THE VENUYS streets and record stores of Stroud will once again become a whole universe of sounds when Jazz Stroud returns for its eighth edition this week.

This year’s line-up in the Brunel Goods Shed features headliners keyboard maestro Joe Armon-Jones (of Mercury Prize-winners Ezra Collective) leading his own hugely talented band; Mercury nominated saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi with her thrilling electronica jazz trio un.procedure; and Stroud-based composer Daniel Inzani with his new eight-piece ensemble.

They will be among the many performances across the weekend from May 23-26, taking place ‘in the round’ - bringing the focus of the music to the centre of room.

Renowned bass guitarist and singer Ruth Goller (Acoustic Ladyland/Melt Yourself Down) will bring her beguiling vocal project Skylla to the festival, and rising Scottish sax star Matt Carmichael will perform his jazz-folk-infused original music in the beautiful setting of St Laurence Church.

Now in its eighth year, the festival, which began as a small, single venue weekender featuring Get The Blessing and Andy Sheppard, has organically grown to take in several key venues around the town including the magnificent Grade 2 Listed Brunel Goods Shed, beautiful St Laurence Church and SVA Studios Bar as well as break-out live spaces in the town’s two vinyl emporiums, Sound Records and Klang Tone.

Initially featuring bands and artists drawn from the Bristol and South West talent pool, for the first two years Jazz Stroud was perfectly placed to ride the British New Jazz explosion of 2018-19 and featured some of the leading lights of the scene – often before they hit the big time. These included stunning shows from Nubya Garcia, Comet is Coming and Emma Jean-Thackray relatively early on in their careers.

Things get under way with a Tomorrow’s Warriors Takeover on Thursday night (23 May) showcasing three emerging bands: newly formed five-piece BIG MASSIVE, who energetically explore sounds from hip-hop and dub to jungle and videogame music; the female-led Frontline whose funky horns and heavy grooves will make you move and internationally renowned drum prodigy Romarna Campbell unleashes her mix jazz and fusion with fire and finesse.