A NEW jazz music festival is set to take place in Taunton over four days with headline acts already confirmed.
The newly named 'BlueTone Festival' is being launched at Taunton's Vivary Park - with a lineup of performers bringing an "exhilarating programme" of jazz, blues, funk, and soul to the town as the biggest jazz event of the year.
Organisers have confirmed that the event will take place from Thursday, May 28, to Sunday, May 31 2026 - with tickets now available.
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Produced by Gala Collective, the brand has organised this festival through a new Community Interest Company (CIC) – Taunton Collaborative Arts. BlueTone Festival plans to reinvest all profits into sustaining the festival and providing free music engagement opportunities for local residents, schools, youth groups, and community organisations.
This debut edition of BlueTone Festival will feature a series of high-profile headline performances, including: Ruby Turner, The Brand New Heavies, Curtis Stigers, and Southern Sinfonia plays Gershwin.
This isn't Ruby's first time performing in the south west, as she is a regular headline act at the Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival - which is one of the biggest jazz and blues events held in the UK.
These acts will be complemented by a wider programme of performers, educational workshops, local musicians, and community participation events designed to involve and inspire audiences of all ages.
Launch tickets are now available at a price of £89. Once the launch allocation of tickets has been sold, early bird festival tickets will cost £99 for the whole weekend. Full ticket details, along with individual day prices, can be found at the festival website – www.bluetone-festival.co.uk
Gideon Amos, MP for Taunton & Wellington, has backed the event as a huge boost to expand Taunton’s "cultural offer".
He said: "BlueTone Festival is a great opportunity to strengthen Taunton’s cultural offer, its identity as a destination on the river, its cultural sector, and to boost the creative sector and foster pride in our town.
"This festival could readily grow into a defining cultural asset for the south west and I urge all potential sponsors, funders and concert goers to wholeheartedly support it."
BlueTone Festival aims closely with local groups, artists, and partners to ensure its growth reflects Taunton’s unique character and creativity.
The festival organisers, Gala Collective, say it will be a privilege to work with the town to bring high-quality music to Taunton. The team is very much looking forward to collaborating with artists, community groups, local partners, and residents on this exciting new venture.
Co-chairs of Taunton Town Council Arts and Culture Working Group, Cllr Vanessa Garside & Cllr Caroline Ellis said: “The new BlueTone Festival is just brilliant news for Taunton. Residents can look forward to amazing music from leading jazz and blues artists on their doorstep for the first time and new visitors will give us a business and tourism boost.
"The festival team want to build something really special with and for the town that will benefit our local music scene and opportunities for young people long term. Taunton is so ready for this.”
Local artist applications, volunteer registration, sponsorship enquiries, and partnership opportunities will open soon, with Gala Collective leading an open and collaborative engagement process.
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