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

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).

Fri 16: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Lit & Phil, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £8.00. SOLD OUT!
Fri 16: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 16: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 16: Darlington Big Band @ The Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 16: Leeds City Stompers @ Billy Bootleggers, Newcastle. 9:00pm. 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

Friday, May 12, 2017

Visual Jazz – Gina Southgate Exhibition @ the Gallery In the Hills - Saturday 6 May to Sunday 25 June

(Review by Hugh C).
Following up on Dave Clarke's BSH posting with an Art Invite we “headed to the hills” last  Sunday afternoon.  Although we often travel out West along the A69 corridor and to Hadrian's Wall we found ourselves in unfamiliar territory once past Ridley Hall and on the road towards Beltingham and beyond.  The route to the Gallery is well signposted by green fluorescent signs - it does seem further than it looks on the map though!  On arriving at South Barn there is ample parking.

The gallery owner, Dennis Kilgallon, moved his creative business here from Kirkharle Courtyard a few years ago.  Some of his larger sculptures are placed around the car park and in the courtyard at the back.  The gallery is in a large, well-lit barn conversion and is accessed by a door in the side of the building.  A few pictures and artefacts are displayed on the ground floor but the main gallery is on the first floor and accessed by stairs from the lobby.  Attaining the top of the stairs one is greeted by a large airy gallery with plenty of natural light from expansive windows and large skylights in the roof.  Dennis kindly invites visitors to partake of a cup of (real) coffee.  Gina Southgate's impressive pictures (predominantly of jazz gigs, but landscapes as well) are displayed to good effect at all levels of the gallery.  Judith Davies' ceramics (some of which are made to be held and felt, as well as seen) are admixed with some of Dennis Kilgallon's own work.
The whole is very impressive (so much so that I was bought a print – which I know nothing about of course!).  The view from the back window and the garden is superb, looking over the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  A drive back East via Whitfield, turning left out of the farm road is well worth it.
The gallery is open Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays 11am to 5pm.  Visits can also be made during the week but Dennis would like you to ring beforehand to avoid disappointment.
Hugh C.

Website:  http://denniskilgallon.co.uk/ Telephone:  07496 754601

2 comments :

Pam Young (on f/b) said...

Nice review Hugh. Definitely worth a ride out of town at the weekend.
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More Facebook comments said...

Gina Southgate Hey Pamela the print he bought was of your original Marilyn painting
Pamela Young Wow excellent �� xx
Gina Southgate Popular choice and you saw it first!
Pamela Young Yeah! I'm so happy I have that painting in my dining room . ❤ love it xx

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