12 Degrees Festival to bring cutting-edge music to Exeter In 2027

We always love to hear about new music festivals starting up, particularly in the current environment that isn’t always practically supportive of music and arts events. While you have a little while to wait for this one, if you’re a fan of contemporary jazz and experimental music, 12 Degrees is definitely worth adding to your calendars for next spring. More details to follow – here’s the news so far…

A new one-day festival dedicated to boundary-pushing music is set to launch in Exeter in 2027. Taking place on Saturday 22 May 2027, 12 Degrees will bring together some of the most exciting names in contemporary jazz, electronic, indie, ambient and experimental music across three venues in the heart of the city: Exeter Phoenix, St Stephen's Church and 12 Bar Music & Social. The festival has been founded by Exeter locals Sam Tame, owner of 12 Bar Music & Social, alongside Ed Kos and Greg Sawyer, with a shared ambition to create a new cultural event that connects South West audiences with some of the most forward-thinking artists working in the UK today. The festival has confirmed the involvement of Tina Edwards, one of the UK’s most respected voices in contemporary jazz and underground music. As part of the programme, Edwards will DJ, host a talk and Q&A session, and present a screening of her acclaimed BBC documentary Spitting Fire.

“12 Degrees Festival is providing a long overdue and essential connection between the South West and the wider UK Jazz and Jazz-ish electronic music scenes. With local talent development programmes and a strong grassroots nature, I’ve no doubt that Exeter and neighbouring areas will benefit from the team’s exciting vision. I’m beyond excited to be working with them as both a curator and a performer, and look forward to seeing the impact that the festival makes on a part of the world that’s so meaningful to me.” – Tina Edwards

Full line-up details, venue programming and further announcements will be revealed later this year. Built around the idea that all music is connected, whether through the twelve notes of the chromatic scale, shared influences, or the universal language of sound itself, 12 Degrees aims to create a space where genres overlap and audiences can discover artists operating beyond traditional boundaries. The festival will make use of three distinctive Exeter venues. Exeter Phoenix has long been one of the region’s leading centres for contemporary arts and live music, while St Stephen’s Church offers a unique setting for immersive and exploratory performances. 12 Bar Music & Social, one of the city’s newest independent music venues, will provide an intimate environment for late-night performances and discovery. Rooted in Exeter and shaped by a strong sense of community, 12 Degrees has been created to bring fresh ideas, new audiences and nationally recognised artists to the city, while helping strengthen connections between the South West and the wider UK music landscape. Alongside performances, the festival will also feature talks, screenings and artist development initiatives designed to support emerging talent and encourage creative exchange across the region.

Early bird tickets will be released in limited numbers, with priority access available via the festival mailing list. Further information and artist announcements will follow later this year. For more info and to join the waitlist, head to thisis12degrees.com

Published 25th June 2026