MUSIC lovers are in for a treat as the city hosts the second Oxford Jazz Festival.

Starting on Thursday and running until Sunday, April 4, there will be 50 different jazz events in venues across the city.

Key to the festival is performing music in iconic places that are not always open to the public.

The event was set up last year by Max Mason, Alissa Robinson and Paul Jefferies.

Mr Mason, who runs the Big Bang restaurant in Jericho, said: “We decided there was an absence of cohesive tourism work, and there wasn’t really a music festival in the middle of town.

“Oxford has the most beautiful venues that most people don’t normally see inside, so we decided to start a festival with the aim of giving inspired jazz within the venues of the dreaming spires.”

Although last year’s festival, which had 23 concerts, made a slight loss, they enjoyed it so much, they decided to do it again.

Last year, between 9,000 and 10,000 people attended the festival, and if all seats are sold for this year’s concerts, it would see 22,000 through the doors.

The Kairos 4Tet will perform in the Bodleian Library on the Sunday – the first jazz act to play there – and the Gypsy Fire Trio will be among the first bands to play at the Ashmolean Vaults Cafe.

Mr Mason said: “The festival highlights some very promising local talent, while at the same time showcasing some international acts.

“All the music is fantastic, but for me this year the buildings are the stars because the fact we have managed to secure performances in those two places in particular is brilliant.”

As well as music, there will be a jazz talk from Sandy Burnett at the Ashmolean Museum on the Sunday, and workshops in improvisation, vocals, mainstream jazz and musical workshops for children.

The festival is commemorating the centenary of Django Reinhardt’s birth, with a daily gypsy jazz-flavoured performance.

Several of the events are free, and none cost more than £20.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit oxfordjazzfestival.com