About 2,500 people are expected to attend a series of concerts in Edinburgh as this year's festival season gets under way with the 24th Jazz and Blues festival.

Some 118 concerts will take place in bars, halls, streets and parks around the city over the next 10 days, attended by an estimated 75,000 people.

The number of shows this year has increased by 20%, in response to what organisers claim is a sharp rise in ticket sales over the past five years.

We want jazz in Edinburgh to flourish and for the jazz festival to be recognised as an international centre of excellence

Jazz Festival chairman

As well as Friday's Jazz Barbecue by the sea, overlooking Newhaven harbour in Leith, highlights of the festival include a concert by guitarist Buddy Guy on Sunday night.

Other events include shows by Courtney Pine and Van Morrison, as well as the Scottish debut of long time Miles Davis collaborator Marcus Miller.

Two free events - the Bank of Scotland Mardi Gras jazz parade, and Jazz On A Summer's Day - the largest concert of its kind to be staged in the UK - take place over the weekend.

Van Morrison is among the highlights of the jazz festival

"We want jazz in Edinburgh to flourish and for the city and its jazz festival to be recognised as an international centre of excellence," said jazz festival chairman Brian Fallon.

The Fringe festival begins on 4 August and will play host to 1,493 shows, while the International Festival begins one week later and runs until 31 August.

The Edinburgh Film Festival and book festival also take place next month.

And another highlight of the festival season, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, begins at the city's Castle Esplanade on 2 August.