It was one of the hottest nights – literally – in the long history of Wigan International Jazz Festival when Jools Holland and his guests turned up the heat to full blast on the opening night of the town’s annual musical celebration.

And jazz aficionados would have forgiven festival organisers for allowing a tribute to the blues, soul, boogie woogie and even ska as well – all brought to life by Jools and a 15-strong band, including a jazzy brass section.

"Personable Jools was his usual charming self , as accomplished a master of ceremonies and audience rouser as he is an ivory tinkler"

The stirring welcomes to his diverse roster of guests cranked up the atmosphere among an audience of 1,200 – one of the biggest ever Festival crowds.

Oldham-born backing singer Louise Marshall, who was conducting her father’s Oldham International Choir at the age of 13, showed why she is now recording albums in her own right. He smouldering, soulful voice wrapped itself wonderfully around Valentine Moon.

Wigan was then treated to a version of Jools’ Later . . . With TV show, in which he nimbly melds diverse musical acts into one toe-tapping extravaganza.

First up was Marc Almond, who still oozes pop star stage presence at 57 and who name-checked Wigan Casino before launching into a musically lush version of Gloria Jones’s Northern Soul classic, Tainted Love – which he topped the charts with in 1981.

His Say Hello, Wave Goodbye was even more poignant with age.

Then Melanie C showed why she always had the best voice in the Spice Girls with a four-song set crowned with an upbeat version of Nina Simone’s classic Ain’t Got No, I Got Life.

Former Squeeze drummer Gilson Lewis gave the jazz enthusiasts a treat with a terrific solo – "fuelled on Wigan pies", according to Jools – while the rest of the band went off for a breather before the finale.

And it was the Queen of Boogie Woogie, Ruby Turner, who turned the gig into a sort of Midsummer New Year’s Eve celebration that Jools is famous for, her huge voice booming out a lung-busting, glorious recital of Peace In The Valley.

Wigan International Jazz Festival continues until Sunday.