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Sunday 19 May: Our annual free 'festival within a festival' connects up all the pubs in Oxhey Village and outside on the Watford Heath green space to present a bumper afternoon's entertainment featuring 20+ bands, and closing with the extraordinary talents of the Ronnie Scott's All Stars.Join us as we celebrate another amazing afternoon of free live music inside and outside of all 6 of our family-friendly pubs across Oxhey Village, as well as at the Bowls Club and on Watford Heath.
We'll be at The Victoria, The Railway Arms, The Rifle Volunteer, The Villiers Arms, The Load of Hay, The Royal Oak, The Oxhey Bowls Club, as well as on a large stage on Watford Heath.
20+ acts (including grassroots & professional artists performing multiple styles) will be playing PLUS world renowned stars the Ronnie Scott's All Stars, and other stars of the UK jazz scene including The Tom Ridout Quintet and Charlie Pyne Quartet.
Walk, talk, drink, eat, and socialise with friends and family.
There'll be ice-cream and a classic car show on Watford Heath, stalls to buy all sorts of food & drinks, plus pop-up performances including our very own festival Walkestra led by Orphy Robinson. Whether you're looking to settle into a seat at one of our participating pubs for the day, or move around all our venues we promise you a super inclusive, family-friendly and safe event. (And if you want to avoid being in an environment with alcohol do note that 6 of our 7 stages are outside.)
There's no need to buy tickets (because there aren't any!). But if you'd like to RSVP that will help us in our planning.
'Big Bands and More' at The Victoria
3 live bands from 12.30pm and into the evening with live DJs including Jazz FM's Chris Philips and Lil' Koko. Confirmed bands: The Easy Street Big Band (12.30pm), The Hoe Daddy Swingers (2pm), and The Hertfordshire Big Band (3.30pm).
'Mix Party' at The Railway
3 live bands covering blues, fusion, neo-soul, ska and more performing from 12.30pm. Confirmed bands: Neil C Young Trio (12.30pm), Big Mama Funk & Her Funkstars (2pm), and The Usual Players (3.30pm).
'Straight Ahead' at The Rifle Volunteer
3 live bands performing inside from 12.15pm. Confirmed bands: The Tony Oliver Quartet (12.15pm), The Charlie Pyne Quartet (2pm), and The Out of Handers (3.30pm).
'Vocal Focus' at The Villiers Arms - hosted by Esther Bennett
Multiple singers with a house-duo performing from 12.30pm-5pm, with a pop-up band later in the evening. Confirmed singers: Esther Bennett, Anita Wardell, Roy Forbes, and, Alexander Williams.
'Unplugged' at The Load of Hay - hosted by the Gypsy Jazz Festival of London
Multiple musicians performing gypsy jazz from 12.30pm-5pm led by the acclaimed Tobie Medland (the founder of the Gypsy Jazz Festival of London that runs across the capital from 3-7 May).
'A Cuppa & Jazz' at The Oxhey Bowls Club
2 live bands performing outside the Club with 2 fabulous local jazz combos, Marginalia and Watling Street, with a bar in operation across the afternoon as well as cakes, tea and coffee.
Festival Stage on Watford Heath in front of the Royal Oak
12.00pm - Gryms Dyke Brass Band - (tbc)
1.30pm - Bucks Youth Jazz Collective (modern jazz)
3.30pm - Tom Ridout Quintet (original modern jazz) - see below for more information
5.30pm-7pm - Ronnie Scott's All Stars (jazz, swing, soul & fun!) with our festival closing show - see below for more information.
PLUS keep an eye out for our Walkestra being led around the Village by legendary jazz musician Orphy Robinson, MBE with local musicians and friends.
Weather
As always, cross your fingers for fair weather but we will go ahead come rain or shine. (Although heavy rain will deter the classic cars, and a tornado may deter all of us!)
Support and funding
Jazz Steps Around Oxhey Village is kindly supported by: Lit Fibre, Sovereign Network Group, Herts County Council Community Innovation Fund, Arts Council England, Ronnie Scott's Night Club, Watford Community Grants, Magic Little Grants, Watford Council, and the generosity of many local people through our Crowdfunder campaign. Our HUGE thanks to all.
Travel and access
Oxhey Village is easily reached by traveling to Bushey Rail Station (based in Oxhey Village) with frequent mainline and Overground trains.
Parking is limited in the Village so we would recommend parking elsewhere and jumping on an Overground train (2 minutes from Watford High Street station) or a bus. The Village is served by the 142 and 258 bus routes.
If you have a Blue Badge, we can accomodate a limited number of vehicles directly onto Watford Heath BUT you must register with us before hand or you will be turned away by our stewards. Please email [email protected].
More about some of our wonderful acts
Charlie Pyne Quartet (2pm Rifle Pub)
Having performed on iconic stages in the UK including the Royal Festival Hall, Ronnie Scott’s, the Purcell Room, Pizza Express Jazz Club, and Jazz In The Round, both Charlie Pyne and her band are highly regarded jazz professionals. They'll be showcasing their wonderful new album Nature Is A Mother sharing its hypnotic impact. Expect magnetic contemporary jazz, featuring powerful vocals with bold lyrics, and elements from Latin America, classical music and folk. Line-up: Charlie Pyne (double bass & vocals), Luke Pinkstone (saxophones), Liam Dunachie (piano), and, Katie Patterson (drums).
Tom Ridout Quintet (3.30pm Watford Heath Festival Stage)
Multi-award winning saxophonist Tom Ridout was predicted by Jazzwise Magazine in 2012 as an upcoming jazz musician to watch out for. A finalist in the 2016 BBC Young Musician Jazz Award and a graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, Tom won the Lancaster Jazz Festival Youth Jazz Commission 2018 and was a Help Musicians Peter Whittingham Jazz awardee in 2021. An alumnus of NYJO and Clark Tracey’s sextet, Tom is a prolific composer who fronts many diverse ensembles playing his original compositions.
Joined by award winning young stars of the jazz world; Billy Marrows on guitar, Will Barry on piano, Flo Moore on bass and Rod Oughton on drums, the quintet have gone on to perform at iconic major venues and festivals including Ronnie Scotts, The 606 club, The Vortex, and EFG London, Manchester and Lancaster Jazz festivals. The quintet will present a captivating setlist that includes original compositions from Tom’s repertoire, exploring the boundaries of jazz while paying tribute to its rich heritage. Expect superb interplay and soloing from this band of top young jazz musicians. “Fiery, focussed soloing by impressive tenor saxophonist Tom Ridout.” (Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise)
Ronnie Scott's All Stars (5.30pm Watford Heath Festival Stage)
What a treat we have stored up for you all to close this year’s Watford Jazz Junction festival. Come join us to hear the world famous jazz club’s sensational house band, the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars as they take us on journey years through 100 years of classic jazz. Hear incredible music inspired by the last hundred years, performed by the UK’s finest jazz musicians. The All Stars are led by the ebullient and highly-acclaimed pianist James Pearson. There'll be music to lift your soul, get you dancing and remember why jazz is the musical answer to all woes... well, even if it's just to forget about work on Monday!
The band are in demand outside Ronnie Scott’s, playing across the UK, as well as with acclaimed performances at New York’s Birdland, the Rochester Jazz Festival and even the Dubai Jazz Festival. We're not sure we can promise quite as much sunshine in Oxhey Village as Dubai, but we know our atmosphere will be one of the best they've ever experienced!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Oxhey Village, 67 Lower Paddock Road, Watford, WD19 4GU, United Kingdom,Watford, United Kingdom
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