A new music festival launching in Taunton this May is aiming to do more than deliver a standout weekend of live music. BlueTone Festival 2026 has set out an ambitious goal: sell out the event and unlock up to £100,000 to reinvest directly into the town’s creative community.

Taking place from 28–31 May 2026 in Vivary Park, BlueTone Festival will bring together an international programme of jazz, blues, funk and soul, alongside emerging artists and grassroots talent from across the South West. But behind the line-up is a wider mission – to build a sustainable, community-driven platform for live music in Taunton.

Every ticket sold contributes directly to that vision.

Delivered in partnership with Taunton Collaborative Arts CIC, the festival has been designed so that profits are reinvested locally rather than extracted. The model ensures that success on the ground translates into long-term cultural impact for the town.

If the festival reaches capacity, organisers estimate that up to £100,000 could be generated and reinvested into local music, grassroots talent, education projects, and the festival’s future. This includes funding for emerging artists, support for year-round creative initiatives, and the development of future editions of BlueTone Festival itself.

Festival organisers Gala Collective say the aim is to create lasting momentum.

“BlueTone isn’t just about one weekend,” said a spokesperson for Gala Collective. “It’s about building something that grows year after year – creating opportunities for artists, supporting young people into music, and putting Taunton firmly on the map as a destination for world-class live performance.”

The 2026 line-up reflects that ambition, with headline performances from Ruby Turner, The Brand New Heavies, Curtis Stigers, and Southern Sinfonia presenting Gershwin in Full Swing. They are joined by a strong supporting programme including legendary UK saxophonist Courtney Pine and a wide range of emerging and regional talent.

The festival arrives at a time when grassroots music and local creative infrastructure face increasing pressure across the UK. By embedding community reinvestment into its core model, BlueTone is positioning itself as part of a new generation of festivals designed with long-term impact in mind.

Audiences are being encouraged to see their ticket purchase as more than just entry to an event.

By attending BlueTone Festival, audiences are directly supporting the development of local talent, contributing to new cultural opportunities in Taunton, and helping to secure the future of live music in the town.

With strong early ticket sales and a growing programme of nationally and internationally recognised artists, organisers are now calling on the wider community to help push the festival to capacity. Don’t miss out, £99 Early Bird tickets end in March – enjoy £400+ of live music for less than the cost of two gigs.

The message is simple: the more tickets sold, the more that can be reinvested back into Taunton.