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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 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

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Tue 25: Fred Wesley & the New JB’s @ The Cluny. 7:30pm (doors). £27.50. POSTPONED! New date Wednesday 26 November.

Wed 26: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 26: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 26: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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, October 24, 2012

Nationwide search for best unsigned Blues Musicians chooses Redcar for North East heat - musicians from across the country urged to enter now!!

It has just been announced that entries for this year’s highly prestigious and nationwide competition - The New Brunswick Battle of the Blues - will open on 1st October.  For a third year the cream of unsigned bands and singer/songwriters is being sought from across the UK and particularly from the North of England where, organisers believe, the area’s great blues talent deserves higher recognition. 
Five heats will take place around the country and the North East one will be held at Redcar Blues Club on 8th February (although musicians are welcome to enter any of the 5 heats – see below). Heat winners plus a ‘judges’ choice’ will go head to head at the final in London in March 2013, with the overall competition winner being taken out to play main stage at the world renowned Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in New Brunswick, Canada, during September 2013.
Says Lisa Gagnon, who’s organising the competition in the UK for New Brunswick, “Harvest Jazz & Blues is one of the world’s great music festivals.  Once again we’re thrilled to be offering this chance to British blues musicians to play alongside the best of the best.  New Brunswick’s capital Fredericton, where the festival is held, is a wonderful place to visit at any point in the year, but at Harvest time the atmosphere is electric!”
And she continues, “The winners will play gigs on the Festival’s main stage and have the chance to make contact with some of the all time blues greats who come here from across North America and indeed the world.  And we’ll even take our winners whale watching, sea kayaking and sightseeing – all expenses paid, of course.
Last year’s winners – Groove-A-Matics from Gateshead – said this of the competition, “It’s a fantastic opportunity for emerging or established British blues artists to raise their profile and play on a world stage at this brilliant festival – as well as experiencing the wonders of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.”

Interested bands and singer/songwriters are invited to register initially at www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk between 1st October and 30th November 2012.  Artists will need to demonstrate the ability to produce new and original work, though some covers are permitted.  To qualify, they will need to be unsigned at the time of the competition (including the final). Musicians may enter whichever heat best suits them – choose from Newton-le-Willows in the North West, Redcar in the North East, Billericay in the South East, Hove in the South and Cupar, Scotland.

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