Free festival of blues and jazz music in Plymouth this weekend

This weekend, Plymouth’s Barbican will be filled with the sounds of smooth blues and swinging jazz as the Ocean City Blues ‘n’ Jazz Festival returns for its fourth year.

The festival, organised by Plymouth City Council, runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 11 August and starts at 12pm each day.

The main stage on The Parade will welcome 21 talented bands and musicians across the three days. Completely free to attend, visitors are welcome to relax with a drink from one of the nearby cafes and bars, or dance the night away on the cobbled streets.

Deputy Council Leader Peter Smith, said: “The Ocean City Blues ‘n’ Jazz Festival is a fantastic opportunity for locals and visitors alike to enjoy some of the region’s best musicians in the beautiful surroundings of the historic Barbican – all for free.”

There’s a range of musical genres on offer, including funk, folk, acoustic and rock, as well as a variety of jazz and blues styles.

Full festival programme

Friday 9 August

12pm Jeremy Huggett’s Band of Gold

1.15pm Steve Dow & Martin Jenkins

2.30pm Swingology

3.45pm Gozer Goodspeed

5pm Caddick and Parkes

6.30pm Adam Sweet Band

7.45pm Benny Guitar Carr

9pm Smokey’s King Shufflers

10pm Finish