Evie Em-Jay was determined to bring top notch artists to Swindon's music fans so she set up Jazz On The Corner.

Evie has taken the jazz mantle on her shoulders following in the footsteps of Mr Jazz, David Knight, who she worked alongside from 2010, in promoting music in the town.

"We have a good music scene in Swindon, but when Dave Knight died in 2016, there was no jazz, so I wanted to bring regular jazz club nights to the town,'' said Evie, a musician in her own right specialising in classical Spanish guitar.

The jazz club is based in the Royal Oak, Devizes Road in Old Town and meets every Tuesday. Enthusiasts can enjoy jazz of all genres from gipsy jazz to bebop, to swing, to funk. It is free entry to the club.

"It also has its social side,'' said Evie. "Members who have been coming for ten years have made friends and go out together. Saxophonist and singer Kim Cypher met Kentwood Show Choir founder Sheila Harrod here and they have guested on each others shows and albums.''

Jazz On The Corner attracts all ages, including families, and the pub specialises in gin and oysters that go well with jazz.

Evie says all this sprang from David Knight, who inspired her with his passion for jazz. "He had been booking gigs for 30 years and had the contacts and I was younger so could do all the social media. So, I am continuing to carry the jazz banner,'' she said.

The success of Jazz On The Corner, which always attracts a full pub of standing room only, has spurred Evie to arrange a Swindon Jazz Festival on April 6 at Christ Church and Christ Church Community Centre.

"I was so sad to see Marlborough Jazz Festival close. I have had a lot of interest in the Swindon festival, and outside there will be pop up stalls for beer and food. It will be 10 hours of jazz in the church and the soul room. I want it to become a regular date in the calendar,'' said Evie.

The festival will open with Swindon sax player Len Morphew and the MJQ. The known names of the show include Alec Dankworth, Cleo Laine's son, sax player Simon Spillett, jazz trumpeter Enrico Tomasso, Swindon's own Chris Cobbson, who is Courtney Pine's guitarist, Kim Cypher's Quintet and Denny Illett Junior playing Sinatra with his All Star Band.

Seeing another opening in the Swindon music scene, Evie has also organised the Old Town Blues Club, which is run on similar lines to the Jazz On The Corner at the Royal Oak. It opens on the first and third Sunday of the month from 3pm to 5pm.

Evie said: "The best way to hear jazz is organically, there is a lot of improv and high energy that you do not get from a CD. It is important to hear it live.''

For more details of the club visit http://www.jazzknights.co.uk/