The organisers of the Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival have confirmed their line-up for 2027, naming Beverley Knight among six headline acts who will perform across the five-day event. Tickets for the festival, which takes place in the Regency coastal town of Sidmouth in East Devon, are now on sale.
Festival runs from 27–31 May
The sixth edition of the festival will run from Thursday 27 May to Monday 31 May, with all six headliners scheduled to appear on the main stage in Blackmore Gardens. The announced headliners are: Jools Holland with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, Beverley Knight, Level 42, The Robert Cray Band, Heather Small and Omar.
"Jools Holland with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra opens the festival."
Jools Holland will open the event on Thursday 27 May, returning after his 2026 headline show. His appearance will include long‑time collaborator Ruby Turner and special guests such as Pauline Black, the frontwoman of 2 Tone ska band The Selecter.
On Friday 28 May, British soul singer Beverley Knight — widely known as the Queen of British Soul — will present her Born to Perform show, described in the announcement as a celebration of songs and stories from her life on stage. The announcement notes her three MOBO awards and references her hits including "Get Up!" and "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" as well as West End roles in The Bodyguard and The Drifters Girl.
Saturday 29 May will be headlined by Level 42, the band formed on the Isle of Wight in 1979. The organisers highlight the group’s catalogue — including "Lessons in Love", "Something About You" and "Running in the Family" — and note their history of commercial success and long touring career.
Blues and soul across the weekend
The final weekend slots include The Robert Cray Band on Sunday 30 May. The announcement underlined Cray’s five Grammy Awards and induction into the Blues Hall of Fame, and referenced his international touring career and crossover of blues, soul and R&B dating back to the 1970s.
The full list of headliners, dates and stage is summarised in the table below.
| Date | Headliner |
|---|---|
| Thursday 27 May | Jools Holland with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra |
| Friday 28 May | Beverley Knight |
| Saturday 29 May | Level 42 |
| Sunday 30 May | The Robert Cray Band |
| Monday 31 May | Heather Small and Omar (festival headliners listed) |
The festival’s promoters have positioned the weekend as a mix of jazz, blues and soul with a strong roster of established performers. For residents of Beverley and the wider Yorkshire region the announcement may be of interest both to music fans planning summer visits and to those following Beverley Knight’s continuing stage career.
- When: 27–31 May 2027
- Where: Blackmore Gardens, Sidmouth, East Devon
- Tickets: Now on sale via the festival’s ticketing channels (announced by organisers)
Further details such as individual set times, supporting artists and full ticketing packages were not included in the initial release. The organisers have previously expanded weekend programming with additional stages and daytime events; attendees should check the festival website for updates and on‑sale ticket categories before travel arrangements are made.
As with any coastal festival, visitors travelling from Yorkshire are likely to wish to plan transport and accommodation in advance given the bank‑holiday timing and the prominence of the announced headliners. The confirmation of Beverley Knight as a main stage performer will be particularly notable for local followers of British soul and for those tracking UK touring schedules into 2027.
