jam Session – Digby Fairweather/ Dave O’Higgins/ Chris Walker/ John Patrick/ Tom Hill/ Adrian Macintosh: 7pm, Birmingham Ibis Hotel, Ladywell Walk 0121 622 6010
Strumpit: 7.30pm, MAC, Cannon Hill Park 0121 446 3232
Mumbo Jumbo: 7.30pm, Craven Arms, Upper Gough St 0121 643 1115
Becky Brine Band: 8pm, The Junction, High St, Harborne 0121 428 2635
The Swiss: 8pm, Nuvo, Brindleyplace 0121 631 1600
Will Scott: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Art Themen with Henry Newman Band: 8.30pm, Bournville Social Club, Mary Vale Rd 0121 608 5556
Michael Sutton Quartet: 9pm, The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq 0121 200 3030.
WEDNESDAY JULY 6
Brass Volcanoes: 12pm, Colmore Square [The Old Joint Stock]
Brooks Williams: 12pm, The Mall, Sutton Coldfield
Michael Sutton Quartet: 12.30pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
BB Swing: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Justin Randall: 3pm, Solihull Arts Complex, Homer Rd 0121 704 6962
Lewis Floyd Henry: 5pm, The Crown, Corporation Street 0121 236 7318
Brass Volcanoes: 5pm, Colmore Square [The Old Contemptibles]
Roy Forbes Quartet: 5.30pm, The Cube, Wharfside St 0121 654 9400
Ricky Cool & The Hoola Boola Boys: 6pm, The Malt House, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
Michael Sutton Quartet: 8pm, Nuvo, Brindleyplace 0121 631 1600
Brian Mellor’s Jazz Ramblers: 8pm, Sutton Coldfield Jazz Club, Coles Lane (£4) 0121 754 2997
Tim Amann Band: 8pm, K2 Restaurant, Alcester Rd, Moseley
Brass Volcanoes: 8pm, Fredericks Coffee Lounge & Bar, Frederick St, Jewellery Qtr 0121 233 0313
Brooks Williams: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Lewis Floyd Henry: 9pm, The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq 0121 200 3030.
THURSDAY JULY 7
Greg Abate Quartet: 12pm, Victoria Square [The Old Joint Stock]
Jeanie Barton Quartet: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Bourbon Street Stompers: 1pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Greg Abate Quartet: 2pm, Victoria Square [The Old Contemptibles]
Lewis Floyd Henry: 3.30pm, Victoria Square [The Old Contemptibles]
52 Skidoo: 4.30pm, The Malt House, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
Greg Abate Quartet: 5.30pm, The Cube, Wharfside St 0121 654 9400
Brass Volcanoes: 5.45pm, Victoria Square [The Old Contemptibles]
Jeanie Barton Quartet: 7pm, Colmore Bar & Grill, Waterloo St 0121 616 4442
Big Joe Pleasure: 7.30pm, Garden House, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston 0121 454 8315
Ricky Cool & The Hoola Boola Boys: 7.30pm, Chameleon, Victoria Sq 0121 643 2233
Tipitina: 8pm, Premier Suite, Cannock 01543 572092
Mike Burney/ Steve Ajao Quintet: 8pm, The Junction, High St, Harborne 0121 428 2635
Strumpit: 8pm, Frederick’s Coffee Lounge & Bar, Frederick St, Jewellery Qtr 0121 233 0313
Brass Volcanoes: 8pm, The Flapper, Kingston Row 0121 236 2421
Lewis Floyd Henry: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Dennis Rollins with Andy Hamilton & The Blue Notes: 8.30pm: Bearwood Corks Club, Bearwood Rd (£5/ £4) 0121 429 2091
52 Skidoo: 8.30pm, The Plough, High St, Harborne 0121 427 3678
Bourbon Street Stompers: 10pm, The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq (Free before 9pm / £5 after) 0121 200 3030.
FRIDAY JULY 8
Jazz Ramblers: 12pm, Colmore Square
Tipitina: 12.30pm, Touchwood, Solihull
Forty 4 Blues Band: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Djabe: 12.30pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Bourbon Street Stompers: 1.10pm, Barber Institute of Fine Art, Edgbaston 0121 414 7333
52 Skidoo: 4pm, The Crown, Corporation Street 0121 236 7318
Strumpit: 5pm, Colmore Square
Greg Abate Quartet: 5pm, Jury’s Inn, Broad Street 0121 693 2566
Forty 4 Blues Band: 5pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Djabe: 5.30pm, Waters Edge, Broad St 0121 643 6866
Sandi Russell Quartet: 5.30pm, The Cube, Wharfside St 0121 654 9400
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys: 7pm, Warwick Castle (£12.50) 0871 265 2000
Tipitina: 7.30pm, Dudley Zoo & Castle (£4.50 / £3) 01384 215313
Greg Abate Quartet: 7.30pm, Garden House, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston 0121 454 8315
Bourbon Street Stompers: 7.30pm, Chameleon, Victoria Sq 0121 643 2233
52 Skidoo: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band: 8pm, Sharman’s Cross, Prospect Lane, Solihull 0121 733 4871
Up For The Down Stroke: 9pm, The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq (Free before 8pm / £5, 8pm to 10pm / £8 after) 0121 200 3030.
SATURDAY JULY 9
Rachel Collier Band: 12pm, Great Western Arcade, Colmore Row
Smart Jazz Band: 12pm, Smart Car Jazz Stage, Centenary Square, Broad Street
The Broombusters: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Bourbon Street Stompers: 1pm, Arcadian Centre, Hurst St 0121 622 5348
Blues Is Truth: 1pm, Brown Lion, Hall St, Jewellery Qtr 0121 236 0688
Sandi Russell Quartet: 2.30pm, Touchwood, Solihull
Ben Poole Band: 3pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Smart Jazz Band: 3pm, Smart Car Jazz Stage, Centenary Square, Broad Street
Strumpit: 3pm, Professional Music Technology, Lawley Middleway 0121 359 5056
Arthur Brown Jazz Band: 4pm, Bournville Village Green, Linden Rd
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band: 5pm, Lightwoods Park, Smethwick
Joe Cang: 7.30pm, Chameleon, Victoria Sq 0121 643 2233
Ben Poole Band: 7.30pm, Garden House, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston 0121 454 8315
Strumpit: 8pm: Craven Arms, Upper Gough St 0121 643 1115
Backyard Music Boys: 8pm, The Wellington, Bennetts Hill 0121 644 6464
Rachel Collier Band: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Up For The Down Stroke: 9pm, The Jam House, St Paul’s Sq (Free before 8pm / £5, 8pm to 10pm / £8 after) 0121 200 3030.
SUNDAY JULY 10
Smart Jazz Band: 12pm, Smart Car Jazz Stage, Centenary Square, Broad Street
Bourbon Street Stompers: 12.30pm, Hotel Du Vin, Church St, 0121 200 0600
Mark Nightingale with The Fat Chops Big Band: 12.30pm, Tascos, Hazelwell Lane, Stirchley (£10) 0121 458 3388
Grey Goose Blues Band: 12.30pm, Mailbox
Peter Carlton’s Jazz Band: 1pm, The Malt House, King Edwards Rd 0121 633 4171
BB Swing: 1pm, Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Rd, Moseley 0121 777 6612
Dave Moorwood’s Rascals of Rhythm: 1pm, Touchwood, Solihull
Digby Fairweather Big Four: 1pm, Bear Tavern, Bearwood Rd, Bearwood 0121 429 1184
Cookin’ Pots: 1pm, Rose Villa Tavern, Warstone Lane, Jewellery Qtr 0121 236 7910
Roy Williams Quartet: 2pm, Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston (£7.50/ £4.75) 0121 454 1860
Top Shelf Jazz: 2pm, The Flapper, Kingston Row 0121 236 2421
Out Of The Blue Jazz Orchestra: 2pm, Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge
Jay Tamkin Band: 3pm, Brasshouse, Broad St 0121 633 3383
Smart Jazz Band: 3pm, Smart Car Jazz Stage, Centenary Square, Broad Street
John Ruddick Quartet: 5pm, Brown Lion, Hall St, Jewellery Qtr 0121 236 0688
Dave Moorwood’s Rascals of Rhythm: 6pm, Bar Risa, Broad St 0121 632 4936
Lady Sings The Blues – Val Wiseman/ Digby Fairweather/ Roy Williams/ Julian Marc Stringle/ Brian Dee/ Pat McCarthy/ Len Skeat/ Bobby Worth: 7pm, Botanical Gardens, Westbourne Rd, Edgbaston (£15/ £10) 0121 454 1860
Top Shelf Jazz: 7.30pm, Garden House, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston 0121 454 8315
BB Swing: 8pm, The Dog, Hagley Rd West, Warley 0121 429 2305
The Broombusters: 8pm, The Mount, Kings Rd, New Oscott 0121 362 4974
Jay Tamkin Band: 8pm, Lord Clifden, Great Hampton St, Hockley 0121 523 7515
Cookin’ Pots: 8.30pm, The Plough, High St, Harborne 0121 427 3678.
