Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae has been announced as the headline act for the first night of next year’s BlueTone Festival which runs in Taunton’s Vivary Park from 9th-11th July. Known in particular for neo-soul, contemporary R&B, pop-soul and jazz, it is Corinne’s first appearance in Taunton, although Somerset audiences will remember her appearances at Glastonbury Extravaganza, most recently supporting Brian Wilson in 2017. Corinne Bailey Rae’s breakthrough came in 2006 with Put Your Records On, the song that transformed her from jazz-club hostess into an internationally acclaimed, platinum-selling artist. Her self-titled debut album reached number one in both the UK and US, selling more than four million copies, while the single has now passed a billion streams. She has since won two Grammy Awards, two

BlueTone Festival is expanding beyond the gates of Vivary Park with the launch of BlueTone Sessions – a new series of live music events bringing the spirit of the festival to Taunton throughout the year. Following the inaugural BlueTone Festival earlier this year, which brought jazz, blues, funk and soul to Vivary Park across four days, the team behind the festival is now beginning the next stage of its plans to develop a stronger year-round platform for live music in the town. BlueTone Sessions will present regular performances throughout the year, combining local and emerging musicians with established artists and creating more opportunities for audiences to experience great live music between editions of the annual festival. The programme will reflect BlueTone's broad musical identity,

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.

BlueTone Festival are delighted to announce that Courtney Pine will be joining the festival lineup on Sunday evening 31st May 2026 at the inaugural festival in Vivary Park, Taunton.

A major new jazz, blues, funk & soul festival to energise the South West cultural calendar.