Welcome to this year’s18th Callander Jazz & Blues Festival
We are pleased to announce that this year's 18th Callander Jazz and Blues Festival has retained an amazing 4 day long weekend of great music. The festival will run from Thursday afternoon, with 11 venues throughout the town and one slightly out of town (Nicks) participating over the weekend. A record 193 musicians will be playing across 81 events in our biggest ever festival. Only 3 of our 12 venues require a ticket at the door for entry, while the bars request a £5 donation and cafes a food & drink purchase.
Earlier in the year, we were honoured to be nominated in the Top 20 UK Blues Festival Of The Year category alongside the UK's major Blues Festivals at the annual UK Blues Awards for 2024. A great accolade for all associated with the festival and a great recognition of why you, the public & the performers, enjoy their annual Autumn visit to Callander and the Trossachs...thank you. Our roving minstrels will once again be performing across various independent retail outlets on Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 11am. Participating retail outlets are - HM Jewellery, Mancave Barbers & Creative in Callander (Fri), Callander Drinks Co, Willow Botanic & CCW (Sat), Deli Ecosse, Callander Gift Co and Ancaster Coffee (Sun). See P21 minstrel guide for more info.
We are also running a Jazz and a Blues open mic session on Sunday at the Golf Club and MacNabs Bar respectively... please see the main gig guide for more information and why not join in! This year we’ve also added something for the kids! An interactive music show “The Cabinet of Musical Wonders”. Dance, drum, conduct or even join the band! A magical introduction to live music for young music lovers 5+ and their grown-ups. Sat 11am.
Another fantastic new addition this year is our gallery of musical art housed in MacNabs tearoom with a selection of original portraits and music inspired art by artist Steve Pablo Jones.
Festival Information
FESTIVAL OFFICE HOURS
(Callander Connect, 43 Main St)
Thursday 2pm-5pm
Friday 11am-5pm
Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday 11am-5pm
FESTIVAL TICKETS (CASH ONLY)
McLaren High School - £15
McLaren High School Saturday Rover - £40
Callander Hostel - £10-£15
Dreadnought Hotel - £5-£15
All Pub Gigs - £5 Bucket Donation Requested
Cafes & Diners - Food & Drink Purchase Requested
As ticketed venues have a limited capacity, we advise to arrive early. Doors open 30 minutes prior to gig performance time. See gig guide for more details on ticket prices.
General Statement
We are proud of the fact that the festival has become such a special fun filled occasion for many, so please remember to be respectful and mannerly of fellow attendees and especially towards our merry band of volunteers. We try our very best to make things flow as much as possible each year, so please be patient if any little delays or queues appear from time to time. The team wishes you all a great extended music weekend in Callander and the Trossachs.
62 Main Street Callander
Festival Venues
(D) £5 Donation request (T) Tickets for sale at door (F) Food & Drink request
Ben Ledi Coffee Co (F) - a quirky cafe adjacent to The Crown with Scottish roast coffee and a little courtyard to the rear
Callander Golf Club (D) - a new golf clubhouse with a cosy cafe atmosphere and breathtaking views
Callander Hostel (T) - located just over the local road bridge with a function room and bar and our main ticketed venue
The Crown (D) - located close to the main traffic lights with good food and an intimate festival bar atmosphere
Dalgair House Hotel (D) - located across from the Co-op offering a bistro restaurant, beer garden & lively back bar
Dreadnought Hotel (T) - 17th century hotel in Callander located between the two main car parks with a great dance floor
MacNabs Bar (D) - lounge bar restaurant and tea room located in the historic 17th century Dreadnought Hotel
McLaren High School (T) - located across the river and about a 5 minute walk from town across the footbridge
Nick’s Port of Menteith Hotel (F) - Independent, family-friendly restaurant next to the glorious Lake of Menteith.
Riverside Inn (D) - located across from Tesco with an outdoor seating area and views of the river Teith
The Old Bank (F) - is a cosy cafe restuarant located in the iconic ex-bank sandstone building along from The Crown
The Waverley (D) - is centrally located near Ancaster Sq and offers traditional ales, malt whisky, good food and festival music
We repectfully request that patrons travelling between venus at night or back to their accommodation, keep noise levels low in consideration of local residents.
A Few Festival Highlights
Kyla Brox is widely regarded as one of the very best soul-blues singers the British Isles has ever produced. Winner of the UK Blues Challenge 2018 and the European Blues Challenge 2019, blues & soul become inextricably entwined when Kyla performs.
The Gerry Jablonski Band from Aberdeen always deliver when it comes to displaying electrifying blues rock with outstanding stagecraft. The UK Blues Act of the Year in 2018, and if ever four people were meant to play together, then this is definitely it!
The Korgis music has been described as 'timeless', and sounds just as fresh today as when they first hit the charts in 1979. Runaway hit 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime' charted across UK, USA and Europe, and has been covered by numerous artists.
The Tenement Jazz Band are an award winning traditional jazz band and are bringing their interactive Cabinet of Musical Wonders show to Callander this year. Produced especially for children, it showcases a fun intro to jazz & it's many instruments.
The Terraplanes Blues Band won the UK Blues Emerging Act Of 2023 and are a musical group from Bristol with a fine blend of finger pickin' country blues and high energy raw r'n'b. The Terraplanes will take you back to the golden era of the blues.
Rose Room, voted ‘Best Band’ twice at the Scottish Jazz Awards, are Scotland’s leading ensemble of the Gypsy Jazz genre. Sharing a love of Swing and the style of the great Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, serving up their 1930s ‘Hot Club’ standards.
The Deke McGee Band are a group of seasoned R&B musicians with a desire and passion to put on a great show everytime, playing original songs based around the classic New Orleans, Texas & Chicago styles and guaranteed to get you dancing.
Delta Fuse are three young Irishmen from Derry who offer up a full on mix of blues, rock'n'roll, funk and soul, and have been making waves & electrifying audiences across the UK and Europe.
Max De Bernardi & Veronica Sbergia passionately play roots, blues, ragtime and gospel with an Italian flavour. An irresistible blend of blues, ragtime, vaudeville and hillbilly music. Max & Veronica perform across Europe & the USA, but not yet Scotland.
Iago Banet’s technique and approach to performance have captivated crowds across the UK and Spain. Born in Galicia in the north-west of Spain, Iago is a one-man-band on acoustic guitar. For information
Festival Merchandise
Merchandise sales help towards festival 2025 & is available at most venues, festival office & retailer Callander Gift Co.
Jackets - £50
Hoodies - £40
Sweatshirts - £35
T-Shirts - £20
Polos - £20
Caps & Beanies - £18
Tote Bags - £12
Festival Poster - £3
Pens - £2
Festival Gig Guide - Thu 3rd Oct
(D) £5 Donation request (T) Tickets for sale at door (F) Food & Drink request
TIME LOCATION ARTIST
4.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Wee Sara & the Texans
5.00pm The Crown Hotel (D) The Jazz Pack
6.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Greig Taylor Band
7.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Cafeorchestra
8.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Terraplanes Blues Band
9.00pm The Crown Hotel (D) Max & Veronica
10.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) The Real World
Festival Gig Guide - Fri 4th Oct
(D) £5 Donation request (T) Tickets for sale at door (F) Food & Drink request
TIME
LOCATION
ARTIST
1.30pm Ben Ledi Coffee Co (F) Jenne & Cameron
2.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Max & Veronica
2.30pm The Waverley Hotel (D) The Gator
3.30pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Terraplanes Blues Band
4.00pm Callander Golf Club (D) Jenne & Cameron
4.30pm Dreadnought Hotel (T) The Korgis
5.00pm The Crown Hotel (D) Bison Hip
5.30pm The Old Bank (F) Iago Banet
5.30pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Marianne McGregor
6.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Fargo Railroad Co
6.30pm Callander Hostel (T) Deke McGee Band
6.30pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Blue Milk
7.00pm Nick’s at Port of Menteith (F) Allan McKeown Quartet
8.00pm Dreadnought Hotel (T) Tenement Jazz Band
8.30pm The Crown Hotel (D) Sean Taylor
9.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) STAN the BAND
9.00pm The Riverside Inn (D) Terraplanes Blues Band
9.30pm MacNabs Bar (D) Jimmy Regal & The Royals
9.30pm Callander Hostel (T) The Revolutionaires
10.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Delta Fuse
Festival Gig Guide - Sat 5th Oct (aft)
(D) £5 Donation request (T) Tickets for sale at door (F) Food & Drink request * NB - Tenement Jazz Band perform Cabinet of Musical Wonders interactive family show for accompanied children aged 5 and over.
TIME
LOCATION ARTIST
11.00am Dreadnought Hotel (T) Tenement Jazz Band *
12.00pm MHS Dance Workshop (D) Rock Til U Drop
1.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Jimmy Regal & The Royals
1.30pm Dreadnought Hotel (T) Sean & Nico
1.30pm Nick’s at Port of Menteith (F) The Swell Belles
2.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Fargo Railroad Co
2.00pm McLaren High School (T) The Revolutionaires
2.30pm The Crown Hotel (D) Delta Fuse
2.30pm Ben Ledi Coffee Co (F) Al Hughes
3.00pm Callander Hostel (T) Kyla Brox
4.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Big Wolf Band
4.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Iago Banet
4.30pm Callander Golf Club (D) Sean & Nico
5.00pm McLaren High School (T) Shiverin Sheiks
5.00pm The Old Bank (F) Sean Taylor
5.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Lynsey Dolan Band
Festival Gig Guide - Sat 5th Oct (eve)
(D) £5 Donation request (T) Tickets for sale at door (F) Food & Drink request
TIME
LOCATION ARTIST
5.30pm The Crown Hotel (D) Sam Braysher Trio
6.00pm Nick’s at Port of Menteith (F) Konrad Band
7.00pm Dreadnought Hotel (T) The Spicy L’il Devils
7.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) STAN the BAND
7.30pm Callander Hostel (T) Andy Taylor Group & 4 Hour Double Header Gerry Jablonski Band
8.00pm McLaren High School (T) Deke McGee Band
8.00pm The Riverside Inn (D) Kyla Brox
8.30pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Tenement Jazz Band
9.00pm The Crown Hotel (D) Fraser McDonald
10.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Alex Hamilton Band
10.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Ben Hemming
Please remember to be respectful and mannerly of fellow attendees and especially towards our merry band of volunteers.
Ticketed Gigs... £5-£15
All Pub Gigs... £5 Bucket Donation Requested Cafes & Diners... Food & Drink Purchase Requested
Festival Gig Guide - Sun 6th Oct
(D) £5 Donation request (T) Tickets for sale at door (F) Food & Drink request
TIME LOCATION
ARTIST
12.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Main Street Blues
1.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Andy Taylor Group
1.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Rose Room
1.30pm Ben Ledi Coffee Co (F) Michael Woods
1.30pm Nick’s at Port of Menteith (F) JazzMain
2.00pm Dreadnought Hotel (T) Kyla Brox
2.00pm The Old Bank (F) Toby Walker & Jamie Scott
2.30pm The Crown Hotel (D) Ben Hemming
3.30pm Callander Hostel (T) That Swing Sensation
4.00pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Sam Braysher Trio
4.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) Nicole Smit & Jed Potts
4.30pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Gerry Jablonski Band
5.00pm The Riverside Inn (D) Main Street Blues
6.00pm The Crown Hotel (D) Rachel Duns Quintet
7.00pm Callander Golf Club (D) Jazz Jam Open Mic
7.00pm Callander Hostel (T) Deke McGee Band
7.00pm MacNabs Bar (D) George Lyndsay Band
7.30pm The Waverley Hotel (D) Greig Taylor Band
8.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) Calum Ingram
9.00pm Dreadnought Hotel (T) The Swell Belles
9.00pm The Crown Hotel (D) Blue Horizon
9.30pm MacNabs Bar (D) Blue Jam Open Mic
10.00pm Dalgair House Hotel (D) DJ - KMD
Retail Minstrel Guide
Fri 11.00 HM Jewellery The Gator
Fri 11.45 Mancave Barbers The Gator
Fri 12.30 Creative in Callander The Gator
Sat 11.00 Callander Drinks Co Sean & Nico
Sat 11.45 Willow Botanic Sean & Nico
Sat 12.30 CCW Sean & Nico
Sun 11.00 Deli Ecosse Michael Woods
Sun 11.45 Ancaster Coffee Michael Woods
Sun 12.30 Callander Gift Co Michael Woods
Heather McDermott Jewellery - located at town traffic lights
Mancave Barbers - located on Main St close to The Crown
Creative in Callander - located near town traffic lights
Callander Drinks Co - located near town traffic lights
Willow Botanic - located at town traffic lights
CCW - located on Main St across from The Waverley
Deli Ecosse - located next to church on North Ancaster Sq
Ancaster Coffee - located on Main St at North Ancaster Sq
Callander Gift Co - located on Main St at South Ancaster Sq
Festival Sponsors & Funders
A big shoutout and thanks to the following sponsors and funders of this year’s 18th Callander Jazz & Blues Festival. Innis & Gunn, Callander Gift Co, Wood Leisure, CCW, First Base Accountants, Trossachs Vinyl, The Grail, Callander Drinks Co, Callander Community Hydro Fund, Braes of Doune Community Fund and Stirling Council Community Grant.
We would also like to thank the contribution this year of the small number of local independent retail outlets who are participating in our roving retail minstrel event... Heather McDermott Jewellery, Ancaster Coffee, Creative in Callander, Mancave Barbers, Deli Ecosse and Willow Botanics. Please check them out during the weekend, if you can!!
Festival Acknowledgements
As always, we would dearly like to thank all the supporters, big and small, who have contributed towards the creation of this year’s Callander Jazz & Blues Festival in 2024.
The amazing venues, in no particular order, who once again supported and backed our ideas for this year's festival, the Dalgair House Hotel, The Waverley, The Crown, MacNabs Bar, Riverside Inn, Nick’s at Port of Menteith, The Old Bank, Callander Hostel, Dreadnought Hotel, Ben Ledi Coffee Co, Callander Golf Club and McLaren High School.
Of course, one of the key elements to any great festival are the sound and vision and we are lucky to have the services of Buzz Sound & Lighting, Blue Juice Media and LT Audio, all going that extra mile to make it look and sound as a big wee rural music festival should.
No event runs without an an amazing team, so an extra special big thank you to festival coordinator Duncan, committee members John and Malcolm, volunteer coordinator Lorna, and volunteers Fiona, Lorraine, Lynne, Ian, Bev, Bee, Alasdair, Susan, Seona, Neil, Jeff, Susan, Val, Samantha, Niall, Heather, Cameron, Yvonne and Tommy.
Finally a huge thanks to all of you for turning up and making this long weekend a special one every year. Haste ye back!
Callander Jazz & Blues Festival 2025
Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th October
