Swansea International Jazz Festival returns for its third year this summer, with some 50 events at 12 venues in the city’s Maritime Quarter.

The Dylan Thomas Theatre will host the ticketed concerts with a diverse programme of jazz featuring artists from USA, Europe and Australia.

There are also jazz workshops, the South Wales Schools Big Band workshop and concert, and free events all over the Maritime Quarter through the weekend of June 17-19 (2016).

Festival creative director Dave Cottle said: “We have put together a strong and diverse programme for 2016 and a major coup in booking ‘360’ – a very special 10-piece band featuring Average White Band founder members Hamish Stuart, Malcolm ‘Molly’ Duncan and Steve Ferrone. They will be delivering their fantastic all new album and a selection of their old AWB classics.”

Dave runs the weekly jazz club, Swansea Jazzland, where I was lucky enough to see (and meet) Manhattan Transfer founder member Erin Dickins last year.The club is presenting the festival in partnership with Arts Council of Wales, City and County of Swansea and University of Wales Trinity St David, and media partner, South Wales Evening Post.

As well as 360, other names catching my eye in the line-up include Darius Brubeck Quartet, The Pee Wee Ellis Funk Assembly, and Alec Dankworth’s Spanish Accents.

Darius Brubeck / Darius Brubeck Quartet / Shot in Camden Town by Rob Blackham http://www.blackhamimages.com

Details are available on the festival website, and another summer festival, Love Supreme, is previewed here.