The Honeyboy Hickling Blues Band, featuring Bob Wilson, will perform at the launch from 6pm at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1 Brunswick Square, on Brindleyplace.
The event is open to all, with everyone attending receiving the free, 64-page programme which details the 170-plus performances taking place at the festival in and around Birmingham over 10 days this summer.
A total of 160 of the festival gigs will be free admission across 98 venues from Friday 24 July to Sunday 2 August.
Jim Simpson, whose Big Bear Music company has organised the annual festival for the last four decades, has timed the launch event to run just before the weekly Henry’s Blueshouse, which begins at 8pm at the nearby Snobs nightclub on Broad Street.
Mr Simpson said: “We have been working hard all year to arrange another exciting festival and look forward to sharing all the details in our programme on Tuesday.
“We will be pleased to give everyone attending a real taste of the jazz festival by having Honeyboy Hickling Blues Band at our launch, featuring the wonderful Bob Wilson, who was formerly part of the Steve Gibbons Band.
“And then straight after the launch, jazz and blues fans can sample another band due to play at the festival, as we have Rick Dickinson’s Driving Force performing at Henry’s Blueshouse at Snobs from 8pm.”
The jazz festival’s two headline acts include King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys, one of the world’s greatest jump, jive and swing bands, who perform at the Botanical Gardens on Friday 24 July.
The other headliner is Val Wiseman, who will perform with The Lady Sings the Blues orchestra – the leading Billie Holiday tribute on Friday 31 July at The Core Theatre in Solihull.
There are well over 60 other bands performing at the festival from throughout the UK as well as from France, the USA, Estonia, Japan and Venezuela.
The luxury Plough & Harrow hotel in Edgbaston is the festival’s official ‘Hotel Partner’ and will host many stars from across the UK and abroad, with rooms also available for festival-goers.
To help fund the festival, or to become an ‘in kind’ partner, contact Tim Jennings on 0121 454 7020 or at tim@bigbearmusic.com.
Pictured: The Honeyboy Hickling Blues Band
