The Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music festival is now in its seventh year, and it’s spreading its wings in 2023 to take in even more venues.

This much loved festival is packing so many highlights this year that it’s a pretty thankless task to pick out highlights, but it would be remiss of me if I didn’t mention the likes of Zoe Rahman (pictured – one of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene whose vibrant and highly individual style has seen her scoop an Ivor Novello award), Rie Nakajima (she creates music through her self-made kinetic devices and objects), Moonfish (drummer Riccardo Chiaberta and pianist Maria Chiara Argio combine jazz improvisation, electronic beats and alt rock) and Late Girl (an electronic musician based in Newcastle who mixes found sounds, electronica and vocals). Among the new performance spaces this year will be the Jesmond United Reformed Church and Blank Studios, who will help expand the festival beyond regular venues such as Bobiks, The Globe and the Lit & Phil. There is absolutely oodles go on, starting in September and running into October, and you can grab the full exciting programme from the website, below. JL

Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music, Friday 22 September + Thursday 28 September-Sunday 1 October + Thursday 5 October-Sunday 8 October, various venues, newcastlefestivalofjazzandimprovisedmusic.co.uk