Festival season in Upton continues later this month with the return of jazz to the town.

Upton Jazz Festival takes place from June 23-25 and there are are mixture of free and ticketed events happening throughout Upton.

Free Festival programmes will be available around the town in the next few days.

There will also be some free-to-enter jazz on the Friday evening - Muriel at the Muggery is joining in as usual, with John Beckingham’s JB4.

The ‘new’ White Lion Hotel will present jazz too, with Jane Williams Quintet. Festival organisers will be wandering around with festival programmes.

READ MORE: Upton Jazz Festival 2023 tickets selling fast

“At The White Lion Hotel with thanks to Michelle and Michael, you can enjoy jazz on all three days, on a stage in the garden,” a spokesperson said.

“Thanks to Kyle, you can enjoy free-to-enter jazz at the Boathouse, at Mojitos, and at Bar 7.

“Look out for Hotsy Totsy, Dorine de Wit and Tremé; Jeremy Huggett’s Boogie Band; Richard Leach’s Street Band, Swing from Paris, Alex Clarke Quartet, Fiddlebop, Christian Cox, Max Dmytruk (Ukraine) and more.

“Thanks to Luke and the team at the Swan Hotel, our fifth Upton Jazz Fringe with wall-to-wall music on the new stage Saturday 11am to Sunday at 8pm. The Fringe - where anything goes.

Malvern Gazette: Ben Holder is one of this year's headline actsBen Holder is one of this year's headline acts (Image: Ben Holder)

“We have a varied programme with some great local performers. GAT Decorum, Manteca, blues and soul from the SugarDaddies and jazz funk from Tunehead.”

At the Baptist Church, there will be performances from Upton Jazz Rising Stars with youth bands and a warm welcome, refreshments, an open mic and a special performance by Amelia K Dance Academy on Sunday afternoon.

The Jazz Church Service is at 11am on Sunday.

The ticketed concert programme includes Ben Holder’s Hot Club Quartet, Jake Leg Jug Band, Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band, Tenement Jazz Band, Spats Langham playing solo, Moscow Drug Club, Alligator Gumbo, Hot Fingers and Washington Whirligig. 

Concert venues are the Memorial Hall and the Parish Church - and tickets sold out in April for the second year in a row.

Donations are welcomed from anyone who enjoys the festival’s free events and anyone wishing to help with sponsorship etc can find contact details at www.uptonjazz.co.uk.