A legendary jazz artist is coming to Preston to launch a new festival.

Courtney Pine is among those to perform in a five-day celebration of jazz and improv across the city.

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Preston Jazz and Improvisation Festival has been timed to take place alongside the city’s ever-popular Caribbean Carnival.

Pine’s show, at Venue 53 (formerly 53 Degrees) will be on the Sunday 10 June from 7.30pm to round off a day of celebration when the Carnival takes place in Moor Park.

Stars of jazz, funk, blues, soul and hip-hop are performing at the festival at UCLan and many other venues in the city from Wednesday 6 June onwards.

Vice-chancellor at the University of Central Lancashire Professor Mike Thomas said: “We are delighted to be able to bring this exciting and diverse programme of events to Preston. The festival will take place at locations right across the city, with a number of free-to-attend events, helping to cement the already strong links the University has with Preston communities, and our civic mission.

“We are equally delighted to welcome a true icon of the British Jazz scene, Courtney Pine, as our festival headliner – who together with the rest of the line-up, is sure to bring a fantastic show befitting of the university’s 190th anniversary celebrations.”

Read more: Date set and details for Preston’s Caribbean Carnival to return

The festival is due to include a conference on The Future of Live music as well as city centre buskers and other outdoor performances.

Many of the events are free to attend and there’s a full line up on the Preston Jazz Fest website.