Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival 2026 line up
Here are some of the exciting acts coming to this year's Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival. More performances are to be announced...
Tom Seals
Saturday 11th July, 6:30pm to 8pm, main stage
‘The UK’s finest boogie-woogie and blues sensation’ The Express
‘A master of the piano and vocals to pierce your soul. A boogie-woogie genius and quite charming with it all’ Close-up Culture
Pianist and vocalist Tom has performed worldwide; The Blue Note, London Palladium, Glastonbury, Ronnie Scott's and Montreux Festival. He's performed with the likes of Jamie Cullum, Gregory Porter, Hugh Laurie, Noddy Holder and regularly performs a duelling pianos show with Jools Holland. Tom had his own show on Sky TV and has just finished a UK tour with Strictly Come Dancing stars Aljaz and Janette. A show not to be missed!
Website: www.tomseals.co.uk
Instagram: @tomseals
Facebook: @tomseals
YouTube: @TomSeals
Spotify: Tom Seals
Toby Lee
Saturday 11th July, 8:30pm to 10pm, main stage
‘One of the best guitarists I know and a future superstar of the Blues’ Joe Bonamassa
‘This blues nut from Oxfordshire is one of the best guitarists in Britain’ The Times
Still just 21-years-old, Toby Lee is already a three-time winner of Young Blues Artist of the Year at the UK Blues Awards - yet the virtuoso guitarist is only getting started.
Toby's talents have been recognised by an array of legends. When he was 10, a 'get well soon' video that he made for BB King went viral, leading to an invitation from the blues legend’s family to play at his club in Memphis. He’s shared stages with the likes of Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa, Slash, Billy Gibbons and Peter Frampton.
Website: www.toby-lee.com
Instagram: @tobyleeguitar
Facebook: @tobyleeguitar
YouTube: @tobyleeHQ
Spotify: Toby Lee
Martin Harley
Friday 10th July, 8:30pm to 10pm, main stage
‘Harley offers the listener a masterclass in taste, style and roots blues’ Guitarist Magazine
‘No doubt that he is a slide guitar master. He is the business’ Roots Magazine
‘Spellbinding’ The Guardian
‘Quite simply a great live act’ Time Out London
Martin Harley has been making music and touring the world for over two decades. His sound has never been more down to earth. Exploring roots, blues and slide guitar in a style The Guardian referred to as ‘Spellbinding’, Harley has released eight albums to date, four recorded on home soil and four across the Atlantic in Texas and Nashville.
Martin’s recent nominations include, AMA instrumentalist of the year, Best Acoustic Guitarist, Best Acoustic Blues artist. Notable appearances include Glastonbury Acoustic and Avalon stages, Beautiful Days, Royal Albert Hall, Union Chapel, Bluebird Nashville, Tønder Festival, The Troubadour LA and at home round the fire pit with his two daughters.
Plantfood
Saturday 11th July, 4:30pm to 6pm, main stage
‘Powerful as ever’ Jess Iszatt, BBC Radio 1
‘My favourite discovery of Glastonbury 2023’ Papaoul, Reprezent Radio
Plantfood are a blood-pumping jazz force summoning an onslaught of electronic and acoustic sounds with influences ranging from heavy hitters like The Prodigy to the spiritual explorations of John Coltrane. The 6-piece collective guides audiences through the extremes of the mosh pit to serene meditations. Forming within and coming up through the inspiring Leeds Jazz scene, Plantfood have quickly become a defining sound in the scene.
Website: www.plantfoodband.com
Instagram: @plantfoodband
Facebook: @plantfoodtheband
YouTube: @plantfoodband
Spotify: Plantfood
Zoe Gilby
Saturday 11th July, 2:30pm to 4pm, main stage
‘A wide vocal range, warm timbre and clear diction which she uses skilfully to unveil her moods. It’s clear that she’s already found her own voice.’ All About Jazz, USA
Winner of Parliamentary Jazz Awards Jazz Vocalist Of The Year 2019.
Zoe Gilby is a UK based jazz vocalist and songwriter who tours internationally and throughout the UK, performing her original compositions, written with double bassist husband Andy Champion. Alongside the UK’s most innovative musicians, Zoe was selected for the prestigious artist development scheme Take Five edition, curated by leading London music producers Serious.
Zoe is a creative, compelling songwriter and performer. Establishing critical acclaim with her adventurous approach and influences from jazz and contemporary composers from Kate Bush to Thelonious Monk. A vast array of powerful and diverse projects with a fascinating lyrical content.
Website: www.zoegilby.co.uk
Instagram: @zoegilby
Facebook: @ZoeGilby
YouTube: @ZoeGilbyMusic
Spotify: Zoe Gilby
Rivkala
Sunday 12th July, 12:30pm to 2:00pm, main stage
Self-proclaimed showgirl Rivkala - along with her esteemed band - blends jazz, soul, funk, and klezmer to build the twisted world of the Crushed Velvet cabaret bar, where she delivers biting yet playful social commentaries. The Mancunian singer-songwriter has made the North East her home over the past seven years, working across a range of projects and co-founding Jam Sandwich, an improvised contemporary jazz jam.
Winner of Youth Music Video of the Year (2025), Youth Music Ones to Watch (2026), BBC Introducing: One to Watch (2025), and Drake Music's Emergent Artist (2023), Rivkala delivered exhilarating performances in 2025 for BBC Proms (broadcast on Radio 3’s ‘Round Midnight), MOBO Fringe, Sofar Sounds, SXSW Roadshow and TV features for BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees.
Website: www.linktr.ee/rivkala
Instagram: @rivkalalala
Facebook: @rivkala
YouTube: @rivkala
Spotify: Rivkala
Rory A Green
Saturday 11th July, 12:30pm to 2:00pm, main stage
Ghanaian-English guitarist, composer and producer Rory A. Green, inspired by his mixed heritage background, uses the sensitivity of acoustic instruments combined with infectious rhythms to create heavily layered, atmospheric environments for his music.
With his dynamic, conversational approach to the guitar and improvisation, Rory has been using music to tell stories and captivate audiences in his hometown of Manchester and across the UK, sharing stages with Laura Misch, Kessoncoda and Marysia Osu.
Website: www.roryagreen.com
Instagram: @roryagreen
Facebook: @roryalexgreen
YouTube: @Roryagreen
Spotify: Rory A Green
The New York Brass Band
Sunday 12th July, 2:30pm to 4:00pm, main stage
'a must see genre-splitting band' The Guardian
'forget Springsteen, you're my new favourite band' Danny Jones, McFly
We are pleased to be hosting the return of the New York Brass Band for a feel good festival Sunday afternoon. Lively funk-fuelled, jazz blending music makes these musicians festival favourites wherever they go from Cork Jazz Festival to crowd surfing trombone solos at Y Not festival, jamming with Rick Astley, heating up the 5am Hell Stage set at Glastonbury, and cropping up in diverse venues from Croatia to Georgia.
Website: www.newyorkbrassband.co.uk
Instagram: @newyorkbrassband
Facebook: @newyorkbrassband
YouTube: @newyorkbrassband
Spotify: New York Brass Band
¡Ritmo Caliente! - a tribute to Cal Tjader
Friday 10th July, 6:30pm to 8pm, main stage
‘Brilliant young vibes player’ Ribble Valley Jazz Festival
‘A lively, foot-tapping set’ Jazz Journal
¡Ritmo Caliente! is an electrifying Latin jazz sextet celebrating the centenary and musical legacy of vibraphone pioneer Cal Tjader.
Tjader’s prolific output as a bandleader defined the vibes-led small group Mambo sound in the ’50’s and into the early ’80’s through chart topping albums including “Soul Sauce” and the Grammy award-winning “La Onda Va Bien“. Recordings under his name, as a sideman and in different styles outside Latin Jazz number in the hundreds. Tjader is also revered as one of the 20th century’s greatest vibraphonists.
Led by John Settle on vibes, ¡Ritmo Caliente! is formed from the rhythm section of northern Salsa powerhouse Orchestra Mambo International. Showcasing the talents of northern England’s finest Latin Jazz musicians, ¡Ritmo Caliente! honour Tjader’s extensive repertoire of Mambo, Cha Cha, Jazz and Salsa in a career that spanned almost 40 years.
Fresh from their appearances at Glastonbury, BBC 6 Music and nationwide airplay of chart topping singles, ¡Ritmo Caliente! promise a set of lively, engaging and exciting rhythms and sounds for fans of Latin music!
Ben Beattie and Simon Cunliffe-Lister
Sunday 12th July, 4:30pm to 6pm, main stage - full band
Saxophonist Ben Beattie and his band of exceptionally talented musicians will be joined by festival organiser, Simon Cunliffe-Lister, for a celebratory festival finale on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday 11th July, 2pm to 3pm, Great Hall - Ben Beattie solo
Sunday, 12th July, 12pm to 1pm, Great Hall - Ben Beattie solo
Facebook: @benbeattiemusic
Instagram: @benbeattiemusic
YouTube: @benbeattiemusic8191
Carlos Olmos & Matt Smith
Sunday 12th July, 10:30pm to midday, main stage
Sunday 12th July, 2pm to 3pm, Great Hall
To open Sunday's Festival line-up, jazz guitarist duo of Bolivian Carlos Olmos and Londoner Matt Smith perform a mix of soul, funk, jazz and blues from a Latin American perspective.
The Alligators
Saturday 11th July, 11pm to midnight, late night acts, bar tent
The Alligators are a three-piece electric rhythm 'n' blues band with the classic line up of guitar, bass and drums. They concentrate on an exciting live sound based around the styles of Chicago, New Orleans and Texas blues, playing a mixture of their own material as well as obscure covers of songs from well-known bands.
'The Alligators rhythm and rocked pulsating performances in the late night marquee at Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival, sending the festival revelers wild with frenetic jiving, hollering and cheers - multiple encores hardly satisfied the audience's thirst for more' Yorkshire Gig Guide
Facebook: @alligatorsbigbite
Swing 42
Friday 10th July, 10pm to 11pm, late night acts, bar tent
A regular performer at the Burton Agnes Jazz & Blues Festival, Michael Nagasaka is joined by Gypsy Jazz guitarist Lewis Kilvington to perform a variety of popular blues and jazz classics. Over the toe tapping Gypsy Jazz tempo, Michael and Lewis will get you clapping and singing along to a number of 'call and response' tunes like Ray Charles' Hit The Road Jack and What'd I Say, Cab Calloway's Minnie the Moocher, and Jungle Book's I Wanna Be Like You. Grab your drinks and get ready to join the mass singalongs.
Facebook: @swing42duo
Rob Nicklas & Friends
Saturday 11th July, 10pm to 11pm, late night acts, bar tent
Rob Nicklas accompanied by Rosie Queen on Bass and Multi-instrumentalist Paul Blackburn perform a lively mixture of classic covers and original material. Bring your dancing boots!
Thanks to our friends at Strada Music, and Stage4Beverley for arranging this performance.
Simon Cunliffe-Lister and Michael Nagasaka, plus family and friends
Saturday 11th July, 12:45pm to 1:45pm, Great Hall
Festival organiser Simon hosts an 'at home' gig in the Great Hall. Simon's sons Joss (drums), Sholto (guitar) and Joss' friend Fred Moulton (saxophone) will join in. This year Michael and Simon will be taking the audience on a Stevie Wonder and Bill Withers journey.
Dexter Humphries
Saturday 11th July, 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Great Hall
Dexter is a local 14-year-old guitarist with a strong passion for the blues.
Playing from the age of 6, he has already made several appearances on the Beverley blues scene and beyond, both as a solo performer and as part of a band. His first public performance was at a Beverley Blues open mic night in the Sun Inn, aged just 12. Since then, he has opened the Beverley Blues festival in 2024 and 2025 and played a number of other venues including, Polar Bear and The New Adelphi Club in Hull, and East Riding Theatre as part of Stage4Beverley. Most recently, Dexter appeared as a guest performer with Two Pianos at Hull City Hall, playing to an audience of almost 1000 people.
His inspirations range from Jimi Hendrix to Joe Bonamassa and Stevie Ray Vaughan to Gary Moore. Dexter performs covers from a host of guitar legends and has also started to experiment with writing riffs and music of his own.
Thanks to our friends at Strada Music, and Stage4Beverley for arranging this performance.
Rob Nicklas (solo)
Sunday 12th July, 3:30pm to 4:30pm, Great Hall
Rob Nicklas has a unique way of conveying the life/love/joy/tragedy of human existence in his songwriting. The messaging is unambiguous and sparse in cliche. The songs conjure up visions - dreams of a possible ideal. They describe the need for patience with difficult people & anger at corporate greed; remind us to remember to breathe; take time to stand and stare, and refocus on joy and kindness.
Thanks to our friends at Strada Music, and Stage4Beverley for arranging this performance.
