Your Guide to Newcastle Jazz and Blues Festival 2019

Posted on Thursday, May 23, 2019

Your Guide to Newcastle Jazz and Blues Festival 2019

As a cultural hub, Newcastle-under-Lyme is rife with musical talent and its annual jazz and blues festival is living proof of that, with over 60 acts treading the boards at 19 venues over three action-packed days.

Yes, this weekend from Friday 24th - Monday 27th May, the most electrifying jazz and blues-influenced acts from around the area will flock to Newcastle-under-Lyme to entertain crowds in an eclectic mix of pubs, bars and cafes - and this year's festival promises to be the best one yet.

If you’re looking for a little drinking, dancing, excitement and musical entertainment this bank holiday weekend, here’s a quick-fire guide to Newcastle Blues and Jazz Festival 2019 for your reading pleasure.

What to expect

In addition to the incredible line-up of performances taking place in and around the town over the bank holiday weekend, there will be street food on offer in the High Street as well as the Iron Market.

On SundayVIP Vinyl Record Fairs will present traders from across the nation, each selling CDs, rare vinyl and top musical memorabilia. This will take place near the Town Hall.

On Monday, the town will host a Family Fun Day that includes face painting, fairground attractions, children's activities and a host of outdoor musical entertainment - a little something for everyone.

The venues

Newcastle-under-Lyme is home to an ever-expanding selection of pubs, alehouses, gin bars, cafes, eateries and hangouts.

This weekend, the best of the best will host a toe-tapping lineup of jazz and blues acts which means that if you’re looking to eat, drink, dance and discover something new, you won’t be short on options.

Participating venues include 10 Green Bottles, Bar Social, Weller’s Bar and The Rigger, to name a few - and you can explore the full range of musical hotspots here on the festival’s official information page.

The acts

As mentioned, more than 60 premier acts will be treading the boards across the town this bank holiday weekend - and you can read all about them right here.

Oh, and as we’re a musical bunch at Rockett Home Rentals, here are our three top picks for the Newcastle Jazz and Blues Festival 2019…

The Wilbur Project

When? Saturday 25th May 2019 @ 9.30pm

Where? The Rigger

A perfect blend of 1970s soul, Chicago blues and modern jazz, The Wilbur Project are fun, energetic, accomplished and wildly entertaining.

Expect a funky, foot-stomping set of classics with an original contemporary twist while you’re immersed in the atmosphere of one of the town’s most legendary venues.

Roy Forbes

When? Sunday 26th May @ 4pm and 8pm

Where? Bar Social (4pm) and The Lymestone Vaults (8pm)

One of the nation’s truly revered Jazz singers, Roy really is a master of his trade. Having put on performances at some of Europe’s most iconic jazz gatherings and events, this scintillating singer is now coming to town to dazzle audiences at two top local venues.

Get yourself down to either Bar Social or The Lymestone Vaults - or both - you won’t regret it.

Wide Open Hand

When? Monday 27th May 2019 @ 6.30pm

Where? Yate’s Bar, Iron Market

A local acoustic super duo, Wide Open Hand is the brainchild of highly-acclaimed guitarist John Stonier and one of the best-known vocalists on The Potteries blues scene, Jimmy Gillespie.

Promising a jaunty, soulful set of acoustic originals and classic covers, this is one of the must-see sets of the weekend.

"Jazz to me is a ‘living music’. It's a music that since its beginning has expressed the feelings, the dreams, hopes, of the people." - Dexter Gordon

We hope to see you down there this weekend. If you want to have the best time in town for less, grab yourself a Rockett Recommends VIP Membership card and gain access to exclusive discounts at some of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s best restaurants, cafes and shops.