The Glasgow Jazz Festival is back from Wednesday 18 June – Sunday 22 June 2025. As always, the festival packs a lot of international and local punch into its modest timeline, from Santana to the Glasgow Composers Orchestra. Patrick Hadfield and Mark McKergow, two of UK Jazz New’s ‘friends in the North’, have picked out some particularly tasty shows to help inspire visitors from around the world (and even Greenock).
Patrick’s selections:
- The festival opens with the Neil Cowley Trio, midway through their comeback tour after an eight-year hiatus. They played a great show in St Luke’s back in 2017, it’ll be fascinating to see how they fare after their extended break (7pm, 18 June, St Luke’s)
- Matt Carmichael will be playing a home town gig following the recent release of his eagerly awaited new album Dancing With Embers. His live shows seamlessly blend jazz and folk themes with exciting results (7pm, 19 June, St Luke’s)
- Colin Steele Quartet’s latest project, adapting the music of Glasgow cult band The Blue Nile, bring the music home. Steele’s sparse, muted trumpet makes an excellent fit for The Blue Nile’s tuneful melancholy (7.30pm, 20 June, Green Room)
- Theon Cross Trio featuring Graham Costello is an intriguing prospect: both Cross and Costello have played extensively in bands which have driving rhythms to the fore, and whatever they create together is likely to be of interest. This gig has the added attraction of support from producer Rebecca Vasmant as DJ (7.30pm, 21 June, Oran Mor)
- Modern Vikings is one of the most exciting bands in Scotland. Led by Stephen Henderson’s subtle yet propulsive drumming and featuring Fergus McCreadie and David Bowden, his band mates in McCreadie’s trio, together with Konrad Wiszniewski and Graeme Stephen, they’ll be featuring tunes from their excellent record, Tales of the Skald (7.30pm, 22 June, St Luke’s)
Mark’s selections:
- Brian Jackson – former Gil Scott-Heron writing and performing partner, the much-sampled Jackson brings voice, keyboards, flute and their latest group to Scotland. This all-star lineup will light up St Luke’s with an up-against-it history from the 1970s but still with 2020s relevance (7pm, Friday 20 June, St Luke’s)
- Smoove and Turrell – the fast and furious Tynesiders bring their brand of ‘Northern Funk’ – a contemporary fusion of funk, soul, northern soul, hip-hop and electronica – across the border. They say that the revolution WILL be televised. (7.30pm, Friday 20 June, Hug & Pint)
- Jon Cleary – the Grammy-winning New Orleans piano giant brings a top-class band from around the world to roll like the Mississippi in Glasgow’s Green Room. The band includes musicians from as far apart as Ronnie Scott’s and the Preservation Hall. Unmissable. (7.30pm, Saturday 21 June, Green Room)
- Marianne McGregor – powerful singer, Scottish Jazz Awards ‘Best Vocalist’ winner in 2023, and fresh from representing her country at Jazzahead! 2025, Marianne McGregor launches her new album of originals with support from Creative Scotland. One of the nation’s key jazz nights of the year. (7.30pm, Sunday 22 June, Green Room)
- Finally don’t miss the late night jam sessions at Nice N Sleazy Thursday-Saturday hosted by Timmy Allan, Harry Weir and Gaïa (11pm-3am, Nice N Sleazy)
Follow the link below to buy tickets and see the full line-up.
