Bebop Spoken There

Emma Rawicz: "In a couple of years I've gone from being a normal university student to suddenly being on international stages." DownBeat January 2026.

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

18219 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 73 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 24), 73

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Thu 29: The Noel Dennis Band @ Prohibition Bar, Albert Road, Middlesbrough TS1 2RU. 7:00pm (doors). £10.84. Quartet plus special guest Zoë Gilby. Over 35s only. Rescheduled from December 4th.
Thu 29: Oh No Noh + Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Cobalt Studios, Newcastle. 7:00pm (doors). £16.45., £13.28., £12.22., £9.04. Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 30: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 30: Pete Roth Trio @ Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). Feat. Bill Bruford.
Fri 30: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Fri 30: Dan Coulthurst Quintet @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 7:30pm (7:00pm doors). £10.00 + £1.00. bf (www.wegottickets.com). Coulthurst (trumpet); Joel Steadman (bass clarinet, flute); Nico Widdowson (piano); Fergus Quill (double bass); Theo Goss (drums).

Sat 31: Darling Dollies @ St George’s Church, Jesmond, Newcastle. 3:00pm. £10.00. Vocal trio.
Sat 31: Brass Fiesta @ Revoluçion de Cuba, Newcastle. 10:30pm. Free.

FEBRUARY 2026

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet + guest Bill Watson (trumpet, flugelhorn).
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Annie & the Caldwells @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £25.00. adv. Gospel/soul.
Sun 01: Jive Aces @ Alnwick Playhouse. 7:30pm.
Sun 01: Olly Styles Experience + Jenny Baker @ the Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.

Wed 04: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 04: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 04: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 05: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00. Subject: TBC.
Thu 05: Jeremy McMurray’s Pocket Jazz Orchestra @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm. Special guest Emma Wilson.
Thu 05: Tees Hot Club @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm.

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

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

More on the Great Whittington Jazz Picnic

Ray Shenton's piece about a jazz session in Great Whittington (see New Comment Old Posts) reminded me of an afternoon of jazz quite a few years ago in the grounds of the village hall. The session was advertised in Jazz Guide. I went along, called into the seventeenth century Queen's Head Inn (reputedly the oldest in Northumberland), supped a pint of Hambleton's (I think), then wandered round the corner to listen to the jazz.
It was a warm summer's afternoon, a nice day out. I hadn't realised that it was/is an annual event. This year's event (Sunday August 8) will be the 15th Great Whittington Jazz Picnic. For imbibers travelling from the Newcastle area and not wishing to drink and drive, there is a bus (no.74) from Eldon Square Bus Station to Matfen - a little way short of Great Whittington necessitating a bit of a walk (the bus runs through to Great Whittington every day except Sunday - typical!). Two websites worth looking at: www.greatwhittington.com (see photo of Ray Shenton and the Victory 'V') and www.the-queens-head-inn.co.uk.
Russell
at

3 comments :

Lance said...

You are correct Russell. Hambleton's Bitter was one of the regular brews at the Queens Head - known locally as 'The Yacht Club' because of its upmarket pretensions.
In my cycling days I was a frequent visitor.

Thursday, June 17, 2010 8:48:00 am
Ray Shenton said...

You are spot on Russell. We've been doing this now for 15 years and we were originally formed to play at the picnic there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the end of the second world war, hence the name The Victory V's.
The line up this year is
John Cowan Trumpet
Jim McBriarty Clarinet and sax
Herbie Hudson Trombone (Original RCJ member from 1955)
Brian Bennett Banjo
Fred Thompson Drums
Peter Shenton Bass
Ray Shenton Piano(original RCJ member from 1955)
and Guest appearance of Joe Shenton Washboard ( Original RCJ member from 1955)

So bring your own picnic and for £5 (kids go free) enjoy the Victory V jazzmen at one of the prettiest villages in Northumberland. If the weather is crap we crowd inside the village hall
Up to now the good weather success rate has been 80%

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 5:37:00 pm
Ray Shenton said...

I forgot to mention the time of the event. It will be from noon till 3 pm and any profits will go to Tynedale Hospice at Home. Hope to see you all then

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:02:00 am

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