THE annual Pershore Jazz Festival will bringing music-loving audiences once again to the scenic town this week, with the promise that it is indeed “the small festival with the big heart”.

And tickets hae been selling fast.

A spokesman said: “Pershore has become one of the established favourite jazz festivals in the UK for many reasons: its location in the beautiful surroundings of award winning Pershore College’s grounds in the historic town of Pershore and that the festival provides wall to wall entertaining music with a diverse mixture of jazz styles from top class musicians.

The spokesman added: “This year’s festival, the seventeenth, offers a wide range of jazz appreciation, bringing over 150 renowned British and international musicians. Young musicians are especially welcomed (as are young audiences!) as they are the future of jazz.”

The festival will be held in Pershore College from Friday to Sunday, August 17-19 “in four closely located venues where non-stop jazz is played and enjoyed”.

The spokesman added: “The audience will be spoilt for choice with four bands to choose from at any one time. Jazz starts at 6.00pm on the Friday and from 11.00am to 11.00pm on Saturday and Sunday.

New to the festival, to name a few, will be Kim Cypher, a local saxophonist and vocalist; Vitality Five, featuring internationally renowned musicians from three comers of the globe; Wendy Kirkland Quartet, a classy debut appearance; Emma Fisk with her Hot Club Du Nord and stunning hot club violin; Basin Street Brawlers, London’s top hot jazz ensemble; Michael McQuaid, an Australian jazz and Swing clarinet maestro; Washboard Resonators, a duo delivering ragtime, jazz and blues; Dime Notes, with David Horniblow and Andrew Oliver delivering gems from Morton, Dodds and Red Nichols 1920s era.”

Established festival favourites, such as Keith Nichols, Tom ‘Spats’ Langham, John Maddocks, Jeff and Anne Barnhart (USA), Amy Roberts, Jamie Brownfield, Enrico Tomasso and John Hallam, will all be there “to showcase their incredible musical talents during the action-packed weekend”.

The spokesman said: “If that’s not enough, Ian Bateman will bring his new venture to Pershore, presenting his show ‘Kenny Ball’s Greatest Hits’, and Keith Nichols will work his magic with the festival orchestras, ‘The Broadcast’ and ‘Raga-mu

The mantra for the event is “Jazz for all in the heart of Worcestershire.”

The spokesman added: “Ticket sales for this popular and entertaining festival, the small jazz festival with a big heart, are well up compared to last year.”

Tickets can be still be bought via the festival website, pershorejazz.org.uk, or by calling 01386 554235.