AN array of jazz musicians descended on Chipping Sodbury at the weekend for a three-day festival in various venues across the town.

The annual jazz festival, organised by Sodbury Chamber of Commerce, saw music hall act Swinging at the Cotton Club raise the roof at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Friday night in the first of two headline acts.

Radio 2 presenter and acclaimed jazz singer Clare Teal performed a mixture of well-known songs, jokes and conversation to another sell-out crowd on Saturday night.

Other acts including buskers, a Panama jazz and Swindon-based rockabilly band Josie and the Outlaw played in Chipping Sodbury’s cafés, pubs, restaurants and an extended farmers’ market over the course of the weekend.

Chamber chairman Mark Lloyd said: “The audience for the Cotton Club was absolutely stunned by the quality of the dancers and the superb band.

“Clare Teal was brilliant, so good we have booked her to come back on December 4 for a preview of her Christmas tour.”

He added: “Generally it was a success. The Grapes had 50 people watch the final gig on Sunday, which is a lot of people for The Grapes.”

Mr Lloyd said next year’s festival, due to take place from June 6-8 2014, would incorporate jazz and blues music to appeal to a wider audience.