Your ultimate guide to Dundee Jazz Festival 2026
Dundee Jazz Festival returns from 11–15 November with a programme spanning jazz, blues, soul, funk and sounds from further afield.
Across five days, musicians will take over venues including Canvas, Bonar Hall, Steeple Church and Verdant Works Museum.
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Alongside visiting performers, Dundee talent takes centre stage through new commissions, community sessions and a collaboration celebrating the next generation of jazz musicians.
From intimate performances and free gigs to big-band concerts and late-night sessions, here is a closer look at the programme.
Colin Steele Quintet plays Miles Davis
Wednesday 11 November, 8pm | Canvas
Scottish trumpeter Colin Steele opens the festival with a concert celebrating the music of Miles Davis, marking the centenary of his birth.
Steele is joined by saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski, pianist Dave Milligan, bassist Kenny Ellis and drummer Max Popp. Together, the quintet will revisit Davis’s music through a programme that offers both a familiar starting point for longtime listeners and an introduction for anyone discovering jazz.
Doors open at 7pm, with the concert running from 8–10pm, including an interval.
Ali Affleck’s Rhythm Rascals
Thursday 12 November, 7.30pm | Steeple Church
Vocalist and bandleader Ali Affleck brings the sounds of early jazz and blues to Steeple Church with an international line-up of her Rhythm Rascals collective.
The performance marks the Scottish debut of New York trumpeter Mike Davis. He joins Argentine musicians Lucas Ferrari on piano and Fernando Montardit on guitar and banjo, alongside Scottish double bassist Roy Percy.
Expect music rooted in the New York and New Orleans jazz scenes of the 1920s and 1930s, with swinging rhythms and a nod to pianist and entertainer Fats Waller.
T.C.KYLIE
Thursday 12 November, 7.30pm | Marryat Hall
Armed with her signature keytar, T.C.KYLIE brings together the energy of Japanese acid jazz and the melodic storytelling of Cantonpop.
Her performances also draw on the atmosphere of Studio Ghibli films, giving the music a cinematic quality alongside its jazz influences. The Dundee appearance forms part of her UK and Ireland tour.
Presented by Leisure & Culture Dundee, this concert offers a different perspective on the festival’s jazz programme, connecting musical traditions with contemporary arrangements.
Lowdown Jam Session
Thursday 12 November, 8pm | Canvas
A familiar part of Dundee’s jazz scene, the Lowdown Jazz Jam brings local musicians together with guests from across Scotland.
Hosted by double bassist Seth Bennett, the session encourages improvisation and experimentation in a welcoming setting. Rather than following the structure of a conventional concert, a jam gives musicians space to respond to one another and see where the music leads.
Entry is free, making this an accessible introduction to the city’s live jazz community.
Sleeve Notes
Friday 13 November, 5pm | Canvas
Sleeve Notes offers a chance to listen more closely to the music and hear how musicians themselves understand it.
Professor Haftor Medbøe hosts this festival edition, playing a vinyl record introduced by a special guest artist. The hour-long event combines listening with conversation about jazz and improvised music.
For record collectors and curious listeners, it offers a quieter start to Friday’s programme before the evening concerts begin.
Jed Potts Solo
Friday 13 November, 7pm | Clarks on Lindsay Street
Edinburgh guitarist Jed Potts brings a stripped-back blues performance to Clarks, appearing with just his guitar and microphone.
Known for his work with the Hillman Hunters and Under-Volt, Potts places the focus here on his individual playing and delivery. The solo setting gives audiences a closer view of the guitar work and musical character that underpin his band performances.
Expect an evening firmly rooted in blues, with an interval during the two-hour show.
Nicole Johänntgen Trio
Friday 13 November, 8pm | Canvas
Zurich-based saxophonist Nicole Johänntgen brings an unusual instrumental combination to Dundee, pairing her saxophone with tuba and percussion.
That line-up gives the trio a distinctive sound, drawing together New Orleans-inspired rhythms, 1970s soul and improvisation. The tuba provides a different foundation from the double bass commonly heard in jazz groups.
This is a performance for listeners keen to explore how a small ensemble can create a lively, full sound with an unexpected mix of instruments.
Seth Bennett: What’s Here
Friday 13 November, 8pm | Verdant Works Museum
Dundee itself provides the inspiration for What’s Here, a new commissioned work by double bassist Seth Bennett.
The project began with Bennett reading Don Paterson’s Toy Flights: A Boyhood and reflecting on the differences between the Dundee described in the book and the city he knows today. Ideas gathered on walks and through phone recordings helped shape the music, with two tunes written at ScrapAntics’ weekly Scrap Thursdays sessions.
Supported by Creative Scotland’s Expanded Festivals Fund, the commission brings together bass, guitar, cello, trumpet, voice and drums. Across roughly an hour, the music moves between more familiar jazz structures and freer improvisation.
Sandy Tweeddale’s Blue Hyenas
Friday 13 November, 10pm | Clarks on Lindsay Street
Scottish blues guitarist Sandy Tweeddale returns to Dundee Jazz Festival with his Blue Hyenas for a late-night set of electric blues.
A regular performer in Dundee over the years, Tweeddale brings a guitar-led programme to Clarks. It is an opportunity to continue Friday evening with classic blues sounds after the earlier concerts.
The performance runs for approximately two hours, including an interval.
DJF After Party
Friday 13 November, 10pm | Canvas
Friday’s programme continues at Canvas with a late-night DJ session following the evening’s live music.
Entry is free, offering a place to round off the night and keep the festival atmosphere going after the concerts.
Dundee Jazz Workshop
Saturday 14 November, 11am–1pm | Just Bee Productions, Nethergate
The festival also offers opportunities to make music, with Seth Bennett leading a workshop open to singers and instrumentalists of all ages and experience levels.
The session provides a welcoming setting to explore jazz playing and learn alongside other musicians. The organisers state that nobody will be turned away for financial reasons, with free participation for those who need it and suggested donations of £5 for unwaged participants and £10 for those in work.
For information and booking enquiries, contact seth@dundeejazzfestival.com.
Eden Big Band + Support
Saturday 14 November, 1pm | Steeple Church
Eden Big Band brings a large ensemble sound to Saturday lunchtime, drawing together players, teachers and bandleaders from North East Fife.
Founded by Hugh Levey and John-Luke Harris, the band will share the programme with local youth groups. The festival’s main listing also names vocalist Sheila Gaughan.
The concert combines established regional musicians with younger performers, giving audiences a chance to hear different generations of musical talent on the same afternoon.
Sekoya
Saturday 14 November, 3pm | Canvas
Glasgow trio Sekoya brings together pianist Luke Cunningham, double bassist Simon Toner and drummer Gavin Lamont.
Their music combines European jazz influences and traditional roots with subtle electronic sounds. The emphasis is on the musicians writing and playing together, moving between melodic passages, rhythmic grooves and more atmospheric sections.
Their debut album, Shuna, was recorded in Memphis. This afternoon performance offers a chance to explore a contemporary Scottish trio whose sound reaches beyond a single jazz tradition.
Dave Toule Solo
Saturday 14 November, 4.30pm | Vinyls Bar
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Dave Toule brings familiar songs associated with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald to Vinyls Bar.
His set draws on swing and blues, making it a useful starting point for listeners who enjoy classic songs but may not regularly attend jazz concerts.
Entry is free, and the performance runs for approximately two hours with an interval.
Funk Connection
Saturday 14 November, 5pm | Clarks on Lindsay Street
Funk Connection joins the festival programme through Clarks’ Live at 5 series, bringing ten musicians to the stage.
With a sound geared towards funk, disco and dancing, this performance offers a change of pace from the festival’s more intimate listening sessions.
Ticket arrangements are handled separately through Clarks’ own booking page.
Pippa Blundell
Saturday 14 November, 5.30pm | Canvas
Glasgow singer-songwriter Pippa Blundell brings music that connects folk storytelling with atmospheric arrangements and a classically influenced voice.
Their debut album, common thread, explores relationships and the different ways people experience love. The later EP songs with james continues their work with guitarist James Mackay.
For the Dundee performance, Blundell is joined by Mackay, bassist Norman Villeroux and drummer Alex Palmer, bringing a full-band setting to their reflective songwriting.
Caitlyn Bogart
Saturday 14 November, 7pm | Vinyls Bar
Originally from Dallas and now performing on Scotland’s jazz scene, vocalist and composer Caitlyn Bogart makes her Dundee Jazz Festival debut alongside guitarist Dave Toule.
Bogart trained at the University of Michigan and has performed at the Detroit Jazz Festival. Her Dundee set draws on the American Songbook, bringing the songs and traditions of American jazz into an intimate duo setting.
Entry is free, making this another opportunity to discover a visiting performer without buying a concert ticket.
Kimberley Tessa: A Dundee Jazz Premiere
Saturday 14 November, 8pm | Bonar Hall
Dundee-based saxophonist and vocalist Kimberley Tessa premieres an hour of original music written especially for the festival.
Supported by Creative Scotland’s Expanded Festivals Fund, the commission gave her time to develop new material and choose the musicians who would perform it. Drawing on her own experiences, the music brings together modern jazz and neo-soul.
Named Rising Star at the 2023 Scottish Jazz Awards, Kimberley expands her musical ideas through a six-piece line-up incorporating guitar, bass, drums, flute, saxophone and rap.
Raven AfriKulture & Friends
Saturday 14 November, 9pm | Canvas
Aberdeen collective Raven AfriKulture brings its Afro Indie programme to Dundee, highlighting Black and African music in Scotland.
The evening spans Afro-Fusion, soul, jazz, alternative R&B and hip-hop, combining vocal performances with live-band music. The announced artists include The Pitch Classic, Jords, Eri-Ife, Fofo, AY Bangz and Aiitee.
Alongside the breadth of music, the collective’s work centres on elevating African voices and connecting communities through culture. It is one of the clearest examples of how this year’s festival reaches beyond traditional expectations of a jazz programme.
Raven AfriKulture After Party
Saturday 14 November, 11.55pm | Canvas
The Saturday programme continues into the night with a Raven AfriKulture DJ after-party at Canvas.
Listed separately from the earlier live show, it extends the evening beyond the concert with a late-night session from the collective.
Inclusive Jazz Workshop with Sue McKenzie
Sunday 15 November, 12.30pm | Bonar Hall
Sue McKenzie leads a workshop for women and people of minority genders, welcoming instrumentalists and singers regardless of experience.
The session explores jazz’s language, traditions and practical foundations, with an emphasis on learning together and experimenting. It offers a participatory introduction to an art form built around listening and responding to other musicians.
Enquiries about the free workshop should be directed to lowdownjazzjam@gmail.com.
The Biggest Band
Sunday 15 November, 2pm | Bonar Hall
The Scottish National Youth Jazz Orchestra and Dundee University Big Band come together for one of the festival’s largest musical collaborations.
Each ensemble will perform its own set before joining forces for a shared finale. Inspired by the spirit of historic Harlem band battles, the format gives both groups room to show their individual character before combining their sound.
The afternoon places Dundee’s university musicians alongside young performers from across Scotland, celebrating the talent developing within the country’s jazz scene.
Canvas Sunday Jazz
Sunday 15 November, 3pm | Canvas
A local host band leads a free afternoon of jazz and swinging standards at Canvas.
This offers a more informal way to spend part of the festival’s final day, with familiar jazz repertoire at the centre of the session.
Córas Trio
Sunday 15 November, 7.30pm | Canvas
Belfast’s Córas Trio closes the listed concert programme with music connecting Irish traditional roots, improvisation and electronics.
Kevin McCullagh on fiddle and electronics, Paddy McKeown on guitar and electronics, and drummer Conor McAuley draw on both traditional session culture and experimental music.
Their approach takes familiar instrumental sounds into less predictable territory, offering a final-night performance for listeners interested in the meeting point between folk and contemporary jazz.
Planning your festival visit
Events take place across several venues, and some performances overlap, so check the timings carefully when choosing your programme.
There are free events alongside ticketed concerts, while workshops have their own enquiry and registration arrangements. Venue age restrictions and access information should also be checked for each event.
Explore the full programme and individual event information: jazzscotland.com/collections/dundee-jazz-festival-2026.
