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Bebop Spoken There

George Colligan: ''I think to be a successful musician, you must be versatile to make a living — until you find your niche''. (DownBeat, July 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17,635 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 599 of them this year alone and, so far, 77 this month (July 25).

From This Moment On ...

JULY 2025

Tue 29: ???

Wed 30: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 30: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 30: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 31: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 8:30pm. £5.00.

AUGUST 2025

Fri 01: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 01: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 01: Tongues of Fire @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: High St, North Bus Loop. 6:30-8:45pm. Free.
Fri 01: Matt Anderson & Friends @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £14.79.
Fri 01: Tongues of Fire @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: Town Hall & Fountain Area. 8:45-9:30pm. Free.

Sat 02: Met Office @ Cluny 2, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). £10.00.
Sat 02: Tongues of Fire @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: High St, North Bus Loop. 1:15-1:45pm & 4:15-5:00pm. Free.
Sat 02: Brass, Eye? @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: High St, North Bus Loop. 5:45-6:30pm. Free.
Sat 02: Joseph Carville Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 02: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm.
Sat 02: Brass, Eye? + Tongues of Fire @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: Town Hall & Fountain Area. 8:45-9:30pm. Free.

Sun 03: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £7.50.
Sun 03: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: King Bees @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. From 1:00pm. £5.00. A Gosforth Beer Festival event. Multi-bill (1:00-5:00pm). Chicago blues band.
Sun 03: The Revolutionaires @ Seaham Food Festival (North Road Amphitheatre). 1:15pm. Free. Rhythm & blues feat. Fast Eddie.
Sun 03: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ Seaham Food Festival (North Road Amphitheatre). 2:30pm. Free.
Sun 03: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 03: Tongues of Fire @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: High St (Walkabout). 7:30-8:15pm. Free.
Sun 03: Redwell @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 03: Tongues of Fire @ Stockton International Riverside Festival: Trinity Green. 9:00-9:30pm. Free.

Mon 04: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club (1:00pm). Free.
Mon 04: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel, Saltburn. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Public rehearsal session.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Contraband and other Wansbeck Valley Stompers

Just returned from a great afternoon of live music care of the big blue taxi /bus pass.
At lunch time today I travelled by the "deka" from Ashington to Newbiggin. I was in time to hear the second set from Contraband - as featured at Blyth Beach.
Different line up this time -missing the keyboard. Nice fish and chips in a paper.
Around 2 o'clock I was bound for Morpeth to catch the River City Jazzmen who were playing in Carlisle Park. Its 200 years since the park first opened and they were having "a bit of a do".
On the way to the bandstand I spent a a few minutes listening to the new manager of the Aruba pub which was formally known as The Bank. They are starting live music night on a Tuesday. He's good guitarist, playing al fresco.
Quite a good turn out for what turned out to be a band containing representation from the Jazz In The Afternoon/V.C./River City bands. First time together for this particular line up but all went well. Great to hear Bill Smith again and regulars Bill Brooks and Fred Thomson.
Rushing, as I was, for the bus I could not stop to hear a great rock band playing at the Swan pub near the bus stand - sorry no pictures of them...
John T.

1 comment :

Lance said...

Hi John,
Remind me why you were travelling by bus?
Lance.

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