WITH less than four weeks to go until the first notes ring out over the start of the sixth Swindon Jazz Festival, organisers are looking forward to the most successful event yet.

This year the Evening Advertiser-backed festival features 25 acts, ranging from local favourites to international jazz stars.

A late inclusion to the line-up is Grooveyard, the winner of the Granada 2003 Best European Jazz Group Award.

But aside from performances from some of the jazz greats, this year the organiser, Swindon Jazz Society, is also giving a stage to local young talent.

There will be two performances from the Swindon Youth Jazz Orchestra and an invitation-only dancing concert for children with learning difficulties.

The concert includes a performance from a quartet featuring Ray Butt, who helped organised the first Swindon Jazz Festival in 1999.

Swindon Jazz Society chairman Dave Knight said: "This is an opportunity for us to help develop jazz in the community."

The nine-day festival begins on Saturday, June 25 with performances from groups such as the Richie Bryant Festival All Stars and the Bristol-based Andy Hague Sextet.

On June 26 there will be a free performance from the Mike Carr Quartet.

Mike Carr once performed at the Carnegie Hall in New York with legendary jazz saxophonist Ronnie Scott.

Other highlights include an evening of jazz guitar with Max Britton and John Coverdale at Pizza Express in Old Town on June 27.

The festival closes on July 3 with performances from the Swindon Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Geoff Earls Trio at the Phoenix Theatre, New College, Swindon.

Tickets are available from the Swindon Tourist Information Centre, 37 Regent Street, and the Festival Office, Wood Street . For details visit www.swindonjazz.co.uk.

Kevin Holloway