The Royal Oak, Old Town
Our Tuesday night Jazz sessions have been running for 14 years and have seen many prominent and award winning artists performing such as Tina May, David Newton, Jim Mullen, John Etheridge, Howard Alden, Adrian Cox and many more. Tables can be booked through the venues booking page : - https://theroyaloakoldtown.co.uk/jazz-blues-live-sessions/
Since 2015, The Royal Oak has become a cornerstone of Old Town Swindon’s eating and drinking community and also hosts fine dining at the hugely rated restaurant The Choptank
FREE Entry : Performance times: 20:00-21:00 / 21:30-22:30 The Royal Oak, 24 Devizes Road, Swindon, SN1 4BQ2026
SEPTEMBER
1ST SEPTEMBER - LINLEY HAMILTON & EDDIE GRIPPER TRIO - Linley Hamilton is an internationally acclaimed jazz trumpeter, flugelhorn player, broadcaster and educator from Northern Ireland. A former BBC Radio Ulster presenter and retired Ulster University lecturer, he has performed with artists including Van Morrison, Jacqui Dankworth and Paul Brady, and has released six studio albums. he will be joined by the fierce swinging Eddie Gripper Trio.
8TH SEPTEMBER - GLEN MANBY QUARTET - Glen Manby is one of the UK's leading alto saxophonists, renowned for his expressive hard bop style and polished technique. A graduate of New York's prestigious New School and the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, he has performed internationally and studied with some of the world's foremost jazz musicians. An acclaimed composer, educator and recording artist, his albums have earned widespread praise from critics and audiences alike. Also featuring John-Paul Gard (Piano) Paul Jefferies (Double Bass) & Sam Green (Drums)
15TH SEPTEMBER - 3PLAY - Jazz, but not as you know it! A Jazz Funk Organ led trio who play an incredible set of Jazz, Funk, Groove led by the spectacular John Paul Gard on keyboards and samplers! This is an act for fans of top class instrumental music, not just Jazz! Also featuring Chris Cobbson (Guitar) and Paolo Adamo (Drums)
22ND SEPTEMBER - BRASS BAND BYCHAN - A SOUSAPHONE is entering the club! Courtesy of Trombone player Gareth Roberts & Trumpeter Gethin Liddington, we welcome back the pocket brass band and are in for a heavy dose of funk, groove and blues. Completing the band are Alastair Stewart - Sousaphone Mark O'Connor - Drums
29TH SEPTEMBER - ANDY STURMEY QUARTET - Andrew Sturmey is a highly regarded British jazz pianist, composer and educator whose expressive style and sophisticated harmonic language have earned him a respected place on the UK jazz scene. A former member of NYJO, he has performed alongside leading figures in music including George Benson and Elton John, and in the West End with stars such as Michael Crawford and Alfie Boe. He debuts at the club with a Sax led quartet of Jazz Classics.
OCTOBER
6TH OCTOBER - FIVE WAY SPLIT - Five-Way Split is an all-star quintet featuring acclaimed saxophonist Vasilis Xenopoulos alongside Quentin Collins, Rob Barron, Matyas Hofecker and Matt Home. Blending the energy of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers with a fresh, modern sound, the band delivers outstanding original compositions alongside hard-bop classics. Their critically acclaimed recordings and sold-out performances have firmly established them as one of the UK's premier straight-ahead jazz ensembles.
13TH OCTOBER - THE BLUES EDITION WITH BOB BOWLES TRIO - Our last Blues edition of the Jazz Club for 2026 - we love to have an evening dedicated to the Blues as it’s a genre that is so intermixed with Jazz. Wiltshire’s Mr Blues himself leads a killer band of John Paul Gard (Organ) and Eddie John (Drums) for an evening of Blues classics made famous by icons like Canned Heat, Peter Green and much more
20th OCTOBER - PASQUALE VOTINO QUARTET - Italian-born double bassist Pasquale Votino trained at the Conservatorio Nicola Sala in Benevento, studying under renowned bassist Rino Zurzolo. His jazz education also saw him work in workshops with some formidable names, including Benny Golson, Buster Williams, Jerry Bergonzi and Enrico Pieranunzi. After moving to Bristol in 2011, Pasquale established himself as a sought-after figure on the UK jazz scene. Also featuring Greg Sterland (Sax), Matt Hopkins (Guitar) and Paolo Adamo (Drums)
27TH OCTOBER - NIGEL PRICE & LIBOR SMOLDAS - Two of Europe’s outstanding jazz guitarists join forces as part of their October UK tour. British Jazz Award winner Nigel Price is one of the UK’s most respected jazz guitarists, a former member of the James Taylor Quartet and a regular at Ronnie Scott’s, where he has performed hundreds of times. Prague-based Libor Šmoldas has toured across four continents and worked with an extraordinary roster of international jazz greats including George Mraz, Jeff Ballard, Bobby Watson, Adam Nussbaum and James Morrison.
NOVEMBER
3RD NOVEMBER - HOPKINS HAMMOND TRIO - This funky groove led Trio are a project by Jazz favourites, Scott Hammond (Drums), Ruth Hammond (Keys) and Matt Hopkins (guitar), We and the audience love their eclectic set list of the funkier, bluesier side of Jazz - tunes from Pat Metheny to John Scofield, a real treat for fans of this genre and beyond.
10TH NOVEMBER - ROB BRIAN QUARTET - This session is a must for fans of Jazz drums, or drums generally! Drum master Rob Brian has performed with Siouxsie Sioux for some years, including performing on Jools Holland, but he has also worked with Peter Gabriel, Goldfrapp, and Jazz leaders such as Jason Rebello and Alan Barnes. We thought it was about time he brought his quartet to the club! Expect some classic swing, be-bop, ballads, drum & bass, funk fusion and even some Gene Krupa Chicago style vibes.
17TH NOVEMBER - ELIJAH JEFFRIES & EDDIE GRIPPER QUARTET- A club debut for Jazz vocalist Elijah Jeffries who joins fellow rising star Eddie Gripper (Piano) as part of their UK Album tour. Written and recorded within 8 weeks, their self-entitled album is the culmination of both musician’s fruitful working relationship and individual passion for songwriting. With seven original songs and one never-before heard adaptation of a 17th century Aria, Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper offer up an “eagerly awaited”(The Jazz Mann)collaboration straddling the genres of progressive pop, indie folk and alternative jazz. Also featuring Paul Jefferies (Double Bass) and Euan Palmer (Drums)
24TH NOVEMBER - JAMES CHADWICK & JAKE MCMURCHIE QUARTET - Cardiff-based jazz guitarist and composer James Chadwick is known for his distinctive, melodic approach, bringing a contemporary edge to jazz standards alongside his own original compositions and inventive arrangements. for this debut session he is joined by celebrated Saxophonist Jake McMurchie who is one of the South West’s most distinctive jazz sax players and is best known as a founding member of BBC Jazz Award-winning Get The Blessing
DECEMBER
1ST DECEMBER - SIMON SPILLETT & ALEX STEELE TRIO - The return of the Bebop master! Tubby Hayes biographer and multi-award-winning tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett returns for a storming session of straight-ahead, vibrant jazz. Widely regarded as one of the UK’s most acclaimed tenor players, Simon brings formidable energy, swing and unmistakable bebop fire to the stage. Joining him is the long-awaited return of piano maestro Alex Steele – making this a session not to be missed.
8TH DECEMBER - DAVE BETTS LATIN JAZZ QUARTET - Bristol-based drummer, multi-percussionist and composer Dave Betts specialises in an infectious blend of Latin jazz and funk. His distinctive set-up combines drum kit with Latin percussion and multiple pedals, allowing him to create several percussion parts simultaneously. With four studio albums and a live album recorded during a residency at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s, Dave is known for energetic, groove-driven performances packed with rhythm and Latin flair.
15TH DECEMBER - CHRISTMAS JAZZ SESSION WITH KIM CYPHER - A Christmas Crackin' night hosted by the inimitable Vocalist and Saxophonist Kim Cypher, who will be joined by her fantastic band. It's Jazz with a modern twist, singalongs and Christmas sparkle! Joining Kim will be Chris Cobbson (Guitar), Raph Mizraki (Double Bass) and Mike Cypher (Drums)
