The first two Ronnie Scott’s Britjazz Festival in 2009 and 2010 sold out completely.The third runs this year from August 1st to 14th, and most of the gigs are close to full, or getting there. There’s double bill every night, but admission prices are typically lower than most of the year. The club opens at 6pm every evening.

A few noteworthy gigs:

– They’ve played Montreux. And the Sydney Opera House, but this is the first ever appearance at Ronnie’s for the Matthew Herbert Big Band. The band has no shortage of lively characters, plus singers TBA. Saturday 13th.

– A first apearance at Ronnie’s since the 1970’s by Chris Barber and the first for his big band (6th), and Ronnie’s debuts for the Michael Garrick Big Band (2nd) and Orphy Robinson’s Codefive (8th)

– Singers: Claire Martin, Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw, Earl Okin, Gwyneth Herbert

 – Mercury Prize nominee Gwilym Simcock

We are working with Ronnie Scott’s and LondonJazz newsletter readers can choose between no fewer than three prizes this week

PRIZE ONE – A pair of tickets for Thursday 4th August
CLAIRE MARTIN/SIR RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT and the BOBBY WELLINS QUARTET

PRIZE TWO -A pair of tickets for Friday 12th August
BLINQ QUARTET (Brendan Reilly, Liane Caroll, Ian Shaw, Natalie Williams)
+ AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON QUARTET

PRIZE THREE – PICK YOUR OWN
Put your name in the hat to go to ANY EVENING of the festival. List below.

FULL PROGRAMME FOR BRITJAZZ
Monday 1st August
CELEBRATING HUMPH WITH THE HUMPHREY LYTTELTON BAND
+ LAURA JURD QUINTET FEAT. MICK FOSTER

Tuesday 2nd August
THE MICHAEL GARRICK BIG BAND + JOHN ETHERIDGE/CHRISTIAN GARRICK

Wednesday 3rd August
BEATS AND PIECES + KAIROS 4TET

Thursday 4th August
CLAIRE MARTIN/SIR RICHARD RODNEY BENNETT + BOBBY WELLINS QUARTET

Friday 5th August
LUCINDA BELLE ORCHESTRA + EARL OKIN

Saturday 6th August
CHRIS BARBER BAND + ANDY DAVIES QUINTET

Sunday 7th August
THE JAZZVERSE JUKEBOX with Jumoke Fashola and SOWETO KINCH

Monday 8th August
MATTHEW HALSALL WITH NAT BIRCHALL ‘A TRIBUTE TO JOHN & ALICE COLTRANE” + ORPHY ROBINSON’S CODEFIVE

Tuesday 9th August
ECLECTICA! + GWYNETH HERBERT

Wednesday 10th August
TOMMY SMITH’S KARMA + NEWT

Thursday 11th August
GWILYM SIMCOCK TRIO + STEPHANO D’SILVA QUARTET PERFOMING THE MUSIC OF AMANCIO D’SILVA

Friday 12th August
BLINQ QUARTET (Brendan Reilly, Liane Caroll, Ian Shaw, Natalie Williams)
+ AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON QUARTET

Saturday 13th August
MATTHEW HERBERT BIG BAND + SEAMING TO TRIO

Sunday 14th August
NATALIE WILLIAMS SOUL FAMILY WITH SPECIAL GUEST ROACHFORD