Bebop Spoken There

Donovan Haffner ('Best Newcomer' 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards): ''I got into jazz the first time I picked up a saxophone!" - Jazzwise Dec 25/Jan 26

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

18146 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 24 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Jan. 7), 24

From This Moment On ...

JANUARY 2026

Fri 09: The House Trio @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm. £9.00.
Fri 09: Nauta @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00. Trio: Jacob Egglestone, Jamie Watkins, Bailey Rudd.
Fri 09: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 09: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 09: Warren James & the Lonesome Travellers @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm. £15.00.
Fri 09: The Blue Kings @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £10.00. (£8.00. adv.). All-star band.

Sat 10: Mark Toomey Quintet @ St Peter’s Church, Stockton-on-Tees. 7:30pm. £12.00. (inc. pie & peas). Tickets from: 07749 255038.

Sun 11: New ’58 Jazz Collective @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 11: Eva Fox & the Sound Hounds @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 12: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 12: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free.

Tue 13: Milne Glendinning Band @ Newcastle House Hotel, Rothbury. 7:30pm. £11.00. Coquetdale Jazz.
Tue 13: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 14: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 14: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 14: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 15: Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman’s Club, Middlesbrough. 8:30pm. Free. Quartet + guest Paul Donnelly (guitar).

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

Saturday, December 27, 2014

The Boneshakers’ Fourth Annual Boxing Day Blues Party @ The Tyne Bar.

Russ Hird (guitar & vocals), Ronnie Semple (harmonica & vocals), John Morgan (electric bass) & Gordon Smiles (drums)
(Review by Russell).
The Bodega: a pint of Prince Bishop (the impeccable house beer at the Camra award-winning hostelry), a good crowd in for the match (a deserted nearby Wetherspoon’s wasn’t showing the match). Man Utd 3 The Toon 1. Kind of inevitable, little in the way of disgruntlement. Move on, as they say.
A walk along the Quayside, the Tyne in full food (albeit a millpond). Sage Gateshead slept, green and red lights dimmed. The Pitcher and Piano sparkled, bubbly at the ready, somewhat optimistically with not a reveller in sight (inside or out). Up ahead at the Ouseburn the Tyne Bar glowed invitingly. Would there be any room at the inn?
Walking through the door the place was as one would expect to find it…absolutely packed! The Boneshakers were in full flight knocking out rockin’ r ‘n’ b. A pint of Wylam’s Tankard, a precious standing space at the back of the room. The sound not the best, it never is, but no matter. It was loud enough, more than. A solid foundation (bass and drums), wailing harp, killer guitar licks, beer, women, song, more beer…Cheers!
One of several guest sitters-in, Steve Dixon got up, battered Strat in hand (just like Rory’s) and called Crossroads. It was worth the trek. voice and guitar the business. A Santa-fied encore a la Chuck Berry and that was it. The Boneshakers’ first ever gig took place in the very same pub, on the very same day exactly four years ago. Next year – December 26 – you can guess where they and their fans will be. 
Russell.

1 comment :

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the write up Russell. Flattered you enjoyed it

(Ronnie} The Boneshakers

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