The very best in modern jazz, funk and soul with more than a nod to the current, incredible, jazz scene in Scotland! This brand new festival seeks to showcase some of the best acts in Scotland and establish a regular Jazz/Funk/Soul event in rural Dumfries & Galloway, Southwest Scotland.

The first ever Jazz Funk Soul Festival at The Vault Arts Centre is coming June 2024! With an incredible line up including: The Matt Carmichael Band, Marianne McGregor and Fraser Clark this is a weekend not to be missed! Save £5 with a weekend pass!

Matt Carmichael Band
Heralded by BBC Music Magazine as 'a distinctive new voice in a crowded scene’, saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael continues to move from strength to strength and grow his reach globally with his powerfully emotive blend of Jazz and Folk music. He has performed throughout Europe at Celtic Connections, Ronnie Scott’s, Love Supreme, Bimhuis as well as being a guest soloist with the Grammy Award  winning WDR Big Band in Germany were his music was arranged by Bob Mintzer.

Matt’s debut album ‘Where Will The River Flow’ was critically acclaimed, amassing over 5 Million streams and he was subsequently signed to the renowned Jazz label Edition Records who released his second album ‘Marram’ in October 2022. Some of the musicians Matt has collaborated with include Fergus McCreadie, Rob Luft, Bob Mintzer, WDR Big Band, corto.alto, Charlie Stewart, Brìghde Chaimbeul, Kathleen MacInness, Liv Andrea Hauge, Innes White, Juliette Lemoine, Kim Carnie and Rachel Sermanni.

Marianne McGregor
Marianne McGregor is a prominent new voice in the Scottish Jazz Scene. Highly acclaimed ‘Best Vocalist’ at the Scottish Jazz Awards 2021, McGregor continues to gain recognition for her powerful voice, improvising and original songs.

Taking inspiration from her great jazz influencers, Marianne has a tone comparable to the likes of Amy Winehouse, an Ella-like freedom towards improvisation and captures phrasing and emotion with the power of Billie Holiday.

Following on from three big single releases in 2021, McGregor is now working towards releasing another original album, to follow her debut album ‘Good Morning Warning’ and second album of jazz covers ’Standards’, both albums are available on all digital listening platforms.

Fraser Clark
Born in Perth, 1983. Fraser studied piano for two years at what was then, the junior department of The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He attended Glasgow University in 2001 as a BMus student. Fraser has been working as a jazz and blues pianist for over 20 years and has played in R n B band Redfish and a Glasgow based jazz fusion band.

Since moving to Dumfries in 2009 Fraser has participated in musical groups such as the Dumfries Choral Society, his own chamber jazz ensemble and The Balliol Singers who premiered two of his works. In 2018 he received his first professional commission from The Ferio Saxophone Quartet in conjunction with the Absolute Classics Festival, which was performed at the Theatre Royal in Dumfries in 2019. He is a member of the Dumfries band The Hi Wasters. Fraser has begun recording his debut solo jazz album. 

This year's festival is supported by Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival's Support for Ambition Venues fund. We are extremely grateful for their vision and support which has allowed us to bring another outstanding event to The Vault Arts Centre this year.

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