The Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival got off to a flying start last weekend, helping set the tone for a fantastically festive feel around the harbour in the run up to the start of the Artemis Transat Race on Sunday.

The Artemis organisers themselves are delighted saying the atmosphere has been 'absolutely fabulous', hailing the music a huge contribution to the overall buzz of the event.

Undoubtedly the warm weather has helped but the Barbican has never looked and sounded so lively, nor has there ever been such a contagious feel-good factor about the place as there has been since the festival began last Saturday.

Director Katie Thompson admits after really not knowing what to expect, the festival has been going as well as they could have hoped.

"I have not heard a single bad comment," she said. "And to see families with kids dancing and so many people enjoying the music is great.

"Visitors to Plymouth have told us this is exactly the sort of thing they would travel to see and locals have said it's just what Plymouth has been waiting for. Everyone is loving it."

Highlights so far have been too numerous to mention, but one particular stand out moment was the parade through Southside Street on Bank Holiday Monday, featuring the Dixie Blue Band from France.

"The band were completely bowled over with the warm reception they received from the Plymouth crowds and how people instantly took them to their hearts," says Katie. "The streets were lined several deep to see them and loads of people had brought their jazz brollies which was amazing. The band even did an impromptu set at the B Bar after the parade - that's been quite a feature of the festival, with all sorts of un-programmed sessions happening."

If you haven't made it down to the Barbican yet, don't worry, there is still plenty to see this weekend. It starts this lunchtime with local sax supremo Martin Dale performing at the swanky new Kaya Gallery in Southside Street, French diva Miss Sophie Kay setting the harbour alight under the parasols and if you like your jazz traditional, catch Roger Marks' Armada Jazz Band at the Maritime Inn, all free from 1pm.

In the evening there's a choice of entertainment with Sophie Kay, barrelhouse piano man Diz Watson and percussionist Tony Uter appearing together at the B Bar at 8pm, '20s and '30s crooners Speakeasy at Plymouth Gin Refectory from 9pm, blues maestros Vince Lee and the Big Combo at Annabel's from 10pm while Two Spot Gobi play a funky live set at Jelly Jazz at The Quay Club from 10pm.

At 1pm tomorrow you can see Diz Watson and Tony Uter under the parasols, and supper-club keyboard wizardry from Paul Harris and his trio at the National Marine Aquarium, followed at 3pm with more from Speakeasy under the parasols and another marching parade, through Southside Street, this time lead by the Jambalaya Jazz Band.
ZZ Bop, led by comedian/bassist Tom Hill and featuring our own Craig Milverton on piano, at the National Marine Aquarium at 7pm, promises to be another highlight event if you like contemporary jazz and be-bop.

Multi-award winning guitarist Preston Reed is at the Barbican Theatre from 8pm, local blues singer Jill Cole rocks the Barbican Blues Bar from 8pm and there's rocking blues on disc from infamous blues DJ Gaz Mayall as well as live country blues from local luvvies the Bucket Boys all at Annabel's from 10pm.

From midday on Sunday, the grand parade will involve the Jambalaya Jazz Band following the yachts around from Southside Street to the Hoe and the spectacular start of their transatlantic voyage. So bring your parasols and join in the fun.