AFRO-CUBAN percussion maestro Snowboy and his vibrant eight piece band The Latin Section will be headlining the 25th Stompin’ On The Quomps. Snowboy made his name in the 1990s acid-jazz scene and has worked with a wide range of top names including Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Mica Paris and Lisa Stansfield with whom he still regularly tours.

Opening the popular smooth jazz festival is Gloucestershire-based saxist Kim Cypher and her band. Other main stage acts include the double bassist and jazz singer Nicola Farnon and the ever-popular Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion.

The Bandstand stage will feature a host of rising talent including Tom Waters, the 18 year old son of acclaimed Boogie Woogie pianist Ben Waters, the eight piece SUBB Zero with guest singer Susie Kimber who apply reggae and latin grooves to jazz standards, jazz Bossa Nova specialists Mambossa and return visits by the Rachel More Quartet and The Ben Dwyer Jazz Xperiment.

As ever closing the Festival will be the rousing 18 piece Taverner’s Big Band performing popular Big Band swing classics with a guest soloist to be announced.

Festival co-founder and Director Adrian Dwyer said, “I can’t quite believe we’ve made it to 25. We started back in 1994 with one band on the bandstand and a small gathering and now we have a full day programme with two stages and attract an audience of thousands. I’m really grateful to our audience and all the committee members, advertisers, traders, sponsors and organisations who have supported us over the years and helped make this one of the best and most accessible Jazz Festivals in Britain. This is my last year as Chair and it’s great to go out on such a high note with another excellent programme with a wide variety of jazz styles and something for everyone.”

In addition to the main festival the Stompin’ team is also promoting two additional concerts the popular jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth and her pianist husband Charlie Wood at the Regent Centre on Thursday 25th July and acclaimed jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock and his trio with violinist Thomas Gould at Christchurch Priory on Saturday 5th October.