UPTON Jazz Festival is all set for a return to its traditional base on Fish Meadow next weekend for three days of music and festivity.

Described by organiser "Sir" Alan Buckley as "a traditional jazz festival but with breadth", the 16th International Oliver Cromwell Jazz Festival has something for all tastes, from Dixieland and New Orleans to Hot Club and Swing.

Hanley Castle High School is the Hot Club venue, with a shuttle bus to take festival-goers to and fro.

"The Hot Club standard is world class. We have got to the top now, with bands from France and Holland," said "Sir" Alan.

Jazz Violin NL and the Angelo Debarre Quartet will be there all weekend and newcomers, the Dan Barrett Quintet, will be there on Sunday evening, with vocalist Rebecca Kilgore.

Bands are heading for Upton from many other countries including the Mike Kemp Trio and vocalist Susan Valliant Speer (USA), the Budapest Ragtime Band (Hungary), Lamarotte (Holland) and Dr Jazz Companie (Germany).

Along with Fats Place, Oliver's and Satchmo's there will be a new venue on Fish Meadow this year: Tommy's Bar and the Jazz Garden.

The 80ft screened garden, sponsored by Earls Croome Garden Centre, will provide a sheltered spot for eating in the open air while enjoying cabaret-style acts. An apron stage will bring the music out of doors if the sun shines but musicians and audience can retreat to the bar and catering tent if it rains.

Another new venue is a marquee in the yard of the former Severnside Printers, in Lower High Street, where mainstream bands will be playing instead of the Star Hotel. Other covered venues in the town include the King's Head (where "Sir" Alan's Jazz Band will give two performances), the MV Conway Castle and Severn Leisure boat terminal, the Memorial Hall and the area under the bridge abutment. There will be free jam sessions at Upton Social Club throughout the festival and a chance to have jump-jive lessons with Vanessa and Mark Cousins in the Memorial Hall on Saturday afternoon.

A highlight is always the Saturday morning parade of bands, Energy Dancers and "secondliners", sporting an array of decorated brollies and parasols. There will be another parade on Sunday, after the festival service at the Parish Church.

The music starts at midday on Friday (June 22) and will go on until 11pm on Sunday. Tickets on the day are £42 for the weekend, Friday £14, Saturday £22 and Sunday £18.