HEADLINE acts for the Brecon Jazz Weekend have been announced with trombonist Dennis Rollins and Wales’ own Kizzy Crawford among the rising stars to be showcased.

Tickets for the event, which takes place from Friday, August 12 to Sunday, August 14, go on sale from today.

The weekend is intended to keep the Brecon Jazz Festival alive and features concerts, organised by a number of groups including the Brecon Jazz Club and Friends of Brecon Jazz, at Theatr Brycheiniog, the Guildhall, Brecon Cathedral, The Castle Hotel and The Muse.

The Brecon Jazz: Futures 2016 project, at Theatr Brycheiniog, features eight bands made up of 46 student and post-graduate young musicians whose names are becoming the stuff of legend in four major cities and beyond, their career paths filled with promise.

Dennis Rollins’s Velocity with support from Nerija will headline on the main stage at Theatr Brycheiniog on Saturday, August 13.

The Guardian called Dennis Rollin’s Velocity ’infectiously accessible, playful jazz trio’ and Nerija were recently named Jazz FM’s breakthrough act.

Teenage singer-songwriter Kizzy Crawford will open the weekend at the theatre, headlining on the Friday night.

A Welsh speaker with Bajan heritage, the 19-year-old’s solo career began just two years ago. In that time, Kizzy has developed an increasing sophistication to her songwriting and performance, which is complimented by her soaring voice that boasts both range and charisma.

Her ambition as a black Welsh artist is to make her mark by fusing bilingual soul-folk jazz and she’s already getting recognition for her work with airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC 6Music, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru as well as live TV performances on S4C, Children in Need for BBC 1 and the 6 Nations rugby advert campaign.

Kizzy won the ’Brwydr Y Bandiau’ at the National Eisteddfod 2013. She also won a Welsh singer-songwriter competition receiving money to record her first EP ’Temporary Zone’ with Ed Sheeran co-writer Amy Wadge.

Alongside the eight bands, Theatr Brycheiniog will host emerging musicians from Wales who are creating music that defies genre restrictions. Community Music Wales are working with the theatre to provide participatory music workshops in the community leading up to the festival and there will be free music in the bar throughout the festival, as well as the famous late night Jazz Jam - there really will be something for everyone.

This year’s Brecon Jazz: Futures had been made possible by support from Friends of Brecon Jazz, Brecon Beacons National Park - Sustainability Development Fund and Brecon Town Council – Youth Development.

Tickets for the Brecon Jazz Weekend are available here