It's time for some shufflin'

The Swindon Shuffle has been a fixture in the diaries of local music lovers for the last 18 years, celebrating all that is good about the Swindon music scene.

The 2024 event (the 17th edition technically as 2020’s festival was online) runs from Wednesday 11 September with an opening music quiz event at The Beehive.

Festivities continue until Sunday 15 September, with over 60 acts featured across five main venues in Old Town (The Beehive, The Castle, The Hop, The Tuppenny and The Victoria) alongside fringe events at venues like Baristocats, The Eternal Optimist, The Pick-Up Point, Swindon Central Library, Eastcott Community Centre and more. The event will be raising funds for Prospect Hospice, who will be holding special music events at their Commercial Road store during Saturday afternoon.

The cream of the local musical crop are taking part from across the musical spectrum, with the focus firmly on artists who write and perform their own material.

Acts as diverse as Erin Bardwell-led reggae outfit Subject A and the amazing NervEndings and Chasing Dolls headline along with the brilliant Talk in Code and the newly-conceived Swindon superband led by Jim Blair called JB & the Mojo Makers - who have to be seen to be believed.

The Shuffle was conceived by a group of independent music promoters in 2007, inspired by established city centre festivals like The Camden Crawl, The Great Escape and the Oxford Punt.

Organiser Ed Dyer said: “We're really excited to be able to put on the 17th running of the Swindon Shuffle and to continue to raise money for Prospect Hospice.

"We have a really exciting programme of live music in store, and this year we are doing as much as we can to highlight the wonderful original musical talent on our doorstep, and help nurture the local scene and support local venues. As always we are indebted to our amazing acts, venues and sponsors for enabling this all to happen.”

All sessions are free of charge with full details available at www.swindonshuffle.org.uk.