Keswick Jazz Festival celebrates its silver jubilee next month with a four-day extravaganza featuring some of the very best UK and international jazz musicians.

Since 1992, the festival has been filling the town with jazz music for one long weekend in May and built its reputation as an unmissable event in the calendar for lovers of traditional, New Orleans, swing, hot-club and mainstream jazz.

Started by Allerdale council 25 years ago, the jazz festival has taken on a variety of different guises over the years, responding to changing circumstances.

Each year has seen different venues in and around the town hosting festival events, with events centring around Theatre by the Lake following its opening in 1999.

Thirteen years ago, the festival evolved again when the theatre’s management took on responsibility for managing the event.

For 23 of its 25 years, the festival was programmed by renowned jazz event organiser, John Minnion, who will be sharing his favourite stories and memories in a talk in the Studio at Theatre by the Lake at 10am on Saturday May 14.

He’ll be joined in his reminiscences by fellow festival stalwart, John Meehan, whose Savannah Jazz Band has delighted Keswick audiences every year since the event began.

In 2014 John Minnion handed over the reins to fellow musician and jazz enthusiast, Graham Hughes.

Graham said, "This 25th festival line-up is the most exciting ever. As well as many of the festival favourites there are many new faces of all ages, from near and far; exciting young musicians, seasoned professionals and international stars, all sharing the same stages."

This year’s festival runs from May 12 to May 15, with 90 events taking place across 12 Stroller venues, including the Skiddaw Hotel, the Keswick Conservative Club, the Masonic Hall, Southey Street Methodist Church and a marquee on Crow Park.

Passes range from £30 to £120.

There are also a number of free events adding to the jubilee atmosphere, including the parade, which sees musicians lead a train of dancing followers from the Market Square to Derwentwater foreshore, from 10am on May 14. 

Festival sponsors Jennings Brewery join the party for the free ‘Jazz on the Square’ event on Sunday, between 11.30am and 2pm on the Market Square, where visitors will have the opportunity to sample their range of Cumbrian ales while enjoying the sassy swing-era sounds of the Brownfield/Byrne Hot Six.

For more information or tickets, visit www.keswickjazzfestival.co.uk or call the box office on 017687 74411.

The long-term future of Keswick Jazz Festival is yet to be determined following the announcement by Theatre by the Lake earlier this year that it will not be able to continue to manage the festival in its present form after the 2016 event.