Clare Teal’s Festive Fiesta

Since its first outing in 2009, Clare Teal’s much-loved Festive Fiesta has been swinging its way into Christmas with great music, quick wit and a healthy disregard for festive decorum.

Expect a cocktail of seasonal favourites, sublime ballads, swinging classics and hidden gems, alongside contemporary numbers, original material and the occasional unexpected guilty cover, with songs made famous by the likes of Peggy Lee, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Ella Fitzgerald and a few musical left turns along the way!

Clare and her musicians combine first-rate musicianship with spontaneity, stories, silliness and genuine laugh-out-loud moments. No two Festive Fiestas are ever quite the same but all are delivered with Clare’s trademark warmth, wit and gloriously expressive voice. . Now in its 18th season of goodwill, this festive evergreen remains inviting, witty and fresh as the mountain snow. Still swinging. Still surprising. Still here.

Clare Teal, distinguished British vocalist and acclaimed broadcaster, renowned for her contributions to jazz, specialising in the genres of swing and big band.

Clare’s passion for music was inspired by her father’s small collection of 78’s; including Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong Signed to Candid Records in 2001, Clare’s big break came when broadcasting legend Sir Michael Parkinson discovered her around 2002. A deal with Sony Records followed, resulting in her Top 20 major-label debut, Don’t Talk.

After two records on Sony, Clare moved to a Universal imprint before starting her own independent label Mud records in 2009 with partner Mud - this has been Clare’s recording home ever since, resulting in 12 critically acclaimed albums including the 2011 celebration of the Great British Songbook Hey Ho, 2016’s Twelve O’Clock Tales where Clare is accompanied by The Hallé Orchestra and big band and 2021’s They Say It’s Swing and the Acclaimed Fireside and Vault Sessions.

Releasing 22 albums and appeared on many others Clare has sung with music greats including Sam Smith as part of their 2024 Prom at The Royal Albert Hall, Van Morrison (Carrying A Torch), Pee Wee Ellis, (In Good Company) Gregory Porter, Jamie Cullum (Road Less Travelled), Curtis Stigers and Kurt Elling. Working regularly with Trumpet player, composer and arranger Guy Barker, 2025 saw Guy’s 10th Christmas Concert at the Royal Albert Hall presented annually by Clare.

As well as an award-winning performer and recording artist Clare is a historian of music, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of jazz, swing and big band traditions. Her love of these genres shines through all her work; on stage, in the studio, or as a beloved radio host for 16 years at BBC Radio 2, JazzFM, BBC Radio 3 and now Boom Radio.

Clare has produced three BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, broadcast on BBC Radio 2 and 3 and televised on BBC4.