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The Glasgow Jazz Festival is set to return for its 39th edition this summer. From June 18 to June 22, the city will be alive with the sounds of jazz, featuring both homegrown and international talent. More than 100 musicians will participate in over 25 performances, sessions, and pop-ups, showcasing a variety of styles including soul, fusion, funk, and classic jazz.
Tickets for the Glasgow Jazz Festival 2025 go on sale today at 1pm. READ MORE: Your ultimate Easter weekend shopping guide for in and around Glasgow Tickets for the festival, which is supported by Creative Scotland, are on sale now at jazzfest.co.
uk. Jill Rodger, director of the Glasgow Jazz Festival, said: "Scotland’s jazz scene has never been so buoyant, and Glasgow has become a bustling hub of creativity and cutting-edge collaboration among jazz musicians – so it’s only right that our 2025 programme celebrates the incredible talent to be found here. "I’m also very excited to be presenting a wealth of global acts, with artists coming in from locations like New Orleans and Brazil.
"I would encourage music fans across the city to come out and discover something new this summer – there will be beats to satisfy all tastes on display at venues big and small across Glasgow." This year's headline act is American keyboardist, flautist, and singer Brian Jackson, who will perform at Saint Luke's on June 20. As one half of the power duo Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, he has written, arranged, and produced over 10 albums, with his music featured on more than 100 tracks, including releases from Kendrick Lamar.
(Image: Supplied) The Neil Cowley Trio will also make a return to the festival after eight years, performing on the opening night at Saint Luke's. They will present material from their new recording, Entity, their seventh studio album. Other notable acts include Grammy-award-winning funk and R and B musician Jon Cleary, who will play an intimate show at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall ’s Green Room.
The festival will also feature a one-off show by Fat-Suit, who originated from Glasgow, will pay tribute to the golden age of video game music at Òran Mór. (Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Glasgow attraction named in UK's top 50 Unique Bucket List Experiences English jazz group Mammal Hands, known for their intense and hypnotic live performances, will also be part of this year's festival. Mammal Hands (Image: Supplied) Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland, added: "There's a new sense of confidence coursing through the Scottish jazz scene and onto the stages of the 2025 Glasgow Jazz Festival.
"The positive mood is everywhere, as the city steps out on the upbeat, welcoming top musicians from across the world who will share the spotlight with our own home-grown stars." The festival will also see a number of new partnerships this year. Hyndland record store Second Line Records will be sponsoring Theon Cross Trio and Matt Carmichael’s shows, while ESP Music Rentals is backing Neil Cowley Trio’s show and SM Lighting Ltd is supporting Colin Steele Quartet’s show.
(Image: Supplied) READ MORE: Major Glasgow festival reveals packed programme for 2025 Media Partner One Jazz, the digital radio station, will also be broadcasting from the festival. The free Late Night Jam Sessions will return on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night of the festival, offering a platform for musicians to connect, collaborate, and improvise. BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024 Timmy Allan will host the first night at Nice n Sleazy following his headline show in the venue.
There will also be city-wide concerts ranging from Gavin’s Mill in Milngavie, to Glitch 41 at The Rum Shack in the Southside , as well as Basement Jazz Cafe and The Butterfly and Pig in the city centre..
