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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

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.

Tue 05: Olly Styles: Undergraduate Recital @ Band Room, Music Studios, Assembly Lane, Newcastle University. 2:00-2:40pm. Free, open to the public.
Tue 05: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Alan Law, Paul Grainger, John Hirst.

Wed 06: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 06: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 06: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. 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

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Durham University Big Band News

The Durham University Big Band are now doing wedding gigs - if you don't believe me - Ask Andy Murray!
Our fly on the wall tells me that DUBB did indeed jazz up Andy and Kim's reception!
They're also available for Bar Mitzvahs and gigs at a jazz club near you.
And, who knows, Wimbledon Jazz Club in June - the ball's in your court Andy!
Lance.

1 comment :

The LondonJazz site said...

Good spot Lance .I'd missed this Facebook post from April 1st

We are pleased to be able to finally reveal to you all that Durham University Big Band will be playing at the wedding of Andy Murray and Kim Sears next week in Dunblane, Scotland. Despite the close guarded nature of the wedding, we were eventually able to persuade the couple to let us announce this exciting news!
There are some close connections to the couple within the band. Felicity, one of our alto players, is a family friend of Andy, and Charles, our President, used to babysit for some boys whose mum used to babysit Andy when he was growing up. It was Felicity who recommended the band to Andy, and after checking out our Soundcloud, the couple were really happy to book us.
Our small band will be performing at the champagne reception, immediately after the marriage ceremony, the full Big Band performing after the dinner and The Invitations leading the guests well into the wee small hours. Please get in touch if you are interested in booking this package for your wedding!

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