Leeds Jazz Festival: First Announcement

Leeds Jazz Festival is back for its fourth year from 22nd – 27th May 2025. Working with city-wide partners and building on three successful years, the fourth edition will continue to highlight the buzzing Jazz culture within the city; from emerging to established artists, venues, organisations, promoters and individuals innovating and supporting the scene.

The initial programme includes a visionary saxophonist, composer, bandleader and innovator Camilla George at Howard Assembly Room, Parliamentary Jazz Media Award winner and one of the most exciting young jazz musicians whose captivating performances and original compositions Sultan Stevenson at Seven Arts (JazzLeeds) For the late-night party people Lift Your Feet is back to host a Jazz Dance Party featuring  one of the most unique and uncompromising DJs in the world Coco Maria, as well as resident Leeds own super hot Latin selectors El Caspete at Hyde Park Book Club. Fusebox present a very special collaboration between legendary free improv vocalist Maggie Nicols and drummer Dan Johnson at Hyde Park Book Club. DJ Lubi and Howard Assembly Room present Leeds’ biggest and best cult 24-piece music ensemble Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band bringing their jazz x punk, noise vibes to Howard Assembly Room. Also as part of the line up Jazz Leeds brings the leading UK-based trumpet player Jay Phelps, who is set to play music from the icon and biggest selling album of all time,  Miles Davis’s “Kind of Blue” at Seven Arts.

Our stage is returning to Cookridge Street from Friday 23rd – Monday 26th May, programmed in collaboration with Launchpad, DJ Lubi, Not a thing and JazzLeeds. This family friendly, open air, free stage has live music and DJs running across the bank holiday weekend and has its own seating area, with food and drink on hand throughout the weekend. This stage is produced by LeedsBID, ourselves and New Citizens, with support from Leeds City Council and Eiger Studios.

There are plenty more events to follow in the coming weeks, including news on an exciting commission, free workshops and gigs in venues across the city, programmed in collaboration with a vast array of partners. 

Tickets for the first events are on sale now, with further details available through the Leeds Jazz Festival website. Follow @leedsjazzfest on social media, for the latest updates and announcements as the programme develops.