Shrewsbury Django Fest fills the town with gypsy jazz and a 30-guitar finale

For one weekend each autumn, Shrewsbury becomes a centre for gypsy jazz. Shrewsbury Django Fest returned from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, bringing three days of concerts, free daytime jam sessions and musicians from across the UK and Europe to the town.

Inspired by the legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, the festival mixes concert performances with an informal spirit, as visiting musicians spill out into pubs and bars for spontaneous afternoon sessions.

The opening night featured Liverpool guitarist John Wheatcroft, who has played with artists including Billy Cobham, John Williams and Biréli Lagrène. He led a trio with Shrewsbury guitarist and festival organiser Chris Quinn and special guest Olivia Frances Brown, the jazz singer and Coronation Street actress. Friday's headliner was Dutch virtuoso Mozes Rosenberg with his trio and violinist Christiaan van Hemert.

On the Saturday, free jam sessions ran from midday at Glou Glou Wine Bar on Castle Gates and The Bull Inn on Butcher Row. The evening brought the Marion and Sobo Band before Dutch star Paulus Schäfer and Finnish guitarist Olli Soikkeli shared the stage.

Sunday's free music continued at The Nags Head on Wyle Cop and The Bull Inn. The festival runs alongside the annual Shrewsbury Gypsy Jazz Retreat, which draws players from the UK and overseas for intensive workshops, and on Sunday evening those players formed five bands before joining together for a 30-piece gypsy jazz guitar orchestra finale. An All Star Jam closed the weekend.

"For one weekend every year, Shrewsbury becomes this amazing centre for gypsy jazz," Chris Quinn said. "You've got some of the best players in the world performing in the evening, but during the day musicians are walking around town with guitars and turning up in pubs to play together."

The weekend's ticketed concerts were held at St Mary's in Shrewsbury, presented by Roots Music Artists, and billed as a weekend of world class gypsy jazz concerts and jams.

Details of future festivals and the gypsy jazz retreat are on the Shrewsbury Django Fest website.