A NEW feature of this year's Leyburn Jazz Festival will be cabarets in the concert room at the Golden Lion Hotel in Leyburn Market Place.

On Saturday, October 22 the Nicki Allan Trio will be playing. Nicki is a highly talented vocalist and keyboard player, a previous Jazz Yorkshire Vocalist of the Year noted for her bluesey phrasing and vocal improvisation.

On Sunday, October 23 the band is the Matt Anderson Trio North will feature. Matt is a distinguished saxophonist who is a jazz tutor at both the Royal College of Music in London and the Leeds Conservatoire. He is also the tutor for the workshop session that morning and will be playing in the Golden Lion with his Yorkshire based colleagues who make up the Matt Anderson Trio North. Food and drink are available at these lunchtime sessions but visitors can just order what they want from the hotel. Booking in advance is for the music only and to secure a place at a table.

Leyburn Jazz Festival takes place Friday to Sunday, October 21 to 23 at venues around Leyburn Market Place. To book for the cabaret sessions and all the other bands at the festival visit www.leyburnjazz.co.uk or call at the Leyburn Arts and Community Centre in Leyburn.