The festival is delighted to welcome the incredibly talented Mica Millar and her band to perform a special double bill evening show on Monday 27 May at Blackmore Gardens.

This event is part of the 2024 Sidmouth International Jazz & Blues Festival - please click here to see the full festival programme and buy tickets.

Releasing her debut album 'Heaven Knows' to critical acclaim in 2023, Mica Millar has quickly become one of the brightest new stars of British Soul music, picking up Jazz FM's prestigious 'Soul Act of The Year 2022' award alongside a nomination for 'Breakthrough Act of The Year' and featuring on the front covers of iconic Blues & Soul Magazine, amidst international radio support and an array of five star reviews and acclaim from the likes of Echoes, The Daily Express, Record Collector, Music Week, The Official Charts and Word Play.

Since embarking on her first national UK tour in April, Mica has headlined two sold out nights at London’s infamous Jazz Cafe and a sell-out headline show at Cheltenham Jazz Festival plus a performance with The BBC Concert Orchestra televised on BBC4. Mica has also supported soul legend Lionel Richie for two nights at Blenheim Palace.

Mastered at the iconic Abbey Road Studios, ‘Heaven Knows’ is self-written, arranged and produced, exploring themes of human nature, spirituality, love, oppression, inequality, and empowerment, drawing inspiration from a plethora of vintage soundscapes, most notably, soul, blues, gospel, and jazz.

Mica has received support from the likes of Trevor Nelson (BBC Radio 2), Craig Charles (6 Music), Victoria Jane (BBC Radio 1), Clive Anderson (BBC Radio 4: Loose Ends), Good Morning, Sunday and Jazz FM who supported with Album of The Week and a continued string of A-listed singles.

Mica’s distinct vision is one that’s earned her renowned credibility within the industry and it’s her creativity, drive and attention to detail that has made ‘Heaven Knows’ the album it is - a timeless collection of modern soul showcasing a confident new artist, quickly establishing herself as a new and unique voice in British Soul music.

“A classy debut…her voice is amazing, and her originals feel timeless and Euphoric. No wonder she has recently made the cover of Blues & Soul Magazine. “Better days come,” sings Mica on the title track. They are certainly coming for her.”
The Daily Mirror

“Outstanding. The future of British Soul Music is in very safe hands.”
Christian Bragg, Jazz FM Head of Music

“A star with intense emotional sincerity is born. ‘Heaven Knows’ is an outstanding debut album that’s awash with skilful balladry.”
Blues & Soul Magazine

We are delighted to welcome the award – winning Elles Bailey to perform at the festivals main outdoor stage as part of our special double bill closing evening on Monday 27 May at Blackmore Gardens with Mica Millar.

Elles Bailey is a blues and Americana artiste who rises like a rocket in the music sky by day, both on the European and the American side of the Atlantic. Elles Bailey wanders unchallenged and freely between the various styles of roots music and receives awards both as best Blues artiste and as best Americana artiste.

She has received formidable recognition on home soil recently, both from the blues and Americana community. She has accomplished the feat of winning both the UK Blues Awards and the UK Americana Awards. When you listen to her music it makes perfect sense. In that sense, she is like a young British version of Mavis Staples.

The starting point for Elles Bailey’s music lies somewhere between Memphis and Nashville, with songs that draw feeling from swampy blues and soul while conveying it with a messy country attitude.
Elles Bailey is a human dynamo with a powerful voice that wanders the worlds of Americana and blues and accomplishes the feat of garnering recognition and accolades in both.

The year 2020 started with a bang for the widely touring singer as “Little Piece of Heaven”, written with famed Memphis and Nashville giants Bobby Wood and Dan Auerbach (of The Black Keys), picked up “UK Song of the Year” on UK Americana Awards. ‘Little Piece of Heaven’ is taken from her chart-topping album ‘Road I Call Home’ which was released to rave reviews and awarded ‘Album of the Year’ at the UK Blues Awards.
The album rocketed onto both the Official UK Country Charts and the UK Americana Charts and reached No.1 on the Amazon Blues Bestseller list.

In addition, she was named “Artist of the Year” two years in a row at the UK Blues Awards 2020 and in 2021.

"Absolutely Superb"
Bob Harris - BBC Radio 2

"Elles Bailey is at the top of her game"
Daily Express