The headline acts for Sidmouth's International Jazz and Blues Festival in May have now been announced.

This year's programme includes four headline evening concerts and three days of free music on the festival's outdoor stage at Blackmore Gardens.

There will also be free live music performances at various local venues and music workshops and other outreach community events.

The first headliner will be multi-award winning American singer, saxophonist and composer Curtis Stigers. He will open the festival on 26 May.

British 'acid jazz' band The Brand-New Heavies will play on 27 May, followed by Chicago-based blues musician Mud Morganfield on 28 May.

Closing the festival on 29 May, will be British jazz saxophonist, OBE and CBE Courtney Pine performing his show 'The House of Legends'.

Mud Morganfield (Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival)

Festival Director Ian Bowden said: "Free music attracts audiences and visitors to come into Sidmouth from across the region to enjoy not only the music but to also experience Sidmouth as a town and all that it has to offer.

"We are immensely proud to be providing the platform for wonderful regional emerging and established music talent to perform to new audiences performing jazz, swing, blues, roots, soul, funk, Latin and Cuban music.

"Whilst we have a certain level of funding in place, the festival requires additional funding support to complete its full free music programme. Securing funding is incredibly hard in this climate and to raise funds we are launching a Crowdfunder so that the public, businesses and private patrons can make a much needed and appreciated donation.

"We pay all of the musicians to perform and there any many additional costs that have to be met so that this can all happen."

Early bird tickets go on sale for one week from Monday 27 February to Monday 6 March.

For information and to purchase tickets online go to www.sidmouthjazz.com.