The ever -expanding South Coast Jazz Festival returns with concerts at The Old Market in Hove, Ropetackle Arts Centre in Shoreham and The Verdict in Brighton. The festival, now in its third year, kicks off with a concert by Incognito at The Old Market on Saturday 17th December followed by concerts at the Ropetackle from Thursday 26th until Sunday 29th January with a mixture of free events and double-bill concerts priced at just £20 for groups such as J-Sonics + Alec Dankworth Spanish Accents, Zoe Rahman + Dennis Rollins’ FUNKY-FUNK!, Jim Mullen Organ Trio + Sarah Jane Morris and climaxing on Sunday evening with a performance by Ray Gelato’s Giants featuring Claire Martin. This year’s festival also sees it expanding to The Verdict in Brighton with a full week of events including Dave Drake Trio, Terry Seabrook’s Triversion, Sara Oschlag Quartet, Rachel Musson, Nigel Thomas, Eddie Myer’s 5tet and a host of other events.

    As with previous years, the festival also includes a wealth of jazz education events, including the return of the Brighton Jazz School Education Conference on Wednesday 18th January which will include talks by educators such as Wayne McConnell, Julian Nicholas and Geoff Simkins.

    Talented young pianist Dave Drake returns to the UK and will be performing at a number of venues throughout December and January, in a variety of contexts. You can see him with Riley Stone-Lonergan’s Quartet at The Verdict on Friday 30th December, with his own trio on Monday 16th January (as part of the South Coast Jazz Festival) and in a solo piano concert at the Sussex University Meeting House on Saturday 14th January at 2pm. Proceeds for the solo concert will go towards the Jo Cox Fund. Tickets are available here.