Total Pageviews

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.

Mon 24: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

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.

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, January 24, 2015

The Hokum Hotshots @ The Dun Cow, Sunderland. January 23

Hokum Hotshots: Jim Murray (guitars & vocals) & Pete Mason (guitars & vocals) + George Shovlin (guitar & vocals) & George Lamb (guitar & vocals)
(Review by Russell)
Sunderland Blues Club meets fortnightly in the upstairs room at the Head of Steam’s Dun Cow on High Street West. The club’s lynchpin George Shovlin was mighty pleased at the turn-out; the small drawing room-style layout with a trademark Head of Steam twist to an impressive Edwardian building, a photographic still of Stan and Ollie (the legendary duo performed at the adjacent Empire Theatre) at the bar.
Shovelin and fellow Radar George Lamb opened the all-acoustic show with a superb set of  blues standards ranging from Slim Harpo (Got Love If You Want It) to Muddy Waters (Long Distance Call) to Jimmy Witherspoon (Evenin’). Shovelin possesses a voice hewn from Wearside’s proud, defiant industrial heritage. The big-drinking blues crowd (a jazz club could but dream of such patronage!) had heard them all before and no one objected to hearing them one more time.
Murray and Mason do Hokum. Old timey, jug band exponents, the Hokum Hotshots gave a master class in the genre. Self-effacing (Two fat b******* from Shields), the duo, in the most appalling Hawaiian shirts (they’ve been wearing the on-stage clobber for years), do more than play a song –  as historians of the music they entertain and inform as they go. A collection of vintage guitars so rare (National slide, Dobro lapsteel, a mandolin c1950) they’re probably uninsured (premiums prohibitive), the Hokum Hotshots have the hardware and the talent to make the most of it by way of Casey Bill, Tampa Red and many others.
Sunderland Blues Club is a welcome addition to the north east’s flourishing live music scene. Next up at the Dun Cow (January 30, then fortnightly) is another double bill – Struggle Bunny and George Shovlin and Gary Lamb. Doors open at eight o’clock, admission £4.00. If you want a seat get in the queue before eight. Future guests include Mitch Laddie (Feb 13) and the Dave Whiffin Band (Mar 20). Mr Shovlin is onto a winner.                          
Russell.
at

No comments :

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )

Blog Archive