The Jazz Show

Every Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend in May, live music comes to Newcastle-under-Lyme with a host of different specialist bands at various venues across the town.

Great music

Now established as one of the more relaxed things to do, especially at the Bank Holiday weekend when it traditionally rains, the festival has been run annually since 2005.

From the more established music venues like the Old Brown Jug and Rigger through to the New Vic Theatre there's always plenty on offer across the 14 venues that take part.

In 2009, main headliners included 'Godfather of British Jazz', pianist Stan Tracey, and masters of swing jazz King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys.

Although it's predominantly a Jazz and Blues festival - the festival has become about showcasing all types of music. In the past Hey Jude, the Beatles tribute band have performed as have the Reggae band, the Abelwell Foundation.

Local acts

The festival is also about showing off the best acts from Staffordshire, in particular the immediate area around Newcastle.

Past performers include singer songwriter Karl Bailey who has just been signed to a record label, local favourites the Clay Faces, and up and coming bands Giro Junkie and .44 Pistol.

Organisers of the festival - Newcastle Borough Council - are using the local bands as a draw for younger people to get involved in the weekend. They also got shortlisted for a communications reward for the way they used MySpace, Facebook and Twitter to bring a younger crowd to venues.