Brandon Allen

Scott Hamilton, Cloudmakers trio, Ian Shaw, the Tough Tenors, and the duo of Tina May and Nikki Iles are among the top names set to appear at this summer’s Highgate Jazz with Soul Festival, the full line-up of which has now been confirmed. Pub sessions lie at the heart of the festival, organised by Ronnie Scott’s Late Late Show regular the soulful Australian tenor saxophonist Brandon Allen, shaped around the bank holiday weekend from 23-26 August. Yet besides the historic Old Crown and Bull pubs, two of the key venues, the north London festival also encompasses more concert-type gigs in Lauderdale House, as well as relaxed late-night jam session action at Brazilian bar Caipirinha. Day passes and a festival pass are available and the line-up is looking like this: Saturday 24 August Pete Oxley/Nicolas Meier duo (1pm The Old Crown); Trio Manouche with guest Quentin Collins (3.30pm, The Old Crown); Ian Shaw  (6pm The Bull); Luca Boscagin (8.30pm Caipirinha), and late night jam session in the Caipirinha. Sunday 25 August Alan Barnes Quartet plus Scott Hamilton (1pm Lauderdale House); Brandon Allen Quartet (3.30pm The Old Crown); Abigail Boyd (6pm The Bull); Tina May and Nikki Iles (8pm Lauderdale House); and jam session at Caipirinha from 11pm. Monday 26 August Bobby Wellins and Kate Williams (1pm Lauderdale House); Cloudmakers trio (3.30pm The Old Crown); Jeremy Sassoon (6pm,The Old Crown); The Tough Tenors featuring Alex Garnett and Brandon Allen (8pm Lauderdale House); and a jam session from 10.30pm (Caipirinha).Tickets http://brandonallen.co.uk/fr_highgatejazzfestival.cfm