Credit: Supplied
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Calling all jazz cats! Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) is set to host a brand new jazz festival across the multi-venue building. Across two days (February 12 to 13, 2026), Eastside Jazz Festival brings together internationally-renowned musicians, innovative talent, grassroots promoters, and local and student musicians from Birmingham’s thriving jazz scene.
Headline artists include acclaimed US saxophonist Chris Potter with the Pablo Held Trio, a significant force on the contemporary European jazz scene, giving the first gig of their extensive 20th anniversary tour; and pianist Rebecca Nash performs as the prestigious Aurum Trio with Henrik Jensen and Dave Smith.
BBC Big Band, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading jazz orchestras, is given free rein for an evening, which includes collaborations with RBC vocalists Julie Claire and Poppy Baker. As is the Olie Brice Quartet, masters of original music and free improvisation—including Rachel Musson, current recipient of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Composer award, on tenor sax.
Credit: Supplied
“The brand new Eastside Jazz Festival aims to celebrate Birmingham’s ever-growing and diverse jazz scene and strengthen the city’s position as a European centre for contemporary jazz,” Jeremy Price, Head of Jazz, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said.
“It’s a two-day focus on year-round programming: alongside musicians of the highest calibre, and leading innovators in contemporary jazz, we’re also working with grassroots promoters Digbeth Jazz (named 2025 Parliamentary Awards’ Venue of the Year) and showcasing RBC’s own graduates and students.”
Graduates and current students of RBC are also a cornerstone of the Eastside Jazz Festival. Trombonist and alumnus Dave Sear, now a visiting tutor at RBC, plays with his quartet; while the Tony Levin Drum Prize, which commemorates the celebrated Midlands drummer, seeks out an exceptional student, with US saxophonist Jean Toussaint and UK bassist Arnie Somogyi.
Programming for Eastside Jazz Festival is being led by Jeremy Price (Head of Jazz at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire), along with Tony Dudley-Evans (TDE Promotions) and RBC’s Ed Puddick, Shanti Jayasinha, Nicholas Gebhardt and Libby Surplice. Other highlights include pianist Ben Shankland (BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician winner), RBC bassist Macy Wright & Indo Jazz, with more to be confirmed.
Eastside Jazz Festival: Thursday, February 12
Chris Potter with Pablo Held Trio (pictured)
Banda Brasiliera
RBC Jazz Orchestra play Miles Davis/Gil Evans play Porgy and Bess Suite
Digbeth Jazz Presents
Ben Shankland & Poppy Baker
Friday, February 13
BBC Big Band
Rebecca Nash Trio with Henrick Jensen and Dave Smith
Olie Brice Quartet with Rachel Musson
Macy Wright & Indo Jazz
Birmingham Jazz Orchestra
Digbeth Jam
Eastside Jazz Festival is at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on February 12 to 13, 2026. To grab your roaming ticket, offering audiences as many varied sessions as possible, head here.