AWARD-winning performers from across the county and beyond will be wowing the crowds at this weekend’s Upton Jazz Festival Fringe.

With the main festival already under way in the riverside town today (Thursday), organisers are getting ready to open the lively Fringe with a host of talented singers and musicians.

It kicks off tomorrow (Friday) at the Swan Hotel on Upton’s historic riverside, in partnership with local mental health charity the Nathan Tomkins Trust.

Christian Cox, a pianist from Upton with 16 years of performing under his belt, opens the Fringe at 6pm.

A prolific composer and superb talent with a degree in music from Bath, he promises jazz, ballads and a dash of boogie-woogie.

Performances continue on Saturday, and on Sunday, at 3pm, it’s the turn of Livia King, an award-winning singer from Ledbury.

She promises a selection of cabaret songs, musical theatre and even some opera.

Accompanied by well-known pianist Tim Sidford, Malvern-born Livia trained at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Since graduating, she has travelled the world with Silversea Cruises, performing everything from the Beatles to Bizet.

Worcester-based Pippa Langhorne - who starred with her dog Buddy on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in 2011 - will close the Fringe on Sunday night.

She has appeared on the BAFTAs and performed at scores of outdoor events, and will perform a range of tracks from soulful jazz to classical, 60s and current music.

“We’re so excited with this new feature for our long-established jazz festival,” said a spokesman for the event.

“We're giving local talent a break alongside British Jazz Award-winners and international headliners.

“It’s a chance for local people to wander down to the riverside and hear some very good music on what promises to be a sunny weekend.”

The main festival runs until 11pm on Sunday, and includes a vintage jazz parade through Upton’s streets on Saturday; riverboat shuffles aboard the Conway Castle and a gospel-style church service.

There are 60 gigs from internationally-renowned bands, and the festival is celebrating 10 years of the Best of Young Jazz, its educational outreach programme which showcases the talents of up-and-coming jazz stars.

Thousands of jazz fans descend on the town for the event, which this year is being held in a host of venues in the town centre.

Day passes are available from £30, from uptonjazz.co.uk and evening passes are available after 6pm for just £15. Riverside camping costs £35 for the weekend.