Absolutely brilliant final gig of @BifJazz 2025 by @joestilgoe & The Entertainers w the wonder Lucy Anne Daniels - what a way to bring the final curtain down!

Simply outstanding @grosvenorpiano @BuxtonFestival. Expressive & evocative I could see the ox cart rumbling by & the children playing in the Tuilieries with the chicks danced along the keyboard. Never has the Great Gate of Kiev sounded so grand. BRAVO!

Fabulous & fascinating final BIF volunteer shift w Peter Parker & Leah Broad @BuxtonFestival. The best book talk I’ve heard this year.

Fascinating journey thro Storyville, New Orleans, w The Nightcreatures Duo @BifJazz from its earliest jazz days w Jelly Roll Morton and Dr John to Prince and even Harry Connick Jr - who knew?

Devastatingly good from start to finish @BuxtonFestival ‘s Hamlet. Superb singing and playing throughout, esp Hamlet (Gregory Feldman) & Ophelie (Yewon Han) who must be exhausted. BRAVO!

Opera Shorts - probably one the most exciting things @BuxtonFestival has ever done - more of this please! Four excellent & thought provoking operas in one night. Great to see it attracting more diverse audience too.

Totally spellbinding performance of La Deacente d’Orphee aux Enfers by @VacheBaroque at @BuxtonFestival - catch it if you can! I don’t (usually) like baroque but this is bewitching.

Sparkling, mesmerising and at time even driven concert by Chloe Hanslip & Danny Driver at @BuxtonFestival today. Especially the Shostakovich violin sonata 🎻🎹

A day for sensational women @BuxtonFestival & @BifJazz today. Opening w Baroness Lola Young then Lady Nade - both w their own powerful stories to tell. It’s days like this that make the festival so special

Another busy day at @BuxtonFestival. Thought provoking & even a little controversial Lord Jonathan Sumption; fascinating insights into The Hiroshima Men w Iain McGregor. Ending w joyous celebration of the power of singing w @kingssingers & friends

Fabulous evening with Swingtime Big Band with Emma Holcroft & Matt Ford @BifJazz - sang & danced all the way home

Great shout out for @BifJazz @BuxtonFestival - in yesterday’s Guardian? Lots of amazing gigs, concerts & operas still to come too!

So - day three @BifJazz & today Dodeka filled the stage : 12 piece band with too many instruments to count as most were doubling. Piano, double bass, drums, trumpets, flugel horns, flute, bass clarinet and a whole family of saxes!

Terrific second day @BifJazz - double down of the amazing Alan Barnes and fabulous celebration of Oscar Peterson w Dean Stockdale & friends. Year on year this festival just keeps getting better

Day 2: splendidly laid back afternoon of jazz @BifJazz w Alan Barnes & Friends - this time w my @BuxtonFestival volunteers hat on 😎

Fabulous first day at @BuxtonFestival @BifJazz. Such a treat to hear Sir Stephen Hough, just sublime. And then some late night jazz w Butcher’s Brew - a perfect end to a scorching day!

Great evening of jazz @BifJazz launch party - so many great gigs in store next year @BuxtonFestival - and it’s not just about the jazz! 😉

Today's Budget will fix the foundations to deliver change. Here are just some of the things announced by @RachelReevesMP today 👇

An estimated 4,000 pregnant women & mothers returning from maternity leave are dismissed each year. I spoke in Parliament about how the vital reforms in Labour’s Employment Rights Bill will help to tackle this issue.

Today I am announcing immediate action to clean up Britain’s rivers, lakes & seas.