A community music group is looking forward to showing local youth talent at an upcoming jazz festival.

Musicians at Core Music, in Hexham, will be performing alongside around 25 others from across the North East at the upcoming Jazz festival between the Hexham Abbey and at the bandstand at the Sele on May 13-15.

Core Music is a music hub for the people of Hexham and the Tyne Valley. It has a successful retail shop and specializes in music tuition, workshops, and events; aimed at a diverse range of musical styles, ages, and abilities.

Joe Steels, 25, a guitar teacher at Core Music, who also runs Core Jazz, talks about how the opportunity came about.

He said: “One of the Hexham Jazz committee members Roy Dallison approached Core Music to discuss the potential for a day of youth jazz.

“With funding from Queens Hall Arts and Youth Music we are very proud to be able to offer performance opportunities to young people from across the North of England.

“These youth performances are free to attend although there will be an opportunity to donate to the continuation of Core Music should people wish to do so.”