First names revealed for 2020 Cheltenham Jazz and Music Festivals

This is always an exciting time of year for the Chelteham Festivals team who are busy at work planning the events programme for 2020.  They have just shared details about the first wave of artists confirmed for next year’s Cheltenham Jazz and Music Festivals and we are so excited to pass these details on to you!  Drum roll please...

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Cheltenham Jazz Festival (5-10 May) will feature multi-Grammy-nominated Brazilian-American singer Bebel Gilberto; a double-bill of Malian Afrobeat-pop duo Amadou & Mariam with iconic gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama; and a new group formed from some of contemporary jazz’s finest instrumentalists: David Liebman/Randy Brecker/Marc Copland Quintet.

Cheltenham Music Festival (3-12 July) has concerts from the pioneering Aurora Orchestra with Dame Sarah Connolly; the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra with violinist Tasmin Little; and the Philharmonia with their new conductor Santtu- Matias Rouvali and pianist Alice Sara Ott. The Festival’s ‘prelude’ weekend at Syde Manor, performed by The Leonore Piano Trio and friends, celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth.

Important dates 2020

Tickets for early names will go on sale to Cheltenham Festivals Members at 10am on Tuesday 26 November and on general sale at 10am on 28 November.

The full Cheltenham Jazz Festival line-up will be announced on Wednesday 12 February and for Cheltenham Music Festival on Friday 13 March. To be the first to hear Festival announcements, sign up for e-news at cheltenhamfestivals.com.

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What do we know so far about Cheltenham Jazz Festival 5-10 May 2020?

Cheltenham Jazz Festival will run from Tuesday 5 to Sunday 10 May 2020, coinciding with the early May Bank Holiday to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Widely considered to be one of Europe’s leading jazz festivals, the six-day event will once again present a mix of established stars and exciting new talent from around the world.

Thursday 7 May at Everyman Theatre

Multi-Grammy-nominated Brazilian-American singer Bebel Gilberto, daughter of bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto, will make her Cheltenham debut presenting songs from her highly anticipated new album, due out in Spring 2020. Described by The Guardian as being in possession of “a glorious voice”.

Friday 8 May at Henry Westons Big Top

A high-profile double bill at the 2000-capacity Henry Westons Big Top featuring Malian Afrobeat-pop duo Amadou & Mariam and iconic gospel group Blind Boys of Alabama. Amadou & Mariam's colourful blend of traditional African music, rock and desert blues has seen them become one of Africa’s most popular acts. They are joined on the bill by Blind Boys of Alabama, fronted by founding member Jimmy Carter, showcasing music from across their vast back catalogue as well as from their brand new album Work To Do.

Saturday 9 May at Everyman Theatre

A brand-new quintet fronted by three of contemporary jazz’s leading instrumentalists; saxophonist David Liebman, trumpeter Randy Brecker and pianist Marc Copland.

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What do we know so far about Cheltenham Music Festival 3-12 July 2020?

Cheltenham Music Festival takes place between 3 to 12 July kicking off with a weekend of free music in Cheltenham’s beautiful Imperial Gardens. Guest Curator Jules Buckley has been working with the Festival’s Head of Programming, Camilla King, on the 2020 programme which will deliver a diverse mix of commissions, community events, leading international soloists and ensembles alongside new initiatives to be announced.

Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 June, Syde Manor

The Festival ‘prelude’ weekend celebrates the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth with an immersive weekend tucked away in a beautiful corner of Gloucestershire. The Leonore Piano Trio and friends from Ensemble 360 perform Beethoven’s piano trios alongside other chamber works by Beethoven and Schumann and ‘Bagatelles after Beethoven’ by six contemporary composers. Pre-concert talks are provided by musicologist and broadcaster Katy Hamilton. Ticket includes lunch, dinner and drinks.

Friday 3 July 7.30pm at Cheltenham Town Hall

Opening the Festival is the pioneering Aurora Orchestra under Nicholas Collon. Made up of the finest new generation of British instrumentalists, the orchestra is on a mission to

help audiences get under the skin of great music with their playful approach to presentation on stage. They perform Copland’s Appalachian Spring and a chamber version of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with soloists Dame Sarah Connolly and Andrew Staples.

Monday 6 July 7pm at Cheltenham Town Hall

Two of the hottest young stars in classical music join forces for a concert full of energy. The Philharmonia with their newly appointed Principal Conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali perform Beethoven’s Symphony No.7 and Saint-Saëns’ 2nd Piano Concerto. Soloist Alice Sara Ott is in demand on the concert platform for her dazzling technique and also as a fashion brand ambassador.

Friday 10 July 7pm at Cheltenham Town Hall

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra perform with their Chief Conductor Vasily Petrenko and violinist Tasmin Little a programme of Walton, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. An unmissable chance to see violinist Tasmin Little before she hangs up her concert gowns for good in 2020, she will perform one of the worl