BlueTone Festival is a new celebration of jazz, blues, funk and soul, set in the heart of Somerset.

Taking place in Taunton, BlueTone brings together outstanding live music, emerging UK talent and established artists for a weekend that’s all about groove, musicianship and connection. From smoky blues riffs and deep jazz cuts to funk-driven rhythms and soul voices that stop you in your tracks, BlueTone is curated for people who love real live music.

We’re building a festival that feels welcoming, high-quality and delivered at a scale that prioritises audience experience and accessibility – a place where music fans, artists and the local community come together. Expect a carefully programmed lineup, great sound, space to discover new favourites, and an atmosphere that invites you to stay, explore and soak it all in.

The festival is built on five core pillars:

• Community First – Volunteering, outreach, workshops, and collaborations with local groups
• Access & Inclusion – Ensuring music opportunities reach diverse audiences
• Cultural Excellence – Presenting world-class artists alongside local talent
• Economic Uplift – Supporting hospitality, retail, tourism, and creative industries
• Long-Term Impact – Profits fully reinvested via the CIC model into future festivals & free community music engagement

BlueTone is proudly rooted in the South West but looks far beyond it. Our ambition is to create a festival that draws music lovers from across the UK, while championing regional talent and independent culture.

Whether you’re a lifelong jazz head, a blues devotee, or just someone who loves great live music in a beautiful setting, BlueTone is for you.

Why Now? Why Taunton?

Live music is thriving again, but opportunities to experience jazz, blues, funk and soul in a dedicated festival setting remain rare – especially outside the UK’s largest cities. Taunton sits at a natural crossroads: well-connected by rail and road, surrounded by a rich creative scene, and perfectly placed to welcome audiences from across the South West and beyond. With strong local support and a growing appetite for high-quality cultural events, now is the moment to create something distinctive – a festival that reflects Taunton’s ambition, celebrates its community, and puts it firmly on the UK’s live music map. BlueTone exists because the audience is ready, the artists are ready, and the place is ready.

Who is organising the festival?

Gala Collective is an independent production company dedicated to creating high-quality live events that bring people together through music, creativity and shared experience.

Working across the South West, Gala Collective specialises in thoughtfully curated festivals and events that balance artistic ambition with accessibility and community impact. Their approach is rooted in collaboration – with artists, audiences, local partners and public bodies – ensuring each project is both creatively strong and locally meaningful.

Gala Collective was formed to respond to a growing demand for well-produced, welcoming cultural with world class production values. With a focus on sustainability, inclusivity and long-term value, the collective aims to create events that audiences return to year after year.

What’s this about a CIC?

Gala Collective is committed to return all profits to the community, to ensure the longevity of the festival and support events throughout the rest of the year. A Community Interest Company is in the process of being setup to facilitate this.

Fair and accessible pricing

As a festival, BlueTone is committed to clear, honest pricing. That is why we don’t charge any additional fees for our tickets – the price you see is the price you pay. Consumers should expect transparent pricing for concert tickets – so in an age of dynamic pricing and extortionate booking or transaction fees we are proud to be able to offer our tickets at face value only – no added fees required!

We are also committed to making sure that everyone who wants to can afford to attend the festival – the festival isn’t cheap – far from it, the costs are in the hundreds of thousands of pounds to run the festival. However we are conscious to price our tickets so that they are affordable – if you think we are too good value then buy another ticket and give it to a friend! Our aim is to have a festival full of people enjoying the music – so spread the word and join us at BlueTone.